Philadelphia Electric Co. v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

538 A.2d 98, 114 Pa. Commw. 22, 90 P.U.R.4th 560, 1988 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 319

• Court: Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: February 24, 1988
• Docket: Appeal, No. 3204 C.D. 1985
• Status: Published

Opinions

Opinion by

President Judge Crumlish, Jr.,

Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO) appeals a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) order which, in pertinent part, disallowed approximately $58 million in replacement power costs incurred during certain outages at the Salem Nuclear Generating Station Unit 1 (Salem 1), the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station Units 2 and 3 (Peach Bottom 2 and 3) and the Eddystone Power Station. The Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) has intervened on behalf of the PUC in this appeal.

On July 19, 1983, the OCA filed a Petition for an Investigation and an Order to Show Cause, alleging imprudence as to PECOs entitlement claim to replacement power costs related to a 1983 Salem 1 outage. The PUC granted the petition and instituted the investigation. Four days of hearings were held before Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Dennis Harnish.

Prior to the issuance of a recommended decision, the petition and order were consolidated with Energy Cost Rate (ECR) Statement No. 8 which proposed an increase of approximately $151 million in the ECR.¹ This amount purported to represent undercollections of energy costs associated with the 1983 Salem 1 outage, as well as projected costs attributable in large measure to a 1984 Salem 1 outage, 1983 and 1984 Peach Bottom 2 and 3 outages and a 1983-1984 Eddystone 1 outage. Complaints were filed by OCA and others;² the PUC then suspended approximately $106 million of PECOs ECR request and conducted a consolidated investigation.³ Following eleven days of hearings, ALJ George M. Kashi, who succeeded ALJ Harnish, issued a Recommended Decision disallowing approximately $82 million of PECOs ECR request.

Upon review of exceptions, the Commission reduced the disallowance to $73 million, of which approximately $58 million is attributable to the five outages here at issue. We will review seriatim the factual scenario and legal conclusions for each outage.

1983 Salem 1 Outage

This outage occurred on February 25, 1983, and ended May 20, 1983. While attempting to bring the unit up to power, Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G), the operator of Salem l,⁴ experienced certain mechanical difficulties which necessitated a shutdown. Two automatic reactor scram breakers, designed to shut down the unit automatically in such circumstances, foiled.⁵ The unit was shut down manually, but the automatic shutdown failure went undetected until three days later, when the reactor scram breakers again failed. Based on these two unprecedented incidents, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) instituted an investigation and ultimately found that the outage was caused by inadequate maintenance and supervisory practices.⁶ On April 29, 1983, the NRC authorized PSE&G to restart Salem 1, but further delays occurred due to shellfish infestation found in certain cooling water lines.

In a lengthy analysis, the PUC denied replacement power costs based on its finding that PSE&G had failed to exercise “the high degree of care” which it determined was required of á public utility in the operation of a nuclear generating facility. PUC opinion, pp. 54-56.

PECOs principal contention is that the PUC erroneously adopted a standard of review equivalent to the strict standard applied by the NRC. PECO further argues that under a properly applied “prudence” standard, substantial evidence supports its position that reasonable procedures were . followed and prudent choices were made to maintain the units and to minimize the length of the outage, thereby reducing the necessity of purchasing replacement power.⁷

The PUCs authority to review the internal management decisions of a utility company in a rate proceeding is limited. It may not interfere with such decisions unless it finds an abuse of the utility’s managerial discretion. National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 76 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 102, 464 A.2d 546 (1983). Such abuse must be determined on the basis of what the utility’s management knew or should have known at the time of the decision at issue. Id. Judgment by hindsight is prohibited. Pittsburgh v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 370 Pa. 305, 88 A.2d 59 (1952).

In formulating its standard of review, the PUC stated:

In the case of nuclear plants, in particular, the high degree of care imposed upon PECO under the NRC standards, in our opinion, are [sic] equally applicable to the degree of care required of PECO under the reasonable standard or prudency [sic] lor rate determination purposes. . . . The very magnitude of the horrendous cost, relatively speaking, of replacement power in the event of a nuclear generation outage, which PECO claims its customers should bear, compels the conclusion that PECO, under the reasonable person doctrine or standard, must operate its generation with a high degree of care. We conclude that a reasonable person operating a nuclear generation plant would in fact operate the plant with a high degree of care in order to minimize the necessity of purchasing costly replacement power. This degree of care is closely akin to the highest degree of care as generally understood to apply in certain areas of negligence law.

PUC opinion, p. 16.

