Energy Suit Rejected by High Court

The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to revive a lawsuit that accused Dynegy Inc., Duke Energy Corp. and other power companies of fixing electricity prices in California during the state’s 2000-01 energy crisis.

The justices let stand a federal appeals court decision rejecting the suit by Washington state’s Snohomish County Public Utility District. The justices made no comment, turning away the utility district’s appeal as part of a list of orders issued.

The suit, which invoked state antitrust law, also named units of Williams Cos., NRG Energy Inc., the British Columbia Hydro & Power Authority, Reliant Energy Inc., Sempra Energy and Xcel Energy Inc.

The rejection follows the recommendation of the Bush administration, which had advised the court not to hear the case.

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said last year that the issue was a federal matter and not subject to state antitrust law.