CALIFORNIA v. NRG ENERGY INC.

Nos. 02-57200, 02-57202, 02-57210, 03-55118, 03-55131, 03-55176, 03-55241, 03-55249, 03-55266, 03-55319, 03-55322, 03-55349.

391 F.3d 1011 (2004)

People of the State of CALIFORNIA; Ruth Hendrick; Pier 23 Restaurant; Barry H. Himmelstein; Cruz M. Bustamante; Barbara Matthews; Sweetwater Authority; Pamela R. Gordon; Patrick N. Keegan, Plaintiffs, Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., Avista Energy, Inc.; Idaho Power Co.; Idacorp Energy, L.P; Northern California Power Agency; Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District; Sierra Pacific Industries; Silicon Valley Power; Trans Alta Energy Marketing Company; and Tucson Electric Power Co., Intervenor, v. NRG ENERGY INC.; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power; Long Beach Generation LLC; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources, Defendants, v. Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Cross-claimants-Appellants, v. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy Inc.; Bonneville Power Administration; British Columbia Hydro; Silicon Valley Power (City of Santa Clara); Com De Federale Elec; Constellation Power Source, Hafslund Energy Trading LLC; Idaho Power Company; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP); Mieco Inc.; Nevada Power Company; Northern California Power Agency; Pacificorp; Pacificorp Power Marketing Inc.; Portland General Electric Company; Powerex Corp; PP & L Montana LLC; Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Salt River Project Agricultural; Sierra Pacific Industries; Sierra Pacific Power Company; Sunlaw Congeneration Partners I; Trans Alta Energy Marketing Company; Tucson Electric Power Company; The Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project; United States of America; Department of Energy; Bonneville Power Administration; The Western Area Power Administration, Cross-defendants-Appellees. People of the State of California; Ruth Hendricks; Pier 23 Restaurant; Barry H. Himmelstein; Cruz M. Bustamante; Barbara Matthews; Sweetwater Authority; Pamela R. Gordon; Patrick N. Keegan; General Public of the State of California, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. NRG Energy, Inc.; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power LLC; Long Beach Generation LLC; Dynegy Power Marketing, Inc.; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources, Defendants, v. Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood, LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Cross-claimants-Appellants, v. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy Inc.; Silicon Valley Power, (City of Santa Clara); Commission De Fed; Constellation Power Source; Halfslund Energy Trading LLC; Idaho Power Company; The City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; Mieco Inc.; Nevada Power Co.; Northern California Power Agency; Pacificorp; Plant General Electric Company; PP & L Montana LLC; Puget Sound Energy, Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Sierra Pacific Industries; Sierra Pacific Power Company; Sunlaw Cogeneration Partners I; Trans Alta Energy Marketing Company; Tucson Electric Power Company; United States of America; Department of Energy; Portland General Electric Company; Salt River Project Agricultural, Cross-defendants, and Bonneville Power Administration; British Columbia; Powerex Corp.; The Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project, Cross-defendants-Appellees. NRG Energy, Inc.; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power LLC; Long Beach Generation LLC; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources, Defendants, and Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood, LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Defendants-Appellants, v. Duke Energy Trading and Marketing, LLC; Duke Energy Morro Bay LLC; Duke Energy Moss Landing LLC; Duke Energy South Bay LLC; Duke Energy Oakland LLC, Cross-claimants, v. Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy Inc.; Bonneville Power Administration; British Columbia; Halfslund Energy Trading LLC; Idacorp Energy L.P.; Pacificorp Power Marketing, Inc.; Public Service Company of New Mexico; Mieco Inc.; Sierra Pacific Resources; Roes 1-50; Pacificorp; Bonneville Power Administration; The Western Area Power Administration; Powerex Corp.; Puget Sound Energy, Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Tucson Electric Power Company; The Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project; United States of America; Department of Energy; Portland General Electric Company, Cross-defendants-Appellees. NRG Energy, Inc.; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power LLC; Long Beach Generation LLC; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources; Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood, LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Defendants, v. Duke Energy Trading and Marketing, LLC; Duke Energy Morro Bay LLC; Duke Energy Moss Landing LLC; Duke Energy South Bay LLC; Duke Energy Oakland LLC, Cross-claimants-Appellees, v. Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy Inc.; Bonneville Power Administration; British Columbia; Halfslund Energy Trading LLC; Idacorp Energy L.P.; Pacificorp Power Marketing, Inc.; Public Service Company of New Mexico; Mieco Inc.; Sierra Pacific Resources; Roes 1-50; Pacificorp; Bonneville Power Administration; The Western Area Power Administration; Puget Sound Energy, Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Tucson Electric Power Company; The Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project; United States of America; Department of Energy; Portland General Electric Company, Cross-defendants, and Powerex Corp., Cross-defendant-Appellant. People of the State of California; Ruth Hendricks; Pier 23 Restaurant; Barry H. Himmelstein; Cruz M. Bustamante; Barbara Matthews; Sweetwater Authority; Pamela R. Gordon; Patrick N. Keegan; General Public of the State of California, Plaintiffs, v. NRG Energy, Inc.; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power LLC; Long Beach Generation LLC; Dynegy Power Marketing, Inc.; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources, Defendants, v. Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood, LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Cross-claimants-Appellees, v. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy Inc.; Bonneville Power Administration; British Columbia; Silicon Valley Power, (City of Santa Clara); Commission De Fed; Constellation Power Source; Halfslund Energy Trading LLC; Idaho Power Company; The City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; Mieco Inc.; Nevada Power Co.; Northern California Power Agency; Pacificorp; Plant General Electric Company; PP & L Montana LLC; Puget Sound Energy, Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Sierra Pacific Industries; Sierra Pacific Power Company; Sunlaw Cogeneration Partners I; Trans Alta Energy Marketing Company; Tucson Electric Power Company; The Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project; United States of America; Department of Energy; Portland General Electric Company, Cross-defendants, and Powerex Corp., Cross-defendant-Appellant. NRG Energy Inc; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power; Long Beach Generation LLC; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources, Defendants-Appellees, v. Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Cross-claimants-Appellees, v. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy Inc.; Bonneville Power Administration; British Columbia Hydro; Silicon Valley Power (City of Santa Clara); Com De Federale Elec; Constellation Power Source, Hafslund Energy Trading LLC; Idaho Power Company; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP); Mieco Inc.; Nevada Power Company, Northern California Power Agency; Pacificorp; Pacificorp Power Marketing Inc.; Portland General Electric Company; PP & L Montana LLC, Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Salt River Project Agricultural; Sierra Pacific Industries; Sierra Pacific Power Company; Sunlaw Congeneration Partners I; Trans Alta Energy Marketing Company; Tucson Electric Power Company; The Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project; United States of America; Department of Energy; Bonneville Power Administration; The Western Area Power Administration, Cross-defendants, and Powerex Corp, Cross-defendant-Appellant. NRG Energy, Inc.; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power LLC; Long Beach Generation Llc; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources; Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood, LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Defendants, v. Duke Energy Trading and Marketing, LLC; Duke Energy Morro Bay LLC; Duke Energy Moss Landing LLC; Duke Energy South Bay LLC; Duke Energy Oakland LLC, Cross-claimants-Appellants, v. Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy Inc.; Bonneville Power Administration; British Columbia; Halfslund Energy Trading LLC; Idacorp Energy L.P.; Pacificorp Power Marketing, Inc.; Public Service Company of New Mexico; Mieco Inc.; Sierra Pacific Resources; Roes 1-50; Pacificorp; Bonneville Power Administration; The Western Area Power Administration; Powerex Corp.; Puget Sound Energy, Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Tucson Electric Power Company; The Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project; United States of America; Department of Energy; Portland General Electric Company, Cross-defendants-Appellees. NRG Energy Inc; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power; Long Beach Generation LLC; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources, Defendants, and Duke Energy Trading and Marketing, LLC; Duke Energy Morro Bay LLC; Duke Energy Moss Landing LLC; Duke Energy South Bay LLC; Duke Energy Oakland LLC, Defendants-Appellants, v. Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Cross-claimants, v. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy Inc.; Bonneville Power Administration; British Columbia Hydro; Silicon Valley Power (City of Santa Clara); Com De Federale Elec; Constellation Power Source, Hafslund Energy Trading LLC; Idaho Power Company; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP); Mieco Inc.; Nevada Power Company, Northern California Power Agency; Pacificorp; Pacificorp Power Marketing Inc.; Portland General Electric Company; Powerex Corp; PP & L Montana LLC, Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Salt River Project Agricultural; Sierra Pacific Industries; Sierra Pacific Power Company; Sunlaw Congeneration Partners I; Trans Alta Energy Marketing Company; Tucson Electric Power Company; The Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project; United States of America; Department of Energy; Bonneville Power Administration; The Western Area Power Administration, Cross-defendants-Appellees. People of the State Of California; Ruth Hendricks; Pier 23 Restaurant; Barry H. Himmelstein; Cruz M. Bustamante; Barbara Matthews; Sweetwater Authority; Pamela R. Gordon; Patrick N. Keegan; General Public of the State of California, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. NRG Energy, Inc.; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power LLC; Long Beach Generation LLC; Dynegy Power Marketing, Inc.; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources, Defendants, and Duke Energy Trading and Marketing, LLC; Duke Energy Morro Bay LLC; Duke Energy Moss Landing LLC; Duke Energy South Bay LLC; Duke Energy Oakland LLC, Defendants-Appellants, v. Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood, LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Cross-claimants, v. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy Inc.; Bonneville Power Administration; British Columbia; Silicon Valley Power, (City of Santa Clara); Commission De Fed; Constellation Power Source; Halfslund Energy Trading LLC; Idaho Power Company; The City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; Mieco Inc.; Nevada Power Co.; Northern California Power Agency; Pacificorp; Plant General Electric Company; Powerex Corp.; PP & L Montana LLC; Puget Sound Energy, Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Sierra Pacific Industries; Sierra Pacific Power Company; Sunlaw Cogeneration Partners I; Trans Alta Energy Marketing Company; Tucson Electric Power Company; The Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project; United States of America; Portland General Electric Company; Salt River Project Agricultural, Cross-defendants, NRG Energy Inc; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power; Long Beach Generation LLC; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources; Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Defendants, v. Duke Energy Trading and Marketing, LLC; Duke Energy Morro Bay LLC; Duke Energy Moss Landing LLC; Duke Energy South Bay LLC; Duke Energy Oakland LLC, Cross-claimants-Appellees, v. Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy, Inc.; Hafslund Energy Trading, LLC; Idacorp Energy; Pacificorp; Pacificorp Power Marketing, Inc.; Portland General Electric Company; Powerex Corp; Public Service Company of New Mexico; Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Sierra Pacific Resources; Tucson Electric Power Company; Western Area Power Administration; Roes, 1 through 50; Mieco, Inc.; British Columbia Hydro, Cross-defendants, and Bonneville Power Administration; United States of America; Dept.of Energy; Western Area Power Administration, Cross-defendants-Appellants. NRG Energy Inc; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power; Long Beach Generation LLC; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources, Defendants, v. Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Cross-claimants-Appellees, v. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy Inc.; British Columbia Hydro; Silicon Valley Power (City of Santa Clara); Com De Federale Elec; Constellation Power Source, Hafslund Energy Trading Llc; Idaho Power Company; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP); Mieco Inc.; Nevada Power Company; Northern California Power Agency; Pacificorp; Pacificorp Power Marketing Inc.; Portland General Electric Company; Powerex Corp; Pp & L Montana LLC, Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Salt River Project Agricultural; Sierra Pacific Industries; Sierra Pacific Power Company; Sunlaw Congeneration Partners I; Trans Alta Energy Marketing Company; Tucson Electric Power Company; The Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project, Cross-defendants, and Bonneville Power Administration; United States of America; Department of Energy; The Western Area Power Administration, People of The State of California; Ruth Hendricks; Pier 23 Restaurant; Barry H. Himmelstein; Cruz M. Bustamante; Barbara Matthews; Sweetwater Authority; Pamela R. Gordon; Patrick N. Keegan; General Public of the State Of California, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. NRG Energy, Inc.; Cabrillo Power I LLC; Cabrillo Power II LLC; El Segundo Power LLC; Long Beach Generation LLC; Dynegy Power Marketing, Inc.; Sempra Energy Corp., Inc.; Sempra Energy Trading; Sempra Energy Resources, Defendants, v. Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Energy Services, Inc.; Reliant Ormond Beach, Inc.; Reliant Energy Etiwanda, LLC; Reliant Energy Ellwood, LLC; Reliant Energy Mandalay, LLC; Reliant Energy Coolwater, LLC, Cross-claimants-Appellees, v. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; Arizona Public Svc; Automated Power Exchange, Inc.; Avista Energy Inc.; British Columbia; Silicon Valley Power, (City of Santa Clara); Commission De Fed; Constellation Power Source; Halfslund Energy Trading LLC; Idaho Power Company; The City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; Mieco Inc.; Nevada Power Co.; Northern California Power Agency; Pacificorp; Plant General Electric Company; Powerex Corp.; PP & L Montana LLC; Puget Sound Energy, Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Sierra Pacific Industries; Sierra Pacific Power Company; Sunlaw Cogeneration Partners I; Trans Alta Energy Marketing Company; Tucson Electric Power Company; Portland General Electric Company; Salt River Project Agricultural, Cross-defendants, and Bonneville Power Administration; The Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River Storage Project; United States of America, Cross-defendants-Appellants.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Filed December 8, 2004.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Nora Cregan, Bingham McCutchen, San Francisco, CA, for Reliant Energy, appellants/cross-appellees.

