United States Ninth Circuit

The Northwest Power Act, 16 U.S.C. section 839c(d), authorizes (without obligating) the Bonneville Power Administration to sell non-surplus power to its direct service industrial customers, but if the agency chooses to offer firm power to these customers, it must first offer them a cost-based rate. The Administration exceeded its authority in deciding to offer subsidized rates to these customers and then monetize those rates.

Appellate Information

• Argued 11/07/2007
• Decided 12/17/2008
• Published 12/17/2008

Judges

• BERZON, Circuit Judge:, Before:  RAYMOND C. FISHER, MARSHA S. BERZON, Circuit Judges, and BARRY TED MOSKOWITZ, District Judge.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Michael C. Dotten, Matthew Harrington, Heller Ehrman LLP, Seattle, WA, for petitioner-intervenor Alcoa, Inc., Melinda J. Davison, Irion Sanger, Davison Van Cleve, P.C., Portland, OR, for petitioner Industrial Customers of Northwest Utilities., R. Erick Johnson, Lake Oswego, OR, for petitioners Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative, et al., Leonard J. Feldman, Heller Ehrman LLP, Seattle, WA, for intervenor Port Townsend Paper Company., Mark R. Thompson, Portland, OR, for intervenor Public Power Council.


• For Appellees:
  
• Karin J. Immergut, United States Attorney;  Randy Roach, General Counsel;  Stephen J. Odell, Assistant U.S. Attorney;  David J. Adler, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney;  Timothy Johnson, Assistant General Counsel;  Kurt Runzler, Jon D. Wright, J. Courtney Olive;  Portland, OR, for respondent Bonneville Power Administration.