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finding no irreparable harm where cities did "not establish that the loss of revenue threatens the existence of the public utilities plaintiffs run, or the municipalities themselves"
Summary of this case from Steele v. United StatesOpinion
Civil Action No. 04-940(RWR).
April 19, 2006.
Charles F. Wheatley, Jr., Wheatley Ranquist, Annapolis, MD, for Plaintiffs.
Stuart Harvey Harris, Howrey Simon Arnold White, LLP, Kevin David McDonald, Jones Day, Francis A. Vasquez, Jr., White Case LLP, Robert A. Burgoyne, Fulbright Jaworski LLP, Washington, DC, Layne E. Kruse, Fulbright Jaworski, Houston, TX, J. Robert Robertson, Kirkland Ellis, LLP, Chicago, IL, for Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Eighteen municipalities sued Exxon Mobil Corporation, BP America, Inc., Coral Energy Resources, L.P., ChevronTexaco Corporation, and ConocoPhillips Corporation for violations of the antitrust laws including agreeing to artificially inflate the price of natural gas; monopolizing, attempting to monopolize, and conspiring to monopolize; and price discrimination. The cities now seek preliminary injunctive relief to prevent defendants from refusing to sell natural gas for delivery to these cities, and from raising the average wellhead price above $5.85 per thousand cubic feet ("Mcf") for the cities until the matter is resolved on the merits. Because the plaintiffs have failed to show irreparable harm and a likelihood of success on the merits, the preliminary injunction will be denied.
The plaintiffs are the cities of Moundridge, Kansas; Winfield, Kansas; Coffeyville, Kansas; Denison, Kansas; Garnett, Kansas; Greensburg, Kansas; Halstead, Kansas; Humboldt, Kansas; Iola, Kansas; La Cygne, Kansas; Macon, Missouri; Minneapolis, Kansas; Osage City, Kansas; Rensselaer, Indiana; Sabinal, Texas; Shelbina, Missouri; and Wellington, Kansas, and the Village of Stonington, Illinois.
BACKGROUND
In December of 1999, the National Petroleum Council ("NPC") released Natural Gas: Meeting the Challenges of the Nation's Growing Natural Gas Demand ("the 1999 Report"). (Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 3.) The 1999 Report indicated that the supply of natural gas in the United States had increased since 1992, that natural gas usage in the U.S. would increase between 1999 and 2010, and that this increase in demand could be met by the industry at "an average production weighted U.S. wellhead gas price through 2010 of approximately $2.74 per million British thermal units ("MMBtu")." (Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 3 at 20.) The average price of natural gas, however, exceeded the estimate projected in the 1999 Report by early 2000. (See Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 5 at 137.)
The NPC is an advisory committee to the Department of Energy that operates pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972. (ConocoPhillips Mot. to Dismiss at 3.) "Members of the [NPC] are appointed by the Secretary of Energy and are drawn from geographically diverse segments of the oil and gas industries, academia, financial and research institutions, public interest entities, Native American tribes, and other groups."Id.
On February 1, 2001, plaintiffs, as members of the National Association of Gas Consumers ("NAGC"), filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"). (Pls.' Mot. and Application for Prelim. Inj. ("Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj.") at 3.) The complaint asked that FERC "set a benchmark price for natural gas at the wellhead of $2.74 per MMBtu — the same figure declared as a reasonable average by the NPC in its 1999 Report." (Id.) On November 4, 2002, FERC dismissed plaintiffs' complaint and held that the Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989 divested the FERC of jurisdiction over the matter. (Id.) Plaintiffs filed for a rehearing, and FERC declined to rehear plaintiffs' complaint, citing reasons it stated in its initial dismissal. (Id. at 4.)
On March 13, 2002, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham requested a new study on natural gas that would "provide insights on energy market dynamics, including price volatility . . . and an outlook on the longer-term sustainability of natural gas supplies." (Defs.' Joint Mem. in Opp'n to Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. ("Defs.' Opp'n"), Ex. E at A-1.) The NPC formed a new subcommittee and several "Task Groups," including the Supply Task Group in which all defendants, except Coral Energy Resources, participated and which an executive from Exxon Mobil chaired, to undertake the inquiry. (Defs.' Opp'n, Ex. E at B-15.) In September of 2003, the NPC released the report Balancing Natural Gas Policy: Fueling the Demands of a Growing Economy ("the 2003 Report"). (Id., Ex. E.) The 2003 Report concluded that there was a shortage of natural gas in the United States and that higher gas prices were required to meet increasing demand. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 3.) According to the 2003 Report, the price of natural gas would continue to rise unless the United States government adopted a series of legislative policies recommended by the NPC. (See Defs.' Opp'n, Ex. E at 11.) The price of natural gas in the U.S. has not fallen below the price projections of the 2003 report. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 4.) In fact, "[t]he wellhead price of natural gas in the United States in 2003 increased dramatically, from an average of $2.95 per [Mcf] in 2002 to $4.88 Mcf in 2003, almost double." (Id.)
After Hurricanes Rita and Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast, the price of natural gas was expected to average $14.00 per MMBtu between December 2005 and March 2006. (Pls.' Statement of Facts at 5.) Five plaintiff cities provided the prices they have been or will be paying for natural gas during the 2005-2006 winter (Pls.' Reply, Ex. 24-27), although no city has indicated from whom the natural gas was purchased. Defendants note, however, that after the plaintiffs filed their preliminary injunction motion, the price of natural gas began to fall. Specifically, between December 21, 2005 and January 5, 2006 the prices decreased 27 percent due to unseasonably warm weather. (Defs.' Opp'n at 7, Ex. F.) The price of the futures contract for natural gas decreased 29 percent from December 21, 2005, two days before plaintiffs filed their motion, to January 4, 2006. (Defs.' Opp'n at 7.) Plaintiffs are locked into the higher prices, however, under contracts formed in the fall of 2005 before the prices dropped. (Pls.' Reply at 1-2, 7.)
Winfield, Kansas paid $10.89 in November 2005, $9.95 in December 2005 and $10.42 in January 2006. (Pls.' Reply, Ex. 24 at 2 (no unit provided).) La Cygne, Kansas paid $10.8533 MMBtu in November 2005, $11.2257 MMBtu in December 2005, and $12.46 MMBtu in January 2006. (Id., Ex. 25 at 2.) Garnett, Kansas cited an estimated cost of $10.57 for 2005-2006 winter season. (Id., Ex. 26 at 2 (no unit provided).) Denison, Kansas is committed to pay $11.67 for December 2005, $11.67 for January 2006, $11.89 for February 2006, and $11.82 for March 2006. (Id., Ex. 27 at 2 (units not provided).) Moundridge, Kansas paid $10.14 in September 2005, $11.0695 in October 2005, $12.2542 in November 2005 and $11.171 in December 2005. (Pls.' Mot. for Leave to File Supp. Aff., Ex. A (units not provided).)
