Center for Biological Diversity, Inc. v. Public Utilities Com.

Summary

The court held that the highly deferential review framework formerly applied to the Commission's statutory interpretations does not govern most Commission decisions under the amended judicial-review statutes. For energy-related decisions, courts must conduct the review required by current law, including independent judgment on the meaning and legal effect of the governing statute while giving appropriate consideration to the Commission's interpretation. The court reversed and remanded because the Court of Appeal reviewed the Commission's tariff under the wrong standard, without deciding whether the tariff was substantively lawful.