{"argument_date":"2009-11-03T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-11-03T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","paragraphs":["Jeffrey Lamken argued for NRG. He stated the case concerns a bedrock principle of federal energy law. He asserted the public interest standard applies to all challengers. He emphasized the importance of the Mobile-Sierra doctrine.","Michael Miller argued for Maine. He stated the lower court erred in its holding. He argued the standard is inapplicable to noncontracting third parties. He distinguished contract rates from tariff rates.","Chief Justice Roberts questioned the breadth of the protection. He noted the importance of preserving contract stability. He asked why third parties are bound by the contract.","Justice Sotomayor asked about the binding nature of the rule. She inquired if it binds all types of third parties. She sought clarification on the challenger's position."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-45"}]}],"caption":"NRG Power Marketing, LLC v. Maine Pub. Util. Comm’n","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.051505Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"NRG Power Marketing and the Maine Public Utilities Commission dispute whether third parties can challenge contract rates under federal energy law.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-37"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-11-03T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/08-674.html","primary_docket":"08-674","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:58:52.758416Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["This case tests the scope of the Mobile-Sierra doctrine. The doctrine protects contract rates from challenge. The dispute centers on who may challenge those rates. NRG argues the protection applies to all challengers. Maine argues only contracting parties receive this protection. The Supreme Court must define the doctrine's reach."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-37"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 3, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["NRG wants the Court to extend Mobile-Sierra protection to all challengers.","Maine wants the Court to limit Mobile-Sierra protection to contracting parties only."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["NRG argues the public interest standard applies regardless of the challenger's status.","Maine argues the standard fails when a noncontracting party challenges the rate."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-37"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked why the rule is not restricted to directly affected parties.","Justice Sotomayor asked if the rule binds all types of third parties."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-45"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines who can challenge energy rates. It affects market stability for all participants. It clarifies the scope of federal energy law protections. It determines the rights of noncontracting market participants."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-37"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-45"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-674-nrg-power-marketing-llc-v-maine-pub-util-comm-n","term":"2009","title":"Does the Mobile-Sierra doctrine bind noncontracting parties to contract rates?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-674.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-37"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}