Plaintiffs allege they will lose business and customers as a result of this price increase. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 16.) In Moundridge, Kansas, the owners of a family-run grocery store have told the city that, although they remain in business, the high natural gas prices make it increasingly difficult to stay open. (Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 1B ¶ 6.) In Macon, Missouri, the higher natural gas prices have "adversely impacted" the city's major employer so much so that the major employer's parent company continuously monitors the utility costs "with an eye toward moving the Macon operation" to where utility costs are lower. (Id., Ex. 1C ¶¶ 5, 6.) In La Cygne, Kansas, the major commercial consumer of natural gas may cease operations in the city, but the consumer has not established a "time frame for adverse action." (Id., Ex. 1E ¶ 6.) Plaintiffs allege that this loss of customers will result in their collection for gas sold being lower than their liability for gas purchased. According to plaintiffs, the loss of revenue will prevent them from providing "vital social programs" and hamper their ability to fund other city programs. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 16; Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 1B ¶ 5, Ex. 1D ¶ 4.)
Plaintiffs argue that defendants have no legitimate justification for raising the price of natural gas because there is no shortage in the United States. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 7-8.) According to plaintiffs, technically recoverable natural gas resources are currently 1,769.6 trillion cubic feet ("Tcf"). (Pls.' Statement of Facts at 7.) Working gas, or gas available in the marketplace, in storage was 3.225 Tcf as of November 25, 2005. (Id. at 7-8.) Plaintiffs claim that the amount of natural gas "shut-in," or temporarily unavailable, as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is 0.519 Tcf. (Id. at 8.) When compared to the total consumption of natural gas in the United States per year — 22.4 Tcf — the plaintiffs assert that no shortage of natural gas exists. (Pls.' Statement of Facts at 6-7, Ex. 2 at 73.) Defendants, however, cite to evidence that the supply disruptions caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita exacerbated an already tight supply. (Defs.' Opp'n at 7, Ex. B ¶ 6, Ex. G at 2; see also Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 1G ¶ 19 (plaintiffs' expert Dr. Wilson noting that "relatively small available supply curtailments can have substantial price impacts" in inelastic markets, meaning markets where demand varies little in response to price changes).)
Plaintiffs also claim that defendants have gained, or are attempting to gain, control of the natural gas market. Plaintiffs' expert, Dr. John W. Wilson, alleges in his affidavit that defendants "influence, and in some cases control, gas production owned or attributed to smaller independent producers" which amounts to 60 to 70% of the total natural gas production. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 22-23.) Defendants respond that their "reported U.S. natural gas reserves amount to no more than 3% of technically recoverable U.S. reserves cited by plaintiffs." (Defs.' Opp'n, Ex. B ¶ 4.) Plaintiffs dispute this calculation, noting that a more accurate formula using the defendants' numbers shows that defendants control 21% of the proved reserves in the United States. (Pls.' Reply at 2, 11-13.)
Plaintiffs filed their complaint in June of 2004. Over a year later on December 23, 2005, plaintiffs moved for a preliminary injunction.
This memorandum opinion will assume, without deciding, that plaintiffs have standing to bring this antitrust action.
DISCUSSION
A motion for a preliminary injunction generally seeks to maintain the status quo pending a final determination of the suit on the merits. Univ. of Texas v. Camenisch, 451 U.S. 390, 395 (1981); WMATA v. Holiday Tours, Inc., 559 F.2d 841, 844 (D.C. Cir. 1977). Where the effect of the preliminary injunction would be to alter rather than maintain the relative positions of the parties, some courts, including judges in this district, have held that such "mandatory injunctive intervention" requires the movant to meet an even higher standard than the one applied to a preliminary injunction seeking only to maintain the parties' relative positions. Vietch v. Danzig, 135 F. Supp. 2d 32, 35 (D.D.C. 2001) (citing Phillip v. Fairfield Univ., 118 F.3d 131, 133 (2d Cir. 1997) andDorfmann v. Boozer, 414 F.2d 1168, 1173 (D.C. Cir. 1969)); but see Friends for All Children, Inc. v. Lockheed Aircraft Corp., 746 F.2d 816, 835 n. 31 (D.C. Cir. 1984) (stating that no case in this Circuit has clearly imposed a heightened standard for mandatory injunctions)."The power to issue a preliminary injunction, especially a mandatory one, should be sparingly exercised." Dorfmann, 414 F.2d at 1173 (quotation and citation omitted); see also Cobell v. Norton, 391 F.3d 251, 258 (D.C. Cir. 2004) (holding that "[a] preliminary injunction is an extraordinary remedy that should be granted only when the party seeking relief, by a clear showing, carries the burden of persuasion"); Mazurek v. Armstrong, 520 U.S. 968, 972 (1997) (stating that a preliminary injunction is "an extraordinary and drastic remedy"). A request for a mandatory injunction, as opposed to a prohibitive injunction, should be viewed "with even greater circumspection than usual. . . ."Mylan Pharms., Inc. v. Shalala, 81 F. Supp. 2d 30, 36 (D.D.C. 2000).
A party seeking a preliminary injunction must show that (1) there is a substantial likelihood the party will succeed on the merits; (2) the party will be irreparably injured if an injunction is not granted; (3) an injunction will not substantially injure other parties; and (4) the public interest will be furthered by the injunction. Serono Labs., Inc. v. Shalala, 158 F.3d 1313, 1317-18 (D.C. Cir. 1998). The factors "must be viewed as a continuum, with more of one factor compensating for less of another." Bradshaw v. Veneman, 338 F. Supp. 2d 139, 141 (D.D.C. 2004). Thus, "[i]f the arguments for one factor are particularly strong, an injunction may issue even if the arguments in other areas are rather weak." CityFed Fin. Corp. v. Office of Thrift Supervision, 58 F.3d 738, 747 (D.C. Cir. 1995) (internal citations omitted).
