Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
844 F.2d 879
D.C. Cir.
1988
Check Treatment

Opinion PER CURIAM.

*880 ON PETITIONS FOR REHEARING

PER CURIAM:

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) and various intervenor pipelines have petitioned this court for a rehearing of Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. v. FERC, 831 F.2d 1135 (D.C.Cir.1987). They assert that our decision notwithstanding, FERC has the implied authority under section 4(d) to waive the “filed rate” doctrine. 15 U.S.C. § 717c(d), see generally City of Piqua, Ohio v. FERC, 610 F.2d 950 (D.C.Cir.1979). Because the issue had not been argued on appeal, we directed the parties to submit supplemental briefs addressing the following question:

Can the court properly consider and decide, at this time, the question of waiver of the “filed rate doctrine,” the issue not having been explicitly raised and fully briefed by the parties previously?

Order of Feb. 23, 1988.

In its supplemental brief, FERC asserts that the section 4(d) waiver issue “crystallized” only after this court concluded that ratepayers had been provided with “inadequate notice to warrant lawful retroactive ratemaking.” Supplemental Brief for Respondent at 6. Accordingly, the Commission urges that we exercise our authority to consider the issue on rehearing in light of the impact of our decision on the public interest, citing Consumers Union v. FPC, 510 F.2d 656, 661-62 (D.C.Cir.1974). Supplemental Brief for Respondent at 6-7.

In Consumers Union, we noted our authority to consider arguments on rehearing that were not raised in the briefs or oral argument. “Our willingness to [entertain new arguments] rests on a balancing of considerations of judicial orderliness and efficiency against the need for the greatest possible accuracy in judicial decisionmak-ing. The latter factor is of particular weight when the decision affects the broad public interest.” Id. at 662.

In view of the magnitude of the costs at issue in this case, we are persuaded that we can best serve that interest by leaving our remand order in place and affirming that FERC is free to consider the waiver issue and determine whether it may issue new orders on grounds consistent with the principles enunciated in our earlier opinion in this case.

So ordered.