Pursuant to its authority to ensure the safe operation of nuclear facilities and to address the tremendous risks nuclear facilities pose to the public health, safety and welfare, the NRC requires that plant operators exercise a high degree of care in designing, maintaining and operating all aspects of a facility. However, we believe that this heightened standard of care which the PUC attempts to extract from the field of tort law is not applicable in a utility rate proceeding. See Florida Power Corp. v. Public Service Commission, 424 So.2d 745 (Fla. 1982).

The primary purpose of rate proceedings is not to insure public safety but to regulate the economic relationship between a utility and the public and to protect the public from unreasonably high utility costs. We discern an incompatibility of standards between the strict NRC requirement of a high degree of care as to plant safety and an equally high PUC standard as to the minimization of replacement power costs. The simultaneous imposition of these two standards would, in effect, require the utility to practice flawless safety techniques while optimizing, almost absolutely, production capacity. Such a stringent dual standard approaches that of strict liability, a principle far removed from the standard of imprudence previously enunciated by this Court. See National Fuel Gas Distributing Corp.

Therefore, we hold that in a rate proceeding involving the ongoing operation of a nuclear facility, the utility is required to demonstrate only that it did not abuse its managerial discretion, i.e., that its decisions as to optimizing energy production within federal regulatory constraints were reasonable and prudent given the facts known to it at the time. To the extent that the PUC imposed a higher standard of care, it erred as a matter of law. Accordingly, we vacate that portion of the PUC order and remand for consideration under the proper standard as enunciated herein.

1984 Salem 1 Outage

This second Salem 1 outage occurred between February 24, 1984, and May 31, 1984. The record discloses that incompletely cured resins caused certain stator coils to vibrate, eventually resulting in fatigue failure and generator shutdown. It is essentially undisputed that the defective manufacture of the coils was responsible for their ultimate failure. The PUC concluded, however, that the replacement power costs associated with this outage (approximately $27 million) were to be borne by the utility rather than the ratepayers, based on its determination that the ratepayers were not at fault and that PECO was the party most capable of pursuing legal and contractual remedies against the manufacturer, Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Westinghouse).

PECO advances several arguments. It contends that the PUC erroneously relied on two of its earlier decisions, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission v. Metropolitan Edison Co., 50 Pa. P.U.C. 82 (1976) (Met Ed I) and Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission v. Metropolitan Edison Co., 53 Pa. P.U.C. 225 (1979) (Met Ed II), to find PECO vicariously liable for Westinghouses defective manufacture of the stator coils.⁸ PECO maintains that such a “policy” decision is improper as it indiscriminately shifts all risk of manufacturing defects to the utility, thereby rendering it the guarantor of all purchased equipment. See Aizen v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 163 Pa. Superior Ct. 305, 60 A.2d 443 (1948) (PUC cannot rely-ou policy alone to disallow costs.) Moreover, PECO maintains that by exercising such a policy-making prerogative, the PUC is given essentially unlimited discretion in determining rate liability based on risk apportionment rather than established principles of reasonableness and prudence. This, . PECO argues, deprives it of due process of law.

The PUC and the OCA respond that PECO was permissibly burdened with the instant replacement power costs based on the prerogative utilities exercise to investigate and contract with potential bidders, to oversee and supervise ongoing contractor activities, and to pursue contractual or legal remedies should there be a failure of performance such as occurred here. It is also argued that the PUC permissibly exercised its authority to make and apply policy as to the appropriate balance between consumer and investor interests, Pennsylvania Electric Co. v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 509 Pa. 324, 502 A.2d 130 (1985).⁹ Further, the PUC and OCA assert that by investing in PECO, its shareholders are more aware than the ratepayers of the hazards of the nuclear industry and have therefore assumed more of the risk of its unfortunate business decisions. See Commonwealth Electric Co. v. Department of Public Utilities, 397 Mass. 361, 491 N.E.2d 1035 (1986). Finally, it is noted that by imputing imprudence in this case PECO is encouraged to oversee more diligently its third-party contractors in the future.

The theory of vicarious or imputed liability, adopted by the PUC, actually originates in agency law. To find a non-negligent party vicariously liable for the acts of another, the general rule is that the party to whom liability is to be imputed must exercise a significant right or degree of control over the negligent party. W. Prosser, Law of Torts §69 (4th ed. 1971). This record reveals several indicia of control upon which one might find it reasonable to impute liability to PECO. For example, the existence of the contract for the stator coils, the ongoing communications between PSE&G and Westinghouse concerning the coils, and PECOs apparent efforts to obtain compensation from Westinghouse for the stator coil failures each suggests that PECO exercised a significant degree of control over Westinghouse so as to permit an imputation of liability.