Some showing of irreparable harm, however, is a threshold requirement for a preliminary injunction. Id. (explaining that "[d]espite the flexibility [in weighing the four factors in relation to each other], we require the moving party to demonstrate at least `some injury'") (citing Sea Containers Ltd. v. Stena AB, 890 F.2d 1205, 1210-11 (D.C. Cir. 1989)); Miami Bldg. Constr. Trades Council v. Sec'y of Defense, 143 F. Supp. 2d 19, 27 (D.D.C. 2001) ("For the Court to grant a preliminary injunction, plaintiffs must make some showing that irreparable harm will result absent immediate intervention by the Court.").
I. IRREPARABLE HARM
"Irreparable harm" is an imminent injury that is both great and certain, and that legal remedies cannot repair. Wis. Gas Co. v. FERC, 758 F.2d 669, 674 (D.C. Cir. 1985) (citing Sampson v. Murray, 415 U.S. 61, 88 (1974); Connecticut v. Massachusetts, 282 U.S. 660, 674 (1931); Ashland Oil, Inc. v. FTC, 409 F. Supp. 297, 307 (D.D.C. 1976)).
The key word in this consideration is irreparable. Mere injuries, however substantial, in terms of money, time and energy necessarily expended in the absence of a stay, are not enough. The possibility that adequate compensatory or other corrective relief will be available at a later date, in the ordinary course of litigation, weighs heavily against a claim of irreparable harm.Va. Petroleum Jobbers Ass'n v. Fed. Power Comm'n, 259 F.2d 921, 925 (D.C. Cir. 1958); Davenport v. Int'l Bhd. of Teamsters, 166 F.3d 356, 367 (D.C. Cir. 1999) (holding that eliminating flight attendants' per diem pay and hotel allowances was not an irreparable injury because assuming the attendants could prevail, the change could be remedied with money damages); Sampson, 415 U.S. at 90, 94 S.Ct. 937 (explaining that "the temporary loss of income, ultimately to be recovered, does not usually constitute irreparable injury").
In addition to demonstrating a substantial injury, a movant for a preliminary injunction must demonstrate that the injury has already taken place or is going to take place in the near future. "[T]he party seeking injunctive relief must show that `the injury complained of [is] of such imminence that there is a clear and present need for equitable relief to prevent irreparable harm.'"Wis. Gas Co., 758 F.2d at 674 (quoting Ashland Oil, Inc., 409 F. Supp. at 307) (internal quotation marks omitted).
A. Imminence of the Harm
Plaintiffs claim that the price of natural gas is expected to average $14.00 per MMBtu between December 2005 and March 2006. (Pls.' Statement of Facts at 5.) This projected price is the basis for plaintiffs contention that they will suffer immediate harm without an injunction. These prices, they argue, will "irreparably injure the Cities and their consumer-owners." (Id.) Although plaintiffs have provided the current prices for five cities, they give no indication of what the remaining cities are actually paying or may be able to contract for in the future. Additionally, those cities that divulged their actual costs also entered these contracts in the fall of 2005, undercutting the plaintiffs' assertion that on December 23, 2005 when they filed the preliminary injunction motion, these high prices would cause plaintiffs immediate harm. (Pls.' Memo. in Support of their Mot. for Leave to File Supp. Aff. at 1.)
As defendants contend, ever since the plaintiffs submitted their motion for a preliminary injunction, price projections for natural gas have decreased because "unseasonably mild weather moved into most of the Lower 48 States [and] mitigated heating demand for natural gas." (Defs.' Opp'n at 7 (internal quotation marks omitted).) According to defendants, the price of the futures contract for natural gas decreased almost thirty percent from December 21, 2005, two days before plaintiffs filed their motion for a preliminary injunction, to January 4, 2006. (Id.) Although some cities are locked into higher prices for this winter, the dropping natural gas prices undermines plaintiffs' claim that "irreparable injury is likely to occur." Wis. Gas. Go., 758 F.2d at 674 (emphasis added) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Although the projected winter prices of 2005-2006 form the basis of plaintiffs claim of irreparable harm, they seek an order setting the price of natural gas at a level of $5.85 per Mcf, the average price of natural gas from November 2004 through March 2005. Notably, the $5.85 price was exceeded in November 2004, over one year before plaintiffs filed their motion for a preliminary injunction. (Pls.' Statement of Fact, Ex. 10.) "Though such a delay is not dispositive of the issue, it further militates against a finding of irreparable harm." Mylan Pharms., Inc., 81 F. Supp. 2d at 44. Plaintiffs' delay in filing their application for a preliminary injunction suggests that the alleged harm is not imminent.
B. Economic Harm
Recoverable monetary injuries ordinarily are not irreparable and subject to being remedied by an injunction unless "the loss threatens the very existence of the movant's business."Wis. Gas. Go., 758 F.2d at 674. Although several plaintiffs contend that business consumers are contemplating relocating, in the worst case scenario, the City of Macon, Missouri might lose a customer that comprises 19 to 20 percent of the city's utility revenue. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 16, Ex. 1C ¶¶ 5,6.) Other cities, like Winfield, Kansas, claim that the "gas utility budget will be seriously in the red at the end of the year . . .," as a result of the purported loss of customers (id., Ex. 1A, ¶ 10), or that the loss of revenue will prevent them from providing "vital social programs" and hamper their ability to fund other city programs. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 17.) The cities' fear and speculation, however, does not establish that the loss of revenue threatens the existence of the public utilities plaintiffs run, or the municipalities themselves. Varicon Int'l v. Office of Personnel Mgmt., 934 F. Supp. 440, 448 (D.D.C. 1996) (noting that "even if MVM were to lose the contract to USIS a ten percent decrease in revenues would not threaten MVM's existence"). Nor is plaintiffs' claim of irreparability aided by their own suggestion that the defendants pay the plaintiffs as part of the preliminary injunctive remedy the difference between their price of natural gas and the price they propose that the injunction fix. (Pls.' Reply at 17-18.) Plaintiffs' "mere economic loss will not support a finding of irreparable injury." Wis. Gas. Go., 758 F.2d at 675 (internal quotation marks omitted).
