The attorney representing consumers said he’s hopeful the U.S. Court Appeals for the Second Circuit will reverse a district court decision which found that the state’s transfer of $145 million from the energy funds to the general fund was not unconstitutional.

“It was a very spirited discussion and, halfway through my time, Judge [Peter] Hall said he found the case interesting and wanted to give both sides five more minutes to make their case,” said Feiner Wolfson’s senior attorney Benjamin Wattenmaker, who represented ratepayers and several environmental groups and clean-energy businesses.