In Re Central Vermont Public Service Corporation

Central Vermont Public Service Corporation (CVPS) brings this interlocutory appeal from a decision of the Public Service Board holding that it may consider in a rate case whether the cost of power CVPS purchases from Hydro-Quebec (HQ) may be excluded, in whole or in part, from expenses covered by utility rates. CVPS argues that the Board was precluded under principles of res judicata, collateral estoppel or equitable estoppel from considering whether CVPS acted prudently by entering into, and waiving termination rights with respect to, a thirty-year purchase power contract with [¶] in August…