Opinion ID: 3048512
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: [1] As a preliminary matter, BPA argues that we lack jurisdiction to review petitions filed more than 90 days after FERC’s July 21, 2003, order approving BPA’s WP-02 rates. Under section 7 of the Northwest Power Act, judicial challenges to “final rate determinations” must be brought “within 90 days of the time such action or decision is deemed final.” 16 U.S.C. §§ 839f(e)(1)(G), 839f(e)(5). We have previously held that rate determinations are not “deemed final” “until FERC denied the petitioners’ petition for rehearing.” PacifiCorp v. FERC, 795 F.2d 816, 820 (9th Cir. 1986); see also Wash. Utilities & Transp. Comm’n (WUTC) v. FERC, 26 F.3d 935, 940 (9th Cir. 1994); CP Nat’l Corp. v. BPA, 928 F.2d 905, 911 (9th Cir. 1991) (as amended). Thus, the key date in this case is not July 21, 2003, but October 17, 2003. Because petitioners sought review within 90 days of October 17, their petitions are timely. [2] BPA suggests that PacifiCorp and WUTC were wrongly decided because FERC lacks authority to conduct a rehearing after approving BPA’s rates. Without suggesting that PacifiCorp and WUTC were wrongly decided, we note that a sufficient response to BPA’s suggestion is that we are required to follow our previous rulings. See, e.g., Miller v. Gammie, 335 F.3d 889, 899 (9th Cir. 2003) (en banc). In any event, it does not matter in this case whether we deem BPA’s rate determination to be final on July 21 or on October 17. Petitioners filed an initial set of petitions with this Court within 90 days of FERC’s July 21 order approving BPA’s rates. They then filed a second set of petitions within 90 days of FERC’s October 17 order denying rehearing. The two sets of petitions were consolidated for our review. Given that at least one set of petitions is undeniably timely, we have jurisdiction to consider petitioners’ claims. GOLDEN NORTHWEST ALUMINUM v. BPA 4901