Appellate Briefs

Delaware Riverkeeper v. FERC No. 16-1092 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). Circuit D.C. Cir.

NextEra Desert Center Blythe, LLC v. FERC No. 16-1003 Denial of complaint by NextEra, requesting that the California ISO allocate to NextEra congestion revenue rights. NextEra Desert Center Blythe, LLC v. Cal. Indep. Sys. Operator Corp., 151 FERC ¶ 61,198 (2015), reh’g denied, 153 FERC ¶ 61,208 (2015). Circuit D.C. Cir.

City of Rockingham, NC, et al. v. FERC No. 15-2535 Issuance of new license for the continued operation and maintenance of the 108 MW Yadkin-Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project on the Yadkin and Pee Dee Rivers in North Carolina. Duke Energy Progress, Inc., 151 FERC ¶ 62,004 (2015), order on reh’g and clar., 153 FERC ¶ 61,056 (2015). Circuit 4th Cir.

Louisiana Pub. Serv. Comm’n v. FERC No. 16-1014 Dismissal of complaint concerning depreciation component of bandwidth formula rate in Entergy System Agreement; Entergy’s proposed depreciation rates for Entergy Arkansas. Louisiana Pub. Serv. Comm’n v. Entergy Corp., et al., Op. 519, 139 FERC ¶ 61,107 (2012), reh’g denied, 153 FERC ¶ 61,188 (2015); Entergy Services, Inc., Op. 523, 142 FERC ¶ 61,022 (2013), reh’g denied, 153 FERC ¶ 61,184 (2015). Circuit D.C. Cir.

TNA Merchant Projects, Inc. v. FERC No. 13-1008, et al. Rates for reactive power service to Bonneville Power Administration; continued treatment of filing as a rate change subject to suspension and refund. Chehalis Power Generating L.P., 134 FERC ¶ 61,112 (2011), reh’g denied, 141 FERC ¶ 61,116 (2012), on remand, 145 FERC ¶ 61,052 (2013), on reh’g, 152 FERC ¶ 61,050 (2015), on reh’g, 153 FERC ¶ 61,194 (2015). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Allco Renewable Energy v. Mass. Elec., et al. No. 15-13515 Amicus brief, filed at the invitation of the district court, concerning regulations of the Mass. Dept. of Pub. Utils. and whether they conflict with FERC rules implementing PURPA and the purchase obligations (avoided cost rate; term of purchase contract) of local utility to qualify facility. Circuit D. Mass.

Orangeburg, South Carolina v. FERC No. 15-1274 Conditional acceptance of joint dispatch agreement following Duke/Progress merger; whether agreement and NC Commission favor native load sales to the disfavor of sales to Orangeburg. Duke Energy Corp. and Progress Energy, Inc.; Carolina Power & Light Co., 139 FERC ¶ 61,193 (2012), order on reh'g, 151 FERC ¶ 61,242 (2015). Circuit D.C. Cir.

El Paso Natural Gas Co., L.L.C. v. FERC No. 15-1323 Orders, following hearing and ALJ decision, on various reserved ratemaking issues in El Paso general rate case. El Paso Natural Gas Co., 139 FERC ¶ 61,095 (2012), order on reh’g and compl., 152 FERC ¶ 61,039 (2015). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Transm. Agency of N. Cal., et al. v. FERC No. 15-1057, et al. Denial of complaint, alleging an anticipatory breach of PG&E’s obligations under agreement providing for coordinated operation of high-voltage transmission line (California-Oregon Intertie). Transmission Agency of Northern Cal. v. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 148 FERC ¶ 61,150 (2014), reh’g denied, 150 FERC ¶ 61,133 (2015). Termination of Comprehensive Agreement between PG&E and Cal. DWR, and replacement agreements for continued interconnection of DWR generation to PG&E's transmission system. Pacific Gas and Electric Co.; Cal. Independent System Operator, 149 FERC ¶ 61,276 (2014), reh’g denied, 151 FERC ¶ 61,252 (2015). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. v. FERC No. 15-1450 Order on complaint, concerning interpretation and application of FPL open access transmission tariff provision concerning charges for energy imbalance service. Seminole Elec. Coop., Inc. v. Florida Power & Light Co., 139 FERC ¶ 61,254 (2012), order on reh'g, 153 FERC ¶ 61,037 (2015). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Portland General Electric, et al. v. FERC No. 15-1237, et al. Order granting complaint to the extent utility has an obligation to purchase wind facility’s entire net output at avoided cost rates. PáTu Wind Farm, LLC v. Portland General Electric Co.; PáTu Wind Farm, LLC, 150 FERC ¶ 61,032 (2015), reh’g denied, 151 FERC ¶ 61,223 (2015). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Delaware Riverkeeper Network, et al. v. FERC Civ. Action No. 16-cv-416 (TSC) Reply in support of motion to dismiss complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Circuit D.D.C.