C. Harm to the Public
Plaintiffs also claim that the cities' customers will suffer irreparable harm if the injunction does not issue. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 17-18.) Although the Supreme Court has held that monetary remedies — like refunds to consumers for illegal overcharges — are not adequate remedies at law to compensate consumers in some circumstances, these cases have involved claims by the consumers themselves or their representative seeking an injunctive remedy. See Miss. Power Light Co. v. United Gas Pipe Line Co., 760 F.2d 618, 625 (5th Cir. 1985) (involving the Mississippi Public Service Commission intervening on behalf of consumers in the state); Fed. Power Comm'n v. Tenn. Gas Transmission Co., 371 U.S. 145, 150 (1962) (involving the city of Pittsburgh representing its resident consumers of natural gas). Here, however, no public interest or state entities have intervened purporting to represent the consumers of the cities' utilities. In any event, considering the "broad public interest" in addition to the interest of the consumers of the product at issue is appropriate in assessing the public interest prong of the preliminary injunction test, Tri-State Generation Transmission Ass'n v. Shoshone River Power, Inc., 805 F.2d 351, 358 (10th Cir. 1986), but does not relieve the movants of demonstrating irreparable harm to themselves.
With plaintiffs' irreparable harm allegation based upon outdated price projections, with a delay of over one year after prices exceeded their suggested level before plaintiffs filed their motion for a preliminary injunction, with no proof that the utilities plaintiffs run or the cities themselves will be forced out of business by the high prices of natural gas, and with no ability to substitute proof of irreparable harm to the public for their own, plaintiffs have not met their burden of establishing they will suffer irreparable harm if an injunction does not issue.
II. LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS ON THE MERITS
The plaintiffs must show that they have a likelihood of success on the merits for their price-fixing claim under § 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1 (2000), and the conspiracy to monopolize claim under § 2 of the Sherman Act. 15 U.S.C. § 2. The defendants dispute that the plaintiffs will succeed on the merits. In addition, defendant Coral claims that the plaintiffs are not likely to succeed on the merits as to it because its rates are regulated by FERC.
A. Conspiracy
In an antitrust case, "[i]t is well settled that concerted action may be established by circumstantial evidence." FTC v. Lukens Steel Co., 454 F. Supp. 1182, 1189 (D.D.C. 1978). "Indeed, it is axiomatic that the typical conspiracy is rarely evinced by explicit agreements, but must almost always be proven by inferences that may be drawn from the behavior of the alleged conspirators." ES Dev., Inc. v. RWM Enters., Inc., 939 F.2d 547, 553 (8th Cir. 1991) (internal quotation marks omitted). To permit such an inference, however, "[t]he correct standard is that there must be evidence that tends to exclude the possibility of independent action. . . . That is, there must be direct or circumstantial evidence that reasonably tends to prove . . . a conscious commitment to a common scheme designed to achieve an unlawful objective." Monsanto Co. v. Spray-Rite Serv. Corp., 465 U.S. 752, 768 (1984); see also Cooper v. Forsyth County Hosp. Auth., Inc., 789 F.2d 278, 281 (4th Cir. 1986). "An inference of concerted action is warranted where the totality of circumstances reveals a `unity of purpose or a common design and understanding, or a meeting of the minds in an unlawful arrangement.'" Lukens Steel Co., 454 F. Supp. at 1189 (quoting Am. Tobacco Co. v. United States, 328 U.S. 781, 810 (1946)).
First, a plaintiff must "br[ing] forth sufficient circumstantial evidence from which a conspiracy may be inferred."Kreuzer v. Am. Acad. of Periodontology, 735 F.2d 1479, 1488 (D.C. Cir. 1984). Then "the defendant may deny the existence of a conspiracy and offer an innocent explanation of the questioned conduct." Id. "If this explanation is plausible and more logical than a theory of concerted action, then a conspiracy may not be found. At all times, of course, the ultimate burden of persuading the factfinder that a conspiracy exists is on the plaintiff." Id. "Facing the sworn denial of the existence of conspiracy, it [is] up to plaintiff to produce significant probative evidence by affidavit or deposition that conspiracy existed if summary judgment [is] to be avoided." Lamb's Patio Theatre, Inc. v. Universal Film Exchanges, Inc., 582 F.2d 1068, 1070 (6th Cir. 1978).
Conspiracy may be inferred from evidence of "parallel business behavior" if the evidence tends to exclude the possibility of independent action. Lukens Steel Co., 454 F. Supp. at 1189;see also Apex Oil Co. v. DiMauro, 822 F.2d 246, 253 (2nd Cir. 1987); Fragale Sons Beverage Co. v. Dill, 760 F.2d 469, 473 (3rd Cir. 1985). "Tacit collusion, sometimes called oligopolistic price coordination or conscious parallelism, describes the process, not in itself unlawful, by which firms in a concentrated market might in effect share monopoly power, setting their prices at a profit-maximizing, supracompetitive level by recognizing their shared economic interests and their interdependence with respect to price and output decisions."Brooke Group Ltd. v. Brown Williamson Tobacco Corp., 509 U.S. 209, 227 (1993).
To prove a conspiracy based on consciously parallel behavior, a plaintiff must show: "(1) that the defendants' behavior was parallel; (2) that the defendants were conscious of each other's conduct and that this awareness was an element in their decision-making processes; and (3) certain `plus' factors." Petruzzi's IGA Supermarkets, Inc. v. Darling-Delaware Co., Inc., 998 F.2d 1224, 1242-43 (3rd Cir. 1993). The plus factors are necessary to showing concerted action because parallel behavior, such as parallel price increases, is often consistent with independent reactions to a competitive market. Apex Oil Co., 822 F.2d at 253; see also Brooke Group Ltd., 509 U.S. at 237 (noting that "rising prices do not themselves permit an inference of a collusive market dynamic"). The D.C. Circuit has held that to show that parallel behavior is not the result of independent conduct, the plaintiff must (1) show that the "acts by the defendants [are] in contradiction of their own economic interests," and (2) make a "satisfactory demonstration of a motivation to enter into a conspiracy." Kreuzer, 735 F.2d at 1488 n. 12.; see also Fed. Prescription Serv., Inc. v. Am. Pharm. Ass'n, 663 F.2d 253, 267 (D.C. Cir. 1981) (noting that "parallel behavior may support an inference of conspiracy when the alleged co-conspirators have acted in a way inconsistent with independent pursuit of economic self-interest, [but] that inference is warranted only when a theory of rational, independent action is less attractive than that of concerted action"); see also Lukens Steel Co., 454 F. Supp. at 1190-1191. But see Petruzzi's IGA Supermarkets, Inc., 998 F.2d at 1242 (Third Circuit opinion noting that a range of circumstantial evidence can be a plus factor, "`[f]or example, have they attended meetings or conducted discussions at which they had the opportunity to conspire; have they acted against their own economic best interests; have they engaged in parallel behavior that is economically irrational unless an agreement exists; has at least one participant expressly invited common action by the other'") (quoting William C. Holmes, 1992 Antitrust Law Handbook § 1.03[3], at 154).