The PUCs decision, however, fails to make discernable findings of fact concerning the indicia of control which PECO may or may not have exercised. Rather, its decision appears to rely solely on the lack of ratepayer fault to justify the cost allotment to PECO. While the Met Ed I and II decisions are cited to provide the policy reason of imposing “costs on the party most capable of pursuing legal remedies and future contracts,” no actual finding is made as to the viability, extent or resolution of any such legal or contractual activity. Therefore, we hold that the PUCs decision violates the longstanding rule in Aizen prohibiting the disallowance of utility costs based exclusively on a policy choice.

Accordingly, we remand this portion of the decision for findings of fact as to the right and degree of control PECO exercised over Westinghouse. Based on these factual findings and in light of valid policy considerations, the PUC may then reach a legal conclusion as to whether the replacement power costs associated with the 1984 Salem I outage are permissibly allotted to PECO or the ratepayers.¹⁰

1983 and 1984 Peach Bottom Outages

At issue here is a 1983, seven-day extension of an outage at Peach Bottom 3 which resulted in a disallowance of $2,023,700 in replacement power costs and a 1984, 40-hour outage extension at Peach Bottom 2 which caused a disallowance of $542,750. Each of these disallowances was based on the PUC’s determination that PECO, as the operator of Peach Bottom, had acted imprudently.

The record testimony reveals that a condition known as intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC)¹¹ was found at several weld locations in piping at Peach Bottom 3. After several discussions with NRC staff, PECO structurally reinforced the designated welds. The NRC, nevertheless, delayed restart authorization for several weeks, seven days of which the PUC attributed to PECOs unreasonable expectation that the NRC would act promptly and favorably upon these welds. The PUC cited PECOs failure to submit timely a necessary affidavit to NRC in addition to its previous mischaracterization of a “through-wall” crack to support its imprudence finding. PECO reported it as a 40-percent crack when in fact it was a 100-percent crack.

The record detailing the 1984 Peach Bottom 2 outage disclosed that certain rubber seal gaskets within fuel pool gates were discovered to be leaking during a scheduled outage, resulting in an outage extension of one day and sixteen hours for repairs. PECO alleges that the inspection of the fuel pool gates was scheduled at the earliest point in the outage considering potential delay in other scheduled activities and, further, that this problem was unforeseeable. The PUC found, however, that this problem should have been anticipated due to a similar problem at Peach Bottom 3.

PECO contends that in both these determinations, the PUC has employed impermissible hindsight and result-oriented analyses and thereby misapplied the prudence standard. We agree.

Initially, we emphasize our concern that the “high degree of care” standard enunciated at the outset of the PUCs opinion, and rejected here, tainted its analysis throughout. Furthermore, concerning the 1983 Peach Bottom 3 outage, our review of the record convinces us that the PUC engaged in. improper second-guessing as to the testing methods PECO used in its pipe inspection program. It is apparent from the PUCs opinion that its imprudence finding was based primarily on the NRCs actions and the evaluation of these actions by the independent consulting firm retained by trial staff. While we acknowledge the difficulty of discounting the NRCs ultimate disposition of PECOs instant restart request, we believe, nevertheless, that the PUC has failed to limit its consideration of PECOs decisions to what PECO knew or should have known with regard to NRC restart requirements at the time these decisions were made. In retrospect, it is clear that PECO would have acted more prudently in completing the extensive testing and repair work ultimately required by the NRC, as well as to ensure the timely submission of the manufacturers affidavit. However, based on the multiple competing considerations faced by PECO relating to minimizing the length of the outage while at the same time satisfying NRCs evolving demands,¹² we find that the. PUC’s conclusion of imprudence is the result of improper result-oriented analysis. Therefore, we vacate and remand for reconsideration of the evidence as the prudence standard restated herein applies. We again admonish the PUC to constrain its findings to those facts known to PECO at the times in question.

Similarly, while the disallowance of replacement fuel costs resulting from the 1984 Peach Bottom 2 outage extension does not appear to be facially invalid, we vacate and remand this portion of the order based on our previously enunciated concerns as to the 1983 Peach Bottom 3 outage extension.

Eddystone I Outage

PECO lastly contests an alleged computational mistake resulting in a disallowance of $967,648 related to an Eddystone I outage. The PUC responds that because of the huge sums involved and the complexity of the issues, such an error is de minimis. While we recognize that mathematical precision is not required in setting rates, Park Towne v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 61 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 285, 433 A.2d 610 (1981), we hold that the instant mathematical error is not so small as to be considered de minimis and can be easily remedied upon remand. Accordingly, we reverse and remand to the PUC for the proper calculation of this amount.

Order

The consolidated order of the Public Utility Commission, dated October 30, 1985, at Nos. P-830453, M-840375 and M-FACE8408, is reversed in part and vacated in part. The case is remanded to the Commission for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Jurisdiction relinquished.