MPS Merchant Services, Inc, et al. v. FERC Nos. 15-73803, et al. Order in California Refund Proceeding, following evidentiary hearing and ALJ Initial Decision, finding that certain sellers during California energy crisis engaged in tariff violations impacting the market clearing price, and directing disgorgement of amounts received above the marginal cost-based proxy price. San Diego Gas & Elec. Co. v. Sellers of Energy, et al., Opinion No. 536, 149 FERC ¶ 61,116 (2014), order on reh’g, 153 FERC ¶ 61,144 (2015). Circuit 9th Cir.

Emera Maine, et al. v. FERC No. 15-1139, et al. Order on ISO-NE compliance with transmission planning and cost allocation requirements of Order No. 1000 rulemaking. ISO New England, Inc., 143 FERC ¶ 61,150 (2013), order on reh’g & compl., 150 FERC ¶ 61,209 (2015). Circuit D.C. Cir.

LSP Transmission Holdings, et al. FERC No. 15-1157 Filing by Southwest Power Pool in compliance with transmission planning and cost allocation requirements of Order No. 1000; cost-effectiveness and efficiency, and consideration of state laws and rights-of-way, in the competitive bidding process. Southwest Power Pool, Inc., et al., 144 FERC ¶ 61,059 (2013), order on reh’g & compl., 149 FERC ¶ 61,048 (2014), order on reh’g & compl., 151 FERC ¶ 61,045 (2015). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Delaware Riverkeeper Network, et al. v. FERC, et al. No. 16-cv-416 (TSC) Motion to dismiss complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Circuit D.D.C.

Louisiana Pub. Serv. Comm’n v. FERC No. 14-1063 Order on remand from LPSC v. FERC, 522 F.3d 378 (D.C. Cir. 2008), concerning whether to order refunds and when to implement bandwidth remedy. Louisiana Pub. Serv. Comm’n v. Entergy Services, Inc., 137 FERC ¶ 61,047 (2011), order on reh’g, 146 FERC ¶ 61,152 (2014). Circuit D.C. Cir.

Emera Maine, et al. v. FERC No. 15-1118, et al. Complaint challenging New England transmission owners’ return on equity, reflected in ISO New England open access transmission tariff. Martha Coakley, Mass. Attorney General, et al. v. Bangor Hydro-Electric Co., et al., Op. No. 531 and 531-A,147 FERC ¶ 61,234 (2014) and 149 FERC ¶ 61,032 (2014), order on reh'g, Op. No. 531-B, 150 FERC ¶ 61,165 (2015). Circuit D.C. Cir.

New Energy Capital Partners v. FERC No. 13-1277, et al. Denial of late intervention, and rejection of motion to reopen record, in relicensing proceeding for Yadkin Hydroelectric Project in North Carolina. Alcoa Power Generating Inc., 144 FERC ¶ 61,218 (2013) (denying rehearing of 5/30/13 notice denying late intervention); 152 FERC ¶ 61,040 (2015) (denying rehearing of 3/3/15 notice rejecting motion to reopen record). Circuit D.C. Cir.

El Paso Electric Co. v. FERC No. 14-60822 Filing, by members of WestConnect, in compliance with transmission planning and cost allocation requirements of Order No. 1000, requesting that regional cost allocation be categorically inapplicable to any project providing benefits to a transmission owner not enrolled in the WestConnect region – including public power utilities. Public Service Co. of Colorado, et al., 142 FERC ¶ 61,206 (2013), order on reh’g & compl., 148 FERC ¶ 61,213 (2014), order on reh’g & compl., 151 FERC ¶ 61,128 (2015). Circuit 5th Cir.