Generally, conspiracy by conscious parallelism is unlikely because it is difficult to achieve coordination without an express agreement. See, e.g., Brooke Group Ltd., 509 U.S. at 239-240. Some types of markets, however, lend themselves better to consciously parallel behavior. "Tacit coordination is facilitated by a stable market environment, fungible products, and a small number of variables upon which the firms seeking to coordinate their pricing may focus." Id. at 238. Susceptible markets also have inelastic demand, customers with low bargaining power and a homogenous product. See Petruzzi's IGA Supermarkets, Inc., 998 F.2d at 1232.
Here, representatives of each of the gas-producing defendants have submitted affidavits swearing that no conspiracy exists and that each company sets its prices independently. (Defs.' Opp'n, Ex. A-1 ¶ 5, Ex. A-2 ¶ 4, Ex. A-4 ¶ 3, Ex. A-5 ¶ 4-6; but see id., Ex. A-3 ¶ 4 (noting that defendant Coral Energy Resources is a marketer of natural gas, not a producer of natural gas).) This raises the plaintiffs' burden to show "significant probative evidence" of a conspiracy. Lamb's Patio Theatre, Inc., 582 F.2d at 1070. Plaintiffs claim that "defendants acted in concert to withhold output." (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 29 n. 20.) To support this assertion, plaintiffs note that the natural gas market is one that is highly susceptible to tacit collusion because natural gas is a homogenous product and in the short-term no viable alternatives exist, causing the market for natural gas to be price inelastic. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 22, Ex. 1G ¶ 19.) Plaintiffs, however, must point to evidence that tends to show that the defendants were involved in a conspiracy to restrain trade.
1. Parallel behavior
Without identifying from whom they purchase natural gas, five cities submitted reply affidavits describing the contract prices for natural gas that they currently pay. (Pls.' Reply, Ex. 24 at 2, Ex. 25 at 2, Ex. 26 at 2, Ex. 27 at 2; Pls.' Mot. for Leave to File Supp. Aff., Ex. A.) Plaintiffs also cite to the average wellhead price, and gas prices and futures listed on the New York Mercantile Exchange. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 4-6.) The plaintiffs do not reveal the prices at which defendants were selling gas to them or to anyone, or any such prices which lead them to believe the defendants were colluding. (See Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 1A-1F.) Without evidence of actual prices charged by these defendants, the plaintiff cannot show that the defendants' behavior was in fact parallel, the first element necessary in showing a conspiracy with conscious parallelism. See, e.g., Petruzzi's IGA Supermarkets, Inc., 998 F.2d at 1242-43. In fact, the reply affidavits make clear that all of the five cities who revealed their prices are paying different prices for natural gas this winter.
See n. 3 above.
It does seem likely, however, that in a market for a fungible product, the defendants' prices would have been similar. "Even in a concentrated market, the occurrence of a price increase does not in itself permit a rational inference of conscious parallelism or supracompetitive pricing." Brooke Group Ltd., 509 U.S. at 237. Even if the plaintiffs had shown that the defendants did charge parallel prices, however, the plaintiffs would still have to provide evidence to show an awareness of the pricing conduct as an element of defendants' decision-making, and to support the "plus factors" necessary to demonstrate that the defendants did not act independently.
2. Awareness of the conduct as element of decision-making
The plaintiffs' claim of conscious parallelism requires a showing that the defendants were aware of each other's conduct and relied upon that conduct in their own decision-making. See Petruzzi's IGA Supermarkets, Inc., 998 F.2d at 1242-43. Plaintiffs cite to the defendants' joint participation in the National Petroleum Council and the defendants' historical relationships as possible opportunities for the defendants to learn about the pricing and business practices of the other companies. (See Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 1G ¶ 21, and Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 3.) Evidence that competitors merely exchanged information does not establish a conspiracy.See Kreuzer, 735 F.2d at 1487. "Evidence of an opportunity to conspire, although relevant, is not enough to sustain an antitrust plaintiff's burden, and, without more, does not create a jury question on the issue of concerted action." Fragale Sons Beverage Co., 760 F.2d at 473.
While the defendants' historical relationship and their participation on the NPC might be relevant to whether they knew about each others pricing practices, it is far from clear that plaintiffs have explicitly demonstrated it. (See Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 1G ¶ 16-18.) Plaintiffs also have not addressed whether defendants used this pricing information in making their own pricing choices. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 20-32.) Although defendants do not specifically dispute this element of the test, they do dispute that they ever conspired. (See Defs.' Opp'n at 13.) Even if the plaintiffs had offered sufficient proof of the defendants' parallel behavior or have shown defendants' use of each others' prices in their own decision-making, plaintiffs would still need to demonstrate the presence of required plus factors.
3. Plus factors
Proof of plus factors tending to exclude the possibility of independent action is important given the similarity between a competitive market and a conspiracy based on conscious parallelism. Apex Oil Co., 822 F.2d at 254; see also Dimidowich v. Bell Howell, 803 F.2d 1473, 1479 (9th Cir. 1986) (applying the Cartwright Act, a California state prohibition on restraint of trade). The factors should be viewed in the context of all of the evidence presented. See Apex Oil Co., 822 F.2d at 255.
Here, the plaintiffs' expert reviewed evidence that defendants are closely associated through joint leasing operations, that defendants as large natural gas producers control the majority of the available natural gas supply, and that the available and uncommitted supply of natural gas directly affects the price of natural gas. (Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 1G ¶ 16-19, 21.) He asserts only that the defendants' behavior is "consistent with the Plaintiffs' allegations" of a conspiracy. (Id. ¶ 12.) However, as defendants point out, the plaintiffs' burden of proof it to exclude the possibility that the defendants acted independently. (Defs.' Opp'n at 14.) The additional evidence the plaintiffs offer of the defendants' participation on the NPC that issued the 1999 and 2003 Reports standing alone also fails to add support for any fair inference of a conspiracy. Although opportunity to conspire is relevant, it cannot alone raise an inference of conspiracy. See Fragale Sons Beverage Co., 760 F.2d at 473.
