Legal Resources 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.
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Kansas Corp. Comm’n v. FERC
No. 16-1164 (D.C. Cir. filed 6/2/2016)-
Transmission formula rate template and protocols for projects developed in Southwest Power Pool transmission planning process. Kanstar Transm., LLC, 152 FERC ¶ 61,209
(2015), reh’g denied, 155 FERC ¶ 61,167
(2016).
FERC Docket No. ER15-958, et al.
Assigned to: Lona Perry
Status: consolidated with D.C. Cir. No. 16-1093
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Tuscarora Gas Transmission Co. v. FERC
No. 16-1160 (D.C. Cir. filed 5/31/2016)-
Investigation into whether Tuscarora rates remain just and reasonable; whether Commission can order a cost and revenue study. Tuscarora Gas Transmission Co., 154 FERC ¶ 61,030 (2016), order on reh’g, 154 FERC ¶ 61,273 (2016).
FERC Docket No. RP16-299
Assigned to: Anand Viswanathan
Status: motions
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Consolidated Edison Co. of New York and Linden VFT, LLC v. FERC
No. 16-1153 (D.C. Cir. filed 5/25/2016)-
Cost allocation and responsibility for transmission projects approved through the PJM Regional Transmission Expansion Planning process. PJM Interconn., L.L.C.; Consolidated Edison Co. v. PJM Interconn., 147 FERC ¶ 61,028 (2014), order on complaint, reh’g & compl., 151 FERC ¶ 61,227
(2015), reh’g denied, 155 FERC ¶ 61,088
(2016).
FERC Docket No. ER14-972, et al.
Assigned to: Susanna Chu
Status: consolidated with D.C. Cir. No. 15-1183; in abeyance - Ameren Services Co., et al. [MISO Transmission Owners] v. FERC
No. 16-1150 (D.C. Cir. filed 5/23/2016)-
Compliance with inter-regional transmission coordination and cost allocation requirements of Order No. 1000. Midcontinent Indep. System Operator, Inc., et al., 150 FERC ¶ 61,045 (2015), order on reh’g & compl., 153 FERC ¶ 61,247 (2015), order on reh’g & compl., 154 FERC ¶ 61,227
(2016).
FERC Docket No. ER13-1924, et al.
Assigned to: Beth Pacella
Status: motions
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Turlock Irrigation Dist. and Modesto Irrigation Dist. v. FERC
No. 16-71380 (9th Cir. filed 5/6/2016)-
Denial of complaint, alleging that PG&E breached certain interconnection agreements, concerning coordination of transmission systems, between the Districts and PG&E. Modesto and Turlock Irrigation Dists. v. Pacific Gas and Elec. Co., 152 FERC ¶ 61,016
(2015), reh'g denied, 154 FERC ¶ 61,215 (2016).
FERC Docket No. EL15-55
Assigned to: Susanna Chu
Status: motions
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Duke Energy Corp., et al. v. FERC
No. 16-1133 (D.C. Cir. filed 4/29/2016)-
Denial of complaint, alleging that PJM failed to fulfill obligation to indemnify Duke for losses incurred to implement a PJM directive. Duke Energy Corp., et al. v. PJM Interconn., et al., 151 FERC ¶ 61,206
(2015), reh'g denied, 154 FERC ¶ 61,156 (2016).
FERC Docket No. EL14-45
Assigned to: Elizabeth Rylander
Status: briefing
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Alliance Pipeline L.P. v. FERC
No. 16-1120 (D.C. Cir. filed 4/18/2016)-
Rates for natural gas transportation service; various rate issues, some summarily resolved and some set for hearing. Alliance Pipeline L.P., 151 FERC ¶ 61,271
(2015), order on reh’g, 153 FERC ¶ 61,195
(2015), reh’g denied, 154 FERC ¶ 61,112 (2016).
FERC Docket No. RP15-1022
Assigned to: Karin Larson
Status: in abeyance; consolidated with D.C. Cir. No. 16-1017 -
Southwest Gas Corp., et al. v. FERC
Nos. 16-1119, et al. (D.C. Cir. filed 4/18/2016)-
Orders, following hearing and ALJ decision, on various ratemaking issues in El Paso general rate case. El Paso Natural Gas Co., Op. No. 528, 145 FERC ¶ 61,040 (2013), order on reh’g and compl., 154 FERC ¶ 61,120 (2016).
FERC Docket No. RP10-1398
Assigned to: Carol Banta
Status: motions -
Old Dominion Electric Cooperative v. FERC
No. 16-1111 (D.C. Cir. filed 4/11/2016)-
Denial of petition for waiver, seeking recovery of natural gas costs associated with Jan. 2014 cold weather. Old Dominion Elec. Coop., 151 FERC ¶ 61,207
(2015), reh’g denied, 154 FERC ¶ 61,155 (2016).
