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. Fishermen Interested in Safe Hydrokinetics, et al. v. FERC
   No. 09-72920 (9th Cir. filed 9/14/2009)
   
Preliminary permit to study proposed hydrokinetic Green Wave Mendocino Project, to be located in Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mendocino County, CA; whether FPA requires the Commission to develop a comprehensive plan for waters off the coast of CA, OR and WA. Green Wave Energy Solutions, LLC, 127 FERC ¶ 62,093 (2009), reh'g denied, 128 FERC ¶ 61,034 (2009).
FERC Docket No. P-13053



2. The Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, et al. v. FERC
   Nos. 09-2052, et al. (4th Cir. filed 9/14/2009)
   
Approval of special surcharge to recover Dominion Virginia Power’s share of RTO (PJM) start-up and administrative costs. Virginia Elec. and Power Co., 125 FERC ¶ 61,391 (2008), order on reh’g, 128 FERC ¶ 61,026 (2009).
FERC Docket No. ER08-1540



3. Flint Hills Resources Alaska, LLC , et al. v. FERC and United States of America Nos. 09-1236, et al. (D.C. Cir. filed 9/4/2009 and later)
   
Valuation of West Coast Heavy Distillate cut of Trans Alaska Pipeline System crude oil. BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., et al., 125 FERC ¶ 61,254 (2008), reh’g denied, 128 FERC ¶ 61,169 (2009).
FERC Docket No. OR06-10



4. Anadarko Petroleum Corp. v. FERC and United States of America
   No. 09-1228 (D.C. Cir. filed 8/28/2009)
   
Proposed changes to the interstate rates for transportation of crude oil on various pipelines’ shares of the capacity of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. BP Pipelines (Alaska) Inc., et al., 127 FERC ¶ 61,316 (2009), reh’g pending.
FERC Docket No. IS09-348



5. NRG Power Marketing LLC, et al. v. FERC
   No. 09-1226 (D.C. Cir. filed 8/27/2009)
   
Conditional acceptance of tariff revisions implementing a second level of interconnection service, consistent with FERC Order No. 2003, with a deliverability requirement that earlier was conceptually approved. New York Independent System Operator, Inc., and New York Transmission Owners, 126 FERC ¶ 61,046 (2009), order on reh’g, clar. & compl., 127 FERC ¶ 61,318 (2009).
FERC Docket No. ER04-449



6. Maryland Public Service Comm'n and New Jersey Board of Public Utils. v. FERC
   No. 09-1924 (4th Cir. filed 8/14/2009)
   
Denial of complaint regarding prices set for capacity in PJM's Reliability Pricing Model for delivery years governed by completed RPM auctions. Maryland Pub. Serv. Comm'n, et al. v. PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., 124 FERC ¶ 61,276 (2008), reh'g denied, 127 FERC ¶ 61,274 (2009).
FERC Docket No. EL08-67



7. Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General for the State of Conn. and Conn. Office of Consumer Counsel v. FERC
   No. 09-1220 (D.C. Cir. filed 8/12/2009)
   
ISO-NE's collection of administrative costs for calendar year 2009, including executive compensation and employee staffing levels and external affairs activities. ISO New England, Inc., 125 FERC ¶ 61,392 (2008), reh'g denied, 127 FERC ¶ 61,254 (2009).
FERC Docket No. ER09-197



8. Transmission Agency of Northern California, et al. v. FERC
   Nos. 09-1213, et al. (D.C. Cir. filed 8/5/2009 and later)
   
Conditional acceptance of proposed tariff revisions submitted by the California ISO to establish an Integrated Balancing Authority Area, modeling and pricing export and import transactions with the SMUD and Turlock balancing authority areas. California Independent System Operator Corp., 124 FERC ¶ 61,271 (2008), order on reh'g & clar., 128 FERC ¶ 61,103 (2009).
FERC Docket No. ER08-1113



9. Murray Energy Corp, et al. v. FERC
   No. 09-1207 (D.C. Cir. filed 7/20/2009)
   
Authorization to commence construction of 6-mile stretch of Rockies Express-East Pipeline, crossing lands underlain by coal reserves and mined areas controlled by the Murray Companies. Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC, 128 FERC ¶ 61,045 (2009), order on rehearing of 3/19/09 unpublished letter order.
FERC Docket No. CP07-208



10. ConocoPhillips Transportation Alaska, et al. v. FERC and United States of America
    No. 09-1215, et al. (D.C. Cir. filed 8/7/2009 and later)
    
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), order on reh'g, 127 FERC ¶ 61,317 (2009).
FERC Docket No. IS05-82, et al.



11. Otter Tail Power Co., et al. v. FERC
    Nos. 09-1209, et al. (D.C. Cir. filed 7/24/2009 and later)
    
Order on proposed revisions to Midwest ISO Tariff to amend and clarify provisions of its real-time Revenue Sufficiency Guarantee; order on compliance filing regarding allocation of real-time RSG costs. Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, et al. ,115 FERC ¶ 61,108 (2006), on reh'g, 117 FERC ¶ 61,113 (2006), on reh'g, 118 FERC ¶ 61,212 (2007), on reh'g, 121 FERC ¶ 61,131 (2007); on compl., 121 FERC ¶ 61,132 (2007), on reh'g, 125 FERC ¶ 61,156 (2008), on reh'g, 127 FERC ¶ 61,241 (2009).
FERC Docket No. ER04-691, et al.



12. Imperial Irrigation District v. FERC
    No. 09-1206 (D.C. Cir. filed 7/20/2009)
    
Order conditionally accepting revisions to California ISO tariff on financing mechanism for the construction of interconnection facilities to connect location-constrained resources to the ISO grid. California Independent System Operator Corp., 121 FERC ¶ 61,286 (2007), reh'g denied, 127 FERC ¶ 61,178 (2009).
FERC Docket No. ER08-140



13. Apache Corp. v. FERC
    No. 09-1204 (D.C. Cir. 7/16/2009)
    
Issuance of certificates authorizing, among other things, lease of natural gas transmission capacity from Enogex to Midcontinent. Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC and Enogex Inc., 124 FERC ¶ 61,089 (2008), order on reh'g & compl., 127 FERC ¶ 61,164 (2009).
FERC Docket No. CP08-6, et al.



14. Emerald Coal Resources, L.P. v. FERC
    No. 09-1201 (D.C. Cir. filed 7/13/2009)
    
Authorization to Texas Eastern to add compression at two existing compressor stations in Pennsylvania; failure to impose subsidence mitigation condition. Texas Eastern Transmission, LP, 125 FERC ¶ 61,342 (2008), reh'g denied, 127 FERC ¶ 61,162 (2009).
FERC Docket No. CP08-100



15. DC Energy Midwest, LLC, et al. v. FERC
    Nos. 09-1189, et al. (D.C. Cir. filed 7/1/2009 and later)
    
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, 125 FERC ¶ 61,161 (2008), order on reh'g, 127 FERC ¶ 61,121 (2009).
FERC Docket No. EL07-86, et al.