The plaintiffs do not attempt, however, to support their claim of conspiracy under the D.C. Circuit's plus factors. Instead, plaintiffs assert that the court should consider another plus factor — high prices existing in a time of oversupply and a pretextual reason given for these prices. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 26-27.) Some courts have held that "price increases which occur in times of surplus or when the natural expectation would be a general market decline, must be viewed with suspicion." C-O-Two Fire Equip. Co. v. United States, 197 F.2d 489, 497 (9th Cir. 1952). In C-O-Two Fire Equipment Co., however, the court also considered evidence of historical use of illegal licensing agreements, artificial standardization of products, and policing of dealers to effectuate the conspiracy in addition to high prices in a time of oversupply to conclude that uniform high prices were the result of an illegal conspiracy. 197 F.2d at 497. The court found that this combination of evidence supported the inference of a conspiracy and eliminated the possibility of independent action. Id.
Here, the plaintiffs' expert does not assert that an oversupply of natural gas existed in the market during the relevant time. (See, e.g., Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 1G ¶ 19, 20, 22, 23.) The plaintiffs' expert also fails to address the plaintiffs' comparison of the levels of proved reserves of natural gas, working natural gas levels in storage and the losses and shut-in of natural gas as a result of the hurricanes with the estimated total consumption of natural gas in the United States. (See Pls.' Statement of Facts ¶ 12-19.) The defendants, however, offer a report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission which describes the natural gas market as having a tight supply because "[n]atural gas production in the United States has fallen slightly in the past few years, and imports have grown only slightly," while demand for natural gas has grown. (Defs.' Opp'n, Ex. G at 2.) The evidence tends to show that natural gas was not oversupplied, but tight.
Courts have also held that pretextual reasons given for a defendant's actions can give rise to an inference of a conspiracy in certain cases. In Dimidowich, the Ninth Circuit held that a "jury reasonably could conclude that [the defendant's] stated reason for refusing to sell to [plaintiff] was a mere pretext" when the plaintiff offered evidence that the defendant lied. 803 F.2d at 1480 (applying a California antitrust statute to a claim of refusal to deal). This pretext constituted "evidence that tends to support an inference of concerted action by [the defendants] and tends to exclude the possibility of independent action." Id. For evidence of pretext to support an inference of conspiracy, however, it must be supported by additional evidence of opportunity to conspire, direct evidence of an agreement, or other circumstantial evidence of restraint of trade. See, e.g., Fragale Sons Beverage Co., 760 F.2d at 474 (holding that the defendant's pretextual reason for refusing to deal with the plaintiff could give rise to the inference of a conspiracy where the plaintiff also offered direct evidence of a meeting between defendants and evidence that the defendant deals with all other distributors other than the plaintiff.)
Plaintiffs here present no evidence to rebut the claim that the hurricanes affected the price of natural gas or even to show that the defendants lied about the reason for the increase in the price of natural gas. The defendants offer a FERC report that noted that the hurricanes' disruption in the natural gas production and distribution exacerbated the already tight supply. (Defs.' Opp'n, Ex. G at 2.) In fact, the plaintiffs' expert notes that "relatively small available supply curtailments can have substantial price impacts," which tends to support the defendants' view that the hurricanes exacerbated a market that had an already tight supply of natural gas. (Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 1G ¶ 19; see also Defs.' Opp'n, Ex. G at 2.)
Based on the evidence presented by the plaintiffs, and the sworn statements and justifications provided by the defendants, the plaintiffs have not shown that the defendants conspired.
B. Price Fixing: § 1 of the Sherman Act
"Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal." 15 U.S.C. § 1. "Under the Sherman Act a combination formed for the purpose and with the effect of raising, depressing, fixing, pegging, or stabilizing the price of a commodity in interstate or foreign commerce is illegal per se."United States v. Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., 310 U.S. 150, 223 (1940). "Functionally, an agreement to restrict output works in most cases to raises prices above a competitive level." United States v. Andreas, 216 F.3d 645, 667 (7th Cir. 2000). "A prototypical output restriction raises prices by reducing supply below demand." Id. In American Tobacco Co., 328 U.S. at 805-806, the Supreme Court found that where "[n]o economic justification for this raise was demonstrated" and where the companies had made record profits after a raise in price, in addition to detailed evidence of identical price lists, the inference of a conspiracy to raise prices had been supported.
Here, as is discussed above, the plaintiffs have not sufficiently supported their claim of a conspiracy and thus their § 1 price fixing claim does not have a likelihood of success on the merits. The plaintiffs have shown that the defendants reaped staggeringly high profits in the third quarter of 2005 (Pls.' Statement of Facts ¶ 20), and that could ordinarily add some circumstantial evidence to support an inference of conspiracy. Id. However, the defendants have offered a reasonable economic justification for the increase in price, namely, a tight supply exacerbated by a destructive hurricane season. Defendants' justification is corroborated by the falling natural gas prices since the end of January, attributed to reports of mild winter weather and a corresponding decrease in demand. (Defs.' Opp'n at 7, Ex. F (noting that gas prices "continued their downward trend from a relative peak on December 13 . . . [a]s a result of the mild temperatures mitigating heating demand").)
Because plaintiffs have not shown that the defendants conspired and have not shown that the rising prices are unjustified, they have not shown a likelihood of success on the merits of the § 1 price fixing claim.
C. Conspiracy to Monopolize: § 2 of the Sherman Act
"Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony," 15 U.S.C. § 2. "A plaintiff must demonstrate the existence of four elements to state a claim for conspiracy to monopolize: (1) the existence of a combination or conspiracy to monopolize; (2) overt acts done in furtherance of the combination or conspiracy; (3) an effect upon an appreciable amount of interstate commerce; and (4) a specific intent to monopolize a designated segment of commerce." Genetic Sys. Corp. v. Abbott Laboratories, 691 F. Supp. 407, 420 (D.D.C. 1988).
In addition to failing to support their claim that the defendants conspired to monopolize, plaintiffs have failed to show that the defendants had the specific intent to do so. "In determining whether the plaintiff satisfies the specific intent to monopolize element, a court can infer intent from conduct that has no legitimate business justification but to destroy or damage competition." GTE New Media Servs., Inc. v. Ameritech Corp., 21 F. Supp. 2d 27, 45 (D.D.C. 1998). This element is proven where "it is otherwise apparent from the character of the defendants' actions," such as eliminating viable means of competition or by channeling customers away from the competition. Id. Where the illegal purpose of driving competitors from the market with predatory or exclusionary means is apparent, specific intent is sufficiently shown. See id. Where the plaintiffs' claim is not sufficiently supported by a factual assertion, however, specific intent is not supported. Genetic Sys. Corp., 691 F. Supp. at 422. Plaintiffs' unsupported allegation cannot remedy this deficiency.