FERC Docket No. ER14-2242
Assigned to: Beth Pacella
Status: briefing
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Entergy Nuclear Power Marketing, LLC v. FERC
No. 16-1107 (D.C. Cir. filed 4/5/2016)-
Complaint concerning NY ISO buyer-side mitigation rules for renewable and self-supply resources. New York Pub. Serv. Comm’n, et al. v. New York Indep. Sys. Op., Inc.,
153 FERC ¶ 61,022 (2015), reh’g & clar. denied, 154 FERC ¶ 61,088 (2016).
FERC Docket No. EL15-64
Assigned to: Lona Perry
Status: in abeyance -
People of the State of California, et al. v. FERC
No. 16-70680 (9th Cir. filed 3/10/2016)-
Order on remand from State of California, ex rel. Harris v. FERC, 784 F.3d 1267 (9th Cir. 2015), setting for evidentiary, trial-type hearing whether any seller’s violation of market-based rate quarterly reporting requirement led to an unjust and unreasonable rate for that seller during 2000-2001 period. State of California, ex rel. Bill Lockyer, Attorney General of Cal. v. British Columbia Power Exchange Corp., et al., 153 FERC ¶ 61,137
(2015), order on reh’g & clar., 154 FERC ¶ 61,154
(2016).
FERC Docket No. EL02-71
Assigned to: Robert Solomon
Status: abeyance -
Delaware Riverkeeper v. FERC
No. 16-1092 (D.C. Cir. filed 3/8/2016)-
Order authorizing construction and operation of the Leidy Southeast pipeline project, consisting of 30 miles of pipeline and compression facilities in PA and NJ. Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co., 149 FERC ¶ 61,258
(2014), reh’g denied, 154 FERC ¶ 61,166
(2016).
FERC Docket No. CP13-551
Assigned to: Lisa Luftig
Status: briefing; stay denied 3/9/15 -
Kansas Corporation Commission v. FERC
No. 16-1093 (D.C. Cir. filed 3/8/2016)-
Level of the base return on equity; application of that return to other, yet-to-be-formed affiliates. Transource Kansas, LLC, 151 FERC ¶ 61,010
(2015), order on reh’g & compl., 154 FERC ¶ 61,011
(2016).
FERC Docket No. ER15-958
Assigned to: Lona Perry
Status: consolidated with D.C. Cir. No. 16-1164 -
Resale Power Group v. FERC
No. 16-1088 (D.C. Cir. filed 3/4/2016)-
50 basis point adder to base return on equity to independent transmission company. Midcontinent Indep. System Operator, Inc., 150 FERC ¶ 61,252
(2015), order on reh’g & compl., 154 FERC ¶ 61,004
(2016).
FERC Docket No. 15-945
Assigned to: Holly Cafer
Status: in abeyance -
City of Boston Delegation, et al. v. FERC
No. 16-1081, et al. (D.C. Cir. filed 3/3/2016 and later)-
Order authorizing construction and operation of Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) pipeline project, consisting of 37.4 miles of pipeline and appurtenant facilities in NY, CT, RI, and MA. Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 150 FERC ¶ 61,163
(2015), reh’g & stay denied, 154 FERC ¶ 61,048
(2016).
FERC Docket No. CP14-96
Assigned to: Ross Fulton
Status: briefing -
Ameren Service Co., et al. v. FERC
No. 16-1075 (D.C. Cir. filed 2/26/2016)-
MISO tariff provisions for funding of network upgrades by interconnecting generators. Otter Tail Power Co. v. Midcontinent Indep. Sys. Op., Inc., 151 FERC ¶ 61,220
(2015), order on reh’g & clar., 153 FERC ¶ 61,352
(2015).
FERC Docket No. EL15-36, et al.
Assigned to: Holly Cafer
Status: in abeyance
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Utility Workers Union of America Local 464 v. FERC
No. 16-1068 (D.C. Cir. filed 2/24/2016)-
Results of 9th ISO-NE Forward Capacity Auction; bidding behavior and retirement of Brayton Point facility. ISO New England, Inc., 151 FERC ¶ 61,226 (2015), reh’g denied, 153 FERC ¶ 61,378 (2015).
FERC Docket No. ER15-1137
Assigned to: Lisa Luftig
Status: briefing -
California Public Utilities Comm’n v. FERC
No. 16-70481 (9th Cir. filed 2/22/1016)-
Approval of 50 basis point return on equity for PG&E’s continued participation in the California ISO. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 148 FERC ¶ 61,245 (2014), reh’g denied, 154 FERC ¶ 61,119
(2016); 152 FERC ¶ 61,252
(2015), reh’g denied, 154 FERC ¶ 61,118 (2016).
FERC Docket No. ER14-2529, et al.
Assigned to: Susanna Chu
Status: briefing -
Ass’n of Oil Pipe Lines v. FERC and United States
No. 16-1059 (D.C. Cir. filed 2/16/2016)-
Resetting of oil pipeline index level to Producer Price Index for Finished Goods (PPI-FG) + 1.23 percent, based on FERC Form No. 6 data and filings. Five-Year Review of the Oil Pipeline Index, 153 FERC ¶ 61,312 (2015).
FERC Docket No. RM15-20
Assigned to: Susanna Chu
Status: briefing