Power v. Washington Water Power Co.

The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), 16 U.S.C. §§ 2601-45 (Supp. 4, 1980), was enacted by Congress in part to encourage energy conservation and to provide equitable retail rates for electricity consumers. 16 U.S.C. § 2601. The act sets out ratemaking and utility service standards designed to further the purposes of the act. See 16 U.S.C. §§ 2621(d), 2623-25. It requires state regulatory authorities to consider whether federal ratemaking and utility service standards and lifeline rate provisions are appropriate under conditions and circumstances facing state utilities…