"[N]o particular level of `market power' or `dangerous probability of success' has to be alleged or proved here." GTE New Media Servs., Inc., 21 F. Supp. 2d at 45 (citing Am. Tobacco Co., 328 U.S. at 789); see also Monument Builders of Greater Kan. City, Inc. v. Am. Cemetery Ass'n of Kan., 891 F.2d 1473, 1484 (10th Cir. 1989) (holding that market power need not be proven to sustain a conspiracy to monopolize claim). Some courts, however, have found aggregate market share relevant to the issue of specific intent. See e.g., Rebel Oil Co., Inc. v. Atl. Richfield Co., 51 F.3d 1421, 1437-1438 (9th Cir. 1995) (applying the aggregate market share number to an attempt to monopolize claim);Brager Co., Inc. v. Leumi Sec. Corp., 429 F. Supp. 1341, 1346 (S.D.N.Y. 1977) (holding that if the plaintiff's allegation that defendant controls more than 60% of the market share "if proven, could be taken as some evidence that the requisite intent to monopolize existed").
Here, plaintiffs have alleged that together the defendants own or control 70% of the relevant market. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 31.) Defendants have challenged this allegation, noting that together they control not more than 3% of the technically recoverable reserves in the United States. (Defs.' Opp'n at 5 and Ex. B ¶ 4.) Plaintiffs challenge this calculation, and assert that using the defendants numbers, the defendants control 21% of natural gas production in the United States. (Pls.' Reply at 2, 11-13.) Beyond their experts' opinion that defendants directly or indirectly control 60-70% of domestic natural gas, plaintiffs offer no further documentation or evidence to rebut the defendants' contrary evidence. (Pls.' Statement of Facts, Ex. 1G ¶ 18.) Other than the assertions of the aggregate market share of the defendants, the plaintiffs have alleged no predatory or exclusionary acts that would further an inference of the defendants' specific intent to monopolize. Even if defendants raised their prices artificially, this would not have harmed their competitors because higher prices would make it easier for competitors to compete in the market, would not evince an anti-competitive intent, and thus could not qualify as a predatory practice. See GTE New Media Servs., Inc., 21 F. Supp. 2d at 45 (holding that evidence of conduct that "effectively eliminated a viable means of competing" demonstrates specific intent). Plaintiffs have failed to support their claim that the defendants have a specific intent to monopolize.
Plaintiffs assert that 1,769.6 Tcf of "technically recoverable" reserves of natural gas exist in the United States. (Pls.' Statement of Facts ¶ 15.) Defendants assert that they collectively control only 41 Tcf. (Defs.' Opp'n, Ex ¶ 4.)
Plaintiffs have failed to carry their burden of showing that the defendants have conspired to monopolize, as they have not shown that the defendants have conspired and they have not shown that the defendants had specific intent to monopolize. The plaintiffs have not shown a likelihood of success on the merits of the § 2 claim of conspiracy to monopolize.
D. Coral Energy Resources, L.P. Opposition
Coral Energy Resources, L.P. ("Coral") argues that plaintiffs will not likely succeed on the merits as to it because of the filed rate doctrine. As a natural gas marketer, as opposed to a producer, Coral claims to be subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC. Coral, unlike the other defendants, does not produce natural gas and thus does not offer it for first sale in the market place. (See Coral Opp'n at 1.) Only first sales were deregulated under the Natural Gas Policy Act, leaving the secondary sales by Coral subject to the FERC's regulation. See 15 U.S.C. § 3431(a)(1)(a). Other sales of natural gas in interstate commerce continue to be subject to FERC regulations under 15 U.S.C. § 717. FERC then allows sellers under its jurisdiction to make sales of gas at negotiated rates, under a blanket marketing certificate, of which Coral is a holder. (See Coral Opp'n at 2.)
First sale is defined as "any sale of any volume of natural gas (i) to any interstate pipeline or intrastate pipeline; (ii) to any local distribution company; (iii) to any person for use by such person; (iv) which precedes any sale described in clauses (i), (ii), or (iii); and (v) which precedes or follows any sale described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) and is defined by the Commission as a first sale in order to prevent circumvention of any maximum lawful price established under this chapter." 15 U.S.C. § 3301(21)(A).
"The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce, to the sale in interstate commerce of natural gas for resale for ultimate public consumption for domestic, commercial, industrial, or any other use, and to natural-gas companies engaged in such transportation or sale, and to the importation or exportation of natural gas in foreign commerce and to persons engaged in such importation or exportation. . . ." 15 U.S.C. § 717(b).
The filed rate doctrine "provides that state law, and some federal law (e.g. antitrust law), may not be used to invalidate a filed rate nor to assume a rate would be charged other than the rate adopted by the federal agency in question." Transmission Agency of N. Cal. v. Sierra Pac. Power Co., 295 F.3d 918, 929 (9th Cir. 2002). Under this doctrine, "[n]o court may substitute its own judgment on reasonableness for the judgment of the [FERC]. The authority to decide whether the rates are reasonable is vested by § 4 of the Act solely in [FERC]." Ark. L.A. Gas Co. v. Hall, 453 U.S. 571, 577 (1981). This doctrine applies even though FERC has moved to a market-based rate system. In re: W. States Wholesale Natural Gas Antitrust Litig., 368 F. Supp. 2d 1110, 1116 (D. Nev. 2005) ("The essential purpose of the filed rate doctrine is to protect the jurisdiction of a regulatory body that Congress has designated to determine whether rates charged, such as those in the natural gas market, are just and reasonable. Under the Natural Gas Act, FERC retains statutory authority over wholesale natural gas prices and therefore the filed rate doctrine applies even though FERC, in exercising its authority, chose to move toward a market-based system."). When "[t]he relief sought by [plaintiff] would require the court to set damages by assuming a hypothetical rate," it violates the filed rate doctrine. Pub. Util. Dist. No. 1 of Grays Harbor County Wash. v. IDACORP Inc., 379 F.3d 641, 651 (9th Cir. 2004).
The filed-rate doctrine precludes this court from setting a new rate for the sale of natural gas as to Coral since Coral is likely subject to the jurisdiction of FERC and only FERC can deem unreasonable its sales of natural gas. In addition, because the plaintiffs have not offered evidence supporting the claim of conspiracy to restrain trade, and have failed to support the remaining elements under the Sherman Act claims of price fixing and conspiracy to monopolize, they have not shown that they will likely succeed on the merits.
