Court Opinion

ID: 9471640
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 03:37:40.838262+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:42:30.737182
License: Public Domain

WILLIAM E. DOYLE, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part:
I concur generally but disagree with the final page [725 F.2d p. 103]:
I agree with the opinion insofar as it rules that the Commission lacks authority to assess penalties or reparations against companies guilty of misconduct under the Natural Gas Act. Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. and Hope Natural Gas Co.
No doubt the order is punitive and invalid.
There is, however, no injury to consumers to justify the order. Thus, there is no public interest served by the order and it is a penalty.
*104Whether the Commission may ever issue an order against offending oil companies requiring them to reimburse consumers or other companies to correct past violations is not being presented and need not be addressed.