Joel B. Kleinman, Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky, Washington, DC, for Duke Energy Trading and Marketing, appellants/cross-appellees.

Alisa B. Klein, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Bonneville Power Administration & Western Area Power Administration, appellees/cross-appellants.

Barry R. Himmelstein, Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, San Francisco, CA, for the People of the State of California, plaintiffs-appellees.

Gary J. Smith, Beveridge & Diamond, P.C., San Francisco, CA, for British Columbia Hydro, Power Authority and PowerEx Corp., appellee/cross-appellant.

Gordon P. Erspamer, Morrison & Foerester, Walnut Creek, CA, for Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., Avista Energy, Inc., Idaho Power Co., IDACORP Energy, L.P., Northern California Power Agency, Puget Sound Energy, Inc., Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, Sierra Pacific Industries, Silicon Valley Power, Trans Alta Energy Marketing Company, and Tucson Electric Power Co., cross-appellants.

Before: SCHROEDER, Chief Judge, CANBY, and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges.


SCHROEDER, Chief Judge:

The fundamental question in this appeal from a district court order of remand is whether we have appellate jurisdiction in light of the limitations of 28 U.S.C. § 1447(d). We hold that we have jurisdiction to review the district court's ruling on substantive issues of controlling law on the merits of the case. We affirm all of the district court's rulings on those substantive issues, relating principally to immunity, but hold that the...

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