Opinion ID: 489534
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Termination of the Investigation of the Other Pipelines

Text: 71 Another issue raised by Transwestern which is related to the sufficiency of the record upon which the Commission rendered its decision involves the Commission's investigation of the other interstate pipelines supplying California. 10 Transwestern contends that the Commission's competitive impact findings were lacking in support because evidence of Transwestern's competitors' minimum bills was not before the Commission. Transwestern submits that the Chief ALJ consolidated the Transwestern proceeding with the investigation of these other pipelines and with the El Paso proceeding so that the question of the lawfulness of Transwestern's minimum bills would not be decided in a vacuum. Transwestern charges that the Commission, which initially affirmed the Chief ALJ's consolidation decision, discontinued its investigation without adequate explanation why it was reversing the Chief ALJ's findings. Transwestern argues that this action along with the Commission's refusal to reopen the record after the entry of Order No. 380 was arbitrary, an abuse of discretion, and a denial of due process. 72 In Opinion No. 238-A, the Commission correctly rejected these additional claims that the record was deficient. The possible competitive effect of the other pipelines' minimum bills cannot alter the determination that Transwestern's minimum bills had an adverse cost effect on its customers. This finding is supported by substantial evidence in the record. Just as was the case with regard to El Paso, Transwestern's minimum bills cannot be justified by the existence of other pipelines' minimum bills. 73 Furthermore, the Commission possesses broad discretion to organize its caseload and to determine which issues are to be decided. Fort Pierce Utility Authority v. FPC, 526 F.2d 993, 999 (5th Cir.1976); Louisiana Power & Light Co. v. FPC, 526 F.2d 898, 910 (5th Cir.1976). The Commission severed the Transwestern proceeding and terminated its investigation because it determined that Order No. 380, related rehearings, and other events had mooted most of the issues in the consolidated proceeding. The Commission determined that it was more efficient to deal with the issue of the lawfulness of fixed-cost minimum bills on an individual basis. This action was neither arbitrary nor an abuse of the Commission's administrative discretion. 74 Transwestern also claims that the Commission's actions denied it due process but offers no legal basis for this assertion, and we can find none. To the contrary, the record demonstrates that Transwestern had a full, fair opportunity to address and submit evidence on the lawfulness of its fixed-cost minimum bills.