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. 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
   



2. 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
   



3. 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



4. 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
   



5. 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
   



6. 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
   



7. 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



8. 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



9. 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
   



10. 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



11. 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



12. 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



13. 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



14. 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



15. 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



16. 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
    



17. 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



18. 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



19. 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