Apache, Chevron, Noble and Suncor also objected last week to strands of the ruling, arguing for even lower uncommitted rates.

The case arose from contests filed by oil companies against the uncommitted rates they were charged to ship oil on the pipeline.

FERC honors these rates but at times reviews the more expensive uncommitted rates that are available to shippers without a binding long-term agreement.

In the April 13, 2012 filing, Seaway proposed uncommitted rates of $3.82 per barrel for light crude and $4.32 for heavy.

Uncommitted rates would be assessed separately and would amount to increases of around 2%.