Judge Colins dissents. Judge Palladino did not participate in the decision in this. case.

1 Energy cost rate ór ECR is a forecast mechanism through which the utility projects fuel costs for the forthcoming year. The PUC originally challenged PECOs use of the ECR in this proceeding but later abandoned it.

2 The other complainants included the PUC’s trial staff, the City of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Area Industrial Energy Users’ Group (PAIEUG) and the Consumer Education and Protective Association.

3 Pursuant to a PUC order, the Commissions trial staff retained an outside consulting firm, Temple, Barker and Sloane, Inc., to assist in the investigation.

4 PSE&G and PECO are joint owners of Salem,- with PECO holding approximately a 42-percent ownership interest. PECO does not contest its liability as a joint owner despite PSE&G’s role as plant operator.

5 A component of the reactor scram breaker, the undervoltage trip attachment (UVTA), failed to respond as designed. The event known as an Anticipated Transient Without Scram (ATWS) was the first such failure in the history of the U.S. commercial nuclear industry.

6 The NRC imposed an $850,000 civil fine on PECO and PSE&G, the largest such fine ever imposed. The sanction was not appealed.

7 PECO relies heavily upon the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities decision concerning PSE&G’s liability emanating from the 1983 Salem 1 outage. The New Jersey tribunal determined essentially that PSE&G had acted prudently in all respects and denied replacement power costs only as to the period in which the NRC’s investigation was extended due to its concerns over certain management activities.

While we recognize the potential for inconsistent results, we do not believe that this is of major consequence, as each regulatory body was separately presented the facts of the case and was entitled to weigh the evidence independently and make its own credibility determinations.

8 In pertinent part, the PUC stated:

We do not share PECO’s interpretation of the Met-Ed cases, supra. ALJ Kashi accurately stated our holding in Met-Ed when he concluded: ‘the Commission concluded that even if Met-Eds contractor, and not Met-Ed, was responsible for the improper installation, Met-Eds ratepayers were certainly fault-free, and therefore should not be required to pay for the portion of the plant representing the imprudently incurred costs.’

PUC opinion, pp. 72-73.

9 In Pennsylvania Electric, our Supreme Court stated:

In cases where the balancing of consumer interests against the interests of investors causes rates to be set at a ‘just and reasonable’ level which is insufficient to ensure the continued financial integrity of the utility, it may simply be said that the utility has encountered one of the risks that imperil any business enterprise, namely the risk of financial failure. The express language of the Hope decision weighs against regarding utilities as a protected class of business enterprises' which are to be relieved of such normal business risks.

Id. at 331-332, 502 A.2d at 134. The Hope decision refers to Federal Power Commission v. Hope Natural Gas Co., 320 U.S. 591 (1944).

10 PECO was granted leave by this Courts order dated May 19, 1987, to file a supplemental brief addressing two recent PUC decisions which reached results contrary to its decision here on the imputation issue. The PUC and OCA were likewise permitted to submit reply briefs.

PECO contends that these two previously unavailable decisions, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission v. Duquesne Light Co., Docket No. R-860378 (March 5, 1987), affd on reconsideration, and Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission v. Philadelphia Electric Co., Docket No. R-850152 (June 26, 1986), support its position that a utility should not be held accountable for manufacturing defects or contractor error absent a finding that it imprudently selected or supervised the contractors activities. PECO also contends that these decisions demonstrate the danger of a case-by-case policy approach to this issue. The PUC and OCA respond that these cases are factually dissimilar and therefore do not control the instant matter.

We note, however, that PUC decisions are not binding on this Court. Moreover, inasmuch as the issue here is a question of first impression before this Court, we expect that our decision here will serve as precedent for these later PUC decisions should they come before us.

11 IGSCC was described by the PUC as “a generic problem in boiling water reactors (BWR) which refers to small cracks occurring along the ‘grain boundaries’ of BWR pipe metal in the ‘heat affected zone’ adjacent to piping welds in the cooling and recirculation systems.” PUC opinion, pp. 75-76.

12 PECOs witnesses consistently testified that a testing method known as fracture mechanics analysis, previously accepted by the NRC, had been applied to the piping by independent inspection teams prior to its restart request. Therefore, it contends that its request was reasonable.

Further, PECOs witnesses testified that its failure to submit a manufacturers affidavit at the time of its restart request was due to the .NRCs practice of rendering a decision based on an assurance that such documentation would later be submitted for formal docketing. The PUC, in feet, found this to be the case (PUC opinion, p. 114) but found the delay to be imprudent despite evidence that PECO had requested the affidavit two or three weeks before the submittal date.