Court Opinion

ID: 9637461
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 15:07:06.261012+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:09:56.197195
License: Public Domain

HEALY, Circuit Judge
(concurring).
I concur in the result and in the main with what is said in the opinion. However, I am unable to see the force of the discussion concerning the interpretation of § 301(a) of Part III of the Federal Power Act.
That statute does not appear to me ambiguous ; and if it were so, I doubt that the ambiguity is dissipated by the discussion. The statute with which we are concerned here is § 313(b) which provides that “the finding of the Commission as to the facts, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive.” The Commission’s finding that the item of $3,500,000 is a writeup is supported by evidence, or legitimate inference drawn therefrom, that it has no basis except water. It may be debatable whether, in line with correct accounting practices, the item should not have been charged to surplus. But there is substantial evidence to support the disposition of the item ordered by the Commission.