III. BALANCING THE HARMS
"`[A]s a general matter, the Sherman Act does not restrict the long recognized right of [a] trader or manufacturer engaged in an entirely private business, freely to exercise his own independent discretion as to parties with whom he will deal.'" (Defs.' Opp'n at 28-29) (quoting Verizon Communications Inc. v. Law Offices of Curtis V. Trinko, LLP, 540 U.S. 398, 408 (2004)) (internal quotation marks omitted). Defendants, with one exception, contend they do not currently sell natural gas to plaintiffs. (Defs.' Opp'n, Ex. A-1 ¶ 2, Ex. A-2 ¶ 3, Ex. A-3 ¶ 5, Ex. A-4 ¶ 4.) The plaintiffs' proposed injunction would require the defendants to sell to customers against their will at prices set by this court, which defendants argue would deprive them of their fundamental freedom of contract.
Defendant ConocoPhillips sold on a spot basis to Wellington, Kansas after this lawsuit was initiated. (Defs.' Opp'n, Ex. A-5 ¶ 3.)
Defendants also maintain that the injunction would require them "to invest in assets or acquire some means . . . to deliver gas to plaintiffs' city-gates" because plaintiffs do not currently purchase natural gas from the wellhead from defendants. (Defs.' Opp'n at 29.) Defendants claim they are unable to estimate the amount of money or resources that would be necessary to comply with the proposed injunction. (Defs.' Opp'n at 29.)
Plaintiffs' have not met their burden of establishing that they "will in fact" suffer a substantial harm, and the balancing of the harms weighs in favor of defendants. Wis. Gas. Go., 758 F.2d at 674 (emphasis original). Plaintiffs base their allegation that they will suffer irreparable harm on high and outdated price projections for the 2005-2006 winter season, and have failed to provide proof that they will "be forced out of business" by the high prices of natural gas. Id. at 675. Defendants' corporate officers claim defendants do not currently sell natural gas to plaintiffs and plaintiffs have offered no evidence to establish otherwise. (Defs.' Opp'n, Ex. A-1 ¶ 2, Ex. A-2 ¶ 3, Ex. A-3 ¶ 5, Ex. A-4 ¶ 4, Ex. A-5 ¶ 3.) The plaintiffs do not dispute that the defendants would have to expend an undetermined amount of resources and money to comply with the proposed injunction, and their proposed alternative — ordering the defendants to pay the plaintiffs the difference between their natural gas costs and the requested price — further undermines the plaintiffs' claim of greater and irreparable harm. (See Pls.' Reply at 17-18.)
IV. PUBLIC INTEREST
When considering whether the public interest will be furthered by an injunction, the broad public interest often outweighs the limited interests of the consumers. See Tri-State Generation Transmission Ass'n, 805 F.2d at 357-58 (finding that the interests of power consumers had to give way to concerns about the viability of the Rural Electrification Administration). Although courts have sometimes found that injunctive relief is in the public interest because of the difficulty in getting refunds to consumers to whom they are due, Tenn. Gas Transmission Co., 371 U.S. at 154-155, the broader public interest must be evaluated here.
Plaintiffs argue that money damages in the form of refunds would be insufficient to alleviate their customers' hardships. (Pls.' Mot. for Prel. Inj. at 18-19.) Plaintiffs point to Macon, Missouri where "more than 16 percent of the 2,385 households in Macon have less than $10,000 income." (Id.) In Winfield, Kansas, high gas prices will have "an absolutely devastating effect on [its] customers," many of whom live on a limited income. (Id., Ex. 1A ¶ 10.) The only full-service grocery store in Moundridge, Kansas is in danger of closing because of high natural gas prices, endangering the economic health of the town. (Id., Ex. 1B ¶ 6.) Several plaintiffs fear that important social programs, once funded by natural gas revenues, will be cut or eliminated as the price of natural gas rises. (Id., Ex. 1D ¶ 4, Ex. 1E ¶ 5.) Plainly relevant to assessing the public interest are the numerous low-income households in plaintiffs' localities whom an injunction may rescue from having to choose between paying for food and paying for winter heating. Nevertheless, plaintiffs do not address the effects of the injunction on the broader public interest. (Pls.' Mot. for Prelim. Inj. at 18-19.)
Defendants take a broader view of the public interest, arguing that plaintiffs' proposed injunction is contrary to the public policy that deregulated the natural gas industry, that it would thrust the court into a supervisory role for which it is ill-suited, and that it would discourage the private sector from voluntarily providing market projections to the government. (Defs.' Opp'n at 30-32.) Their argument has merit. Through deregulation, Congress has determined that government-mandated price ceilings for natural gas run counter to the nation's interests because artificially low prices adversely affect the supply and the conservation of natural gas. (Defs.' Opp'n, Ex. B ¶ 7.) Also, the judicial forum is not tooled to be the most efficient and efficacious one for determining reasonable prices in a volatile market. (Id. at 31.) Judicial price regulation may be "inconsistent with antitrust's fundamental `market' orientation to problems of lack of competition." (Id. at 31-32 (citing II Phillip E. Areeda and Herbert Hovenkamp,Antitrust Law (2d ed. 2000 2005 Suppl.), ¶ 771).) Finally, as defendants note, if they are penalized for helping to produce government-sponsored NPC reports, private entities would be discouraged from voluntarily providing information to the government or participating in governmental advisory commissions, which would ultimately harm the public. (Defs.' Opp'n at 32.)
If plaintiffs are correct about their antitrust claims, many consumers, especially low-income consumers, will have been harmed by high natural gas prices this winter, and the interests of consumers would weigh in favor of injunctive relief. However, the dangers and difficulties of judicially-mandated price regulation outweigh those concerns, especially in light of plaintiffs unlikely chances for success on the merits and their scant proof of irreparable harm. For those reasons, the public interest will not be furthered by issuing the proposed injunction.
CONCLUSION AND ORDER
Plaintiffs have failed to meet their burden of establishing that there is a substantial likelihood they will succeed on the merits, and that they will be irreparably injured if an injunction is not granted. These failings are not overcome by plaintiffs' insufficient showings concerning the public interest and the balance of harms to the parties. Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED that plaintiffs' motion [41] for a preliminary injunction be, and hereby is, DENIED. It is further
ORDERED that plaintiffs' motions [53] [59] for leave to file supplemental affidavits be, and hereby are, GRANTED.