Legal Resources Court Cases New Petitions

New Petitions

Many Commission decisions are challenged or enforced in the Federal courts. The Office of the Solicitor, OGC, has independent authority to defend the Commission in court, typically the U.S. Courts of Appeals, unless the matter goes to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The defense normally entails preparing motions and briefs and presenting oral arguments before three-judge panels. It may also involve responding to petitions for writ of mandamus and requests to stay the underlying Commission action. At times, the Office files briefs as a "friend of the court," and in certain limited circumstances also defends the Commission or enforces its initiatives in the U.S. district courts.

1. In re: City of Idaho Falls, Idaho, et al.
   No. 09-1120 (D.C. Cir. filed 4/14/2009)
   
Emergency Motion for Stay of updated list of charges hydropower licensees must pay for their use of federal lands. Update of the FERC’s Fee Schedule for Annual Charges for the Use of Government Lands, 74 Fed. Reg. 8184 (Feb. 17, 2009).
FERC Docket No. RM09-6



2. Washington Gas Light Co. v. FERC
   No. 09-1100 (D.C. Cir. filed 3/13/2009)
   
Order on remand from Washington Gas Light Co. v. FERC, 532 F.3d 928 (D.C. Cir. 2008), reauthorizing expansion of Cove Point LNG’s existing LNG import terminal and construction of Dominion’s new downstream pipeline and storage facilities; effect on gas leaks on WGL’s system. Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP, et al., 125 FERC ¶ 61,018 (2008), order on reh’g and clar., 126 FERC ¶ 61,036 (2009).
FERC Docket No. CP05-130, et al.



3. Calpine Energy Services, L.P. v. FERC
   No. 09-1091 (D.C. Cir. filed 3/4/2009)
   
Revised tariff sheets proposing new tariff provisions regarding gas quality and interchangeability. Maritime & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C., 125 FERC ¶ 61,159 (2008), order on reh'g, 126 FERC ¶ 61,119 (2009).
FERC Docket No. RP08-374



4. Williams Alaska Petroleum, Inc., et al. v. FERC
   No. 09-1078, et al. (D. C. Cir. filed 2/26/2009 and later)
   
Order concerning the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) Carriers’ 2007 and 2008 interstate rate filings; directing compliance filing conforming with ratemaking principles established for TAPS in Opinion No. 502 for 2005 and 2006. BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., et al., 125 FERC ¶ 61,367 (2008).
FERC Docket No. IS07-75, et al.



5. In re: Minnesota Municipal Power Agency
   No. 09-1069 (D.C. Cir. filed 2/20/2009)
   
Petition for a writ of prohibition, to prevent FERC in its Nov. 7, 2008 order from retroactively altering rates and terms established in earlier order, on allocation of revenue sufficiency guarantee (RSG) costs. Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc., 125 FERC ¶ 61,156 (2008), and earlier orders.
FERC Docket No. ER04-691, et al.



6. American Electric Power Service Corp. v. FERC
   No. 09-1397 (7th Cir. filed 2/17/2009)
   
Denial of complaint by AEP challenging the justness and reasonableness of the current rate designs under FERC-approved open access transmission tariffs administered by the Midwest ISO and PJM. American Electric Power Service Corp. v. Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. and PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., 122 FERC ¶ 61,083 (2008), order on reh’g, 125 FERC ¶ 61,341 (2008).
FERC Docket No. EL07-101, et al.



7. Florida Municipal Power Agency v. FERC
   No. 09-1060 (D.C. Cir. filed 2/12/2009)
Holding that Florida Power employed comparable standards to analyze the integration of Florida Municipal’s Fort Pierce-Vero Beach facilities in 1994 and Florida Power’s looped transmission facilities. Florida Power & Light Co., 122 FERC ¶ 61,159 (2008), reh’g denied, 125 FERC ¶ 61,344 (2008).
FERC Docket No. ER93-465, et al.



8. Connecticut Dept. of Public Utility Control, et al. v. FERC
   No. 09-1039, et al. (D.C. Cir. filed 1/28/2009)
Transmission rate incentives in connection with transmission line construction projects. Northeast Utilities Service Co., 124 FERC ¶ 61,044 (2008), reh’g denied, 126 FERC ¶ 61,052 (2009); United Illuminating Co., 119 FERC ¶ 61,182 (2007), reh’g denied, 126 FERC ¶ 61,043 (2009).
FERC Docket No. ER07-653, et al.



9. State of Oregon v. FERC
   No. 09-70269 (9th Cir. filed 1/27/2009)
   
Authorization to Bradwood Landing to site, construct and operate a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Columbia River in Clatsop County, Oregon, and to construct, own and operate approximately 36.3 miles of pipeline from the LNG terminal to an interconnection with Northwest Pipeline Corp. in Cowlitz County, Washington. Bradwood Landing LLC and NorthernStar Energy LLC, 124 FERC ¶ 61,257 (2008), reh’g denied 126 FERC ¶ 61,035 (2009).
FERC Docket No. CP06-365, et al.



10. Gulf South Pipeline Co., LP v. FERC
    No. 09-1022 (D.C. Cir. filed 1/16/2009)
Authorization to Gulf South to construct and operate 111 miles of pipeline (Southeast Expansion Project); rejection of Gulf South proposal to charge incremental plus pricing. Gulf South Pipeline Co., LP, 120 FERC ¶ 61,291 (2007), 122 FERC ¶ 61,162 (2008), 123 FERC ¶ 61,322 (2008), and 125 FERC ¶ 61,199 (2008).
FERC Docket No. CP07-32



11. PNGTS Shippers’ Group, et al. v. FERC
    No. 09-1029 (D.C. Cir. filed 1/16/2009
Declaratory order that certificated capacity of PNGTS system is 168,000 Mcf per day, once expansion facilities placed in service; rate issues reserved for next PNGTS rate proceeding. Portland Natural Gas Transmission System, 123 FERC ¶ 61,275 (2008), reh'g denied, 125 FERC ¶ 61,198 (2008).
FERC Docket No. CP08-70



12. BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., et al. v. FERC and United States of America
    Nos. 09-1025, et al. (D.C. Cir. filed 1/16/2009)
    
Order affirming ALJ after hearing, concerning the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) Carriers’ 2005 and 2006 interstate rate filings; finding that proposed rates are not just and reasonable, and ordering refunds. BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., et al., Opinion No. 502, 123 FERC ¶ 61,287 (2008), order on reh’g & comp., 125 FERC ¶ 61,215 (2008).
FERC Docket No. IS05-82, et al.



13. Interstate Natural Gas Ass’n of America, et al. v. FERC
    Nos. 09-1016, et al. (D.C. Cir. filed 1/15/2009)
    
Revisions to the Commission’s Part 284 regulations concerning the release of firm capacity by shippers on interstate natural gas pipelines in order to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the secondary capacity release market. Promotion of a More Efficient Capacity Release Market, Order No. 712, 73 Fed. Reg. 37058, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,271, 123 FERC ¶ 61,286 (2008), order on reh'g & compl., Order No. 712-A, 125 FERC ¶ 61,216 (2008).
FERC Docket No. RM08-1



14. Edison Mission Energy, Inc., et al. v. FERC
    Nos. 09-1006, et al. (D.C. Cir. filed 1/8/2009)
    
Complaints regarding allocation of Revenue Sufficiency Guarantee charges to market participants under Midwest ISO tariff. Ameren Services Co., et al. v. Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, 121 FERC ¶ 61,205 (2007), order on reh'g, 125 FERC ¶ 61,162 (2008).
FERC Docket No. EL07-86, et al.