Opinion ID: 1657238
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Filing of Avoided-Costs Data.

Text: The plaintiffs included in this action a request that Midland produce cost information so that the plaintiffs could compute the avoided-costs component of Midland's billings. The district court ordered Midland to make available its avoided-costs data at least every two years and to file this information with FERC. Midland complains about both aspects of the court's order. We first reject Midland's argument that the district court lacked authority to enter an order requiring disclosure of the requested information. Because the requested data is pertinent to Midland's charges to the AEPs, it is likewise pertinent to its implementation of PURPA, which requires that rates be just and reasonable. Ordering the disclosure of this information is certainly within a state court's authority to review a nonregulated utility's implementation of PURPA. Nonetheless, we think filing the requested data at FERC is unnecessary. FERC does not require any utility to file cost data with it. Moreover, FERC has made it clear that it will not use its enforcement power to determine whether cost data is adequate, but will leave such issues to state courts. It simply serves no purpose to have the data filed with FERC, as FERC does not want it or need it. We think the plaintiffs can obtain the information they need if we simply require Midland to make its cost data available at its office for review by the public, including AEPs. As ordered by the district court, this data shall be updated every two years.