Opinion ID: 382647
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: aepco's challenge to the certification of load equation

Text: 25 (Nos. 75-1952 and 77-1634) 26 Initially, AEPCO renews its challenge to the propriety of the temporary and permanent certification of the load equation agreements. They argue, inter alia, that the Commission acted without substantial evidence of an impending shortage, and that in any event, any need there might have been for the storage arrangements was caused solely by El Paso's illegal deliveries of storage injection gas to its California customers under Priority 2. We find it unnecessary to address these claims, however, for AEPCO's claims have been rendered moot by the termination of the load equation agreements and return of the gas. 27 The doctrine of mootness requires courts to dismiss cases where the issues presented are no longer 'live' or the parties lack a legally cognizable interest in the outcome. Powell v. McCormack, 395 U.S. 486, 496, 89 S.Ct. 1944, 1951, 23 L.Ed.2d 491 (1969). Where interim relief or events have completely and irrevocably eradicated the effects of (an) alleged violation of law, a case is moot. County of Los Angeles v. Davis, 440 U.S. 625, 631, 99 S.Ct. 1379, 1383, 59 L.Ed.2d 642 (1979). In other words, when a party has already been made whole for damage it claims to have suffered, the case is ordinarily moot. See Alton & Southern Railway Co. v. International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, 463 F.2d 872, 877, 879-80 (D.C.Cir. 1972). 28 The only damage AEPCO claims to have suffered as a result of the Commission's orders certifying the load equation agreements is the gas it lost as an EOC P-5 customer when El Paso diverted gas for storage in California. But all of that gas has now been returned to AEPCO pursuant to the Commission's conditions to the permanent certificate and the settlement approved in Opinion 800-B. Further, the load equation agreements have now expired, and can no longer harm AEPCO. Since AEPCO has been unable to identify any other relief which this court or the Commission could give to it by vacating the orders granting the temporary and permanent certificates, 9 the petition in Nos. 75-1952 and 77-1634 are dismissed as moot. 29