SB614, s. 55 24Section 55. 196.10 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,22,5
1196.10 Construction; accounting. The commission shall keep itself
2informed of all new construction, extensions and additions to the property of public
3utilities and regulated districts, and shall prescribe the necessary forms, regulations
4and instructions for the keeping of construction accounts, which shall clearly
5distinguish all operating expenses from new construction.
SB614, s. 56 6Section 56. 196.11 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,22,107 196.11 (1) A public utility or a regulated district may enter into any reasonable
8arrangement with its consumers or employes, for the division or distribution of its
9surplus profits, or providing for a sliding scale of charges, or other financial device
10if the arrangement is meets all of the following conditions:
SB614,22,1211 (a) Practicable The arrangement is practicable and advantageous to the parties
12interested; and.
SB614,22,1613 (b) Entered The arrangement is entered into by a public utility other than a
14telecommunications utility or by a regulated district and the arrangement is found
15by the commission to be reasonable and just and consistent with the purposes of this
16chapter.
SB614, s. 57 17Section 57. 196.12 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,22,18 18196.12 (title) Report by public utilities and regulated districts; items.
SB614, s. 58 19Section 58. 196.12 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,22,2220 196.12 (1) (intro.) Each public utility and each regulated district shall furnish
21to the commission, in the form and at the time the commission requires, accounts,
22reports or other information which shows in itemized detail:
SB614, s. 59 23Section 59. 196.13 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,23,2 24196.13 Commission's report. (1) The commission shall publish biennial
25reports showing its proceedings together with any financial or other data which

1concerns and is appropriate for all public utilities or all regulated districts and may
2publish any other report related to public utilities or regulated districts.
SB614,23,8 3(2) The commission shall publish in its reports the value of all the property
4actually used and useful for the convenience of the public of a regulated district or
5a
public utility, other than a telecommunications utility, if the commission has held
6a hearing on the regulated district's or public utility's rates, charges, service or
7regulations or if the commission has otherwise determined the value of the regulated
8district's or
public utility's property.
SB614, s. 60 9Section 60. 196.14 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,23,12 10196.14 Public record exception. The commission may withhold from public
11inspection any information which would aid a competitor of a public utility or a
12regulated district
in competition with the public utility or regulated district.
SB614, s. 61 13Section 61. 196.15 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,23,17 14196.15 Units of product or service. The commission shall prescribe for
15regulated districts and for each kind of public utility, other than a
16telecommunications utility, suitable and convenient standard commercial units of
17product or service.
SB614, s. 62 18Section 62. 196.16 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,23,2319 196.16 (1) The commission shall fix adequate and serviceable standards for the
20measurement of quality, pressure, initial voltage or other condition pertaining to the
21supply of the product or service rendered by a public utility or regulated district. The
22commission shall prescribe reasonable regulations for measurement, examination
23and testing of the product or service.
SB614, s. 63 24Section 63. 196.16 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,24,3
1196.16 (2) The commission shall establish reasonable rules, regulations,
2specifications and standards to secure the accuracy of all meters and appliances for
3measurement of public utility or regulated district service.
SB614, s. 64 4Section 64. 196.17 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,24,75 196.17 (1) The commission shall provide for the examination and testing of
6every appliance used for measuring any product or service of a public utility or
7regulated district
.
SB614, s. 65 8Section 65. 196.171 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,24,169 196.171 (1) Any officer or agent of any public utility or regulated district
10furnishing or transmitting sewerage service, water, gas or electric current to the
11public or for public purposes may enter, at any reasonable time, any place supplied
12with the sewerage service, gas, electricity or water by the public utility or regulated
13district
, for the purpose of inspecting, examining, repairing, installing or removing
14the meters, pipes, fittings, wires and works for supplying or regulating the supply
15of sewerage service, gas, electricity or water and for the purpose of ascertaining the
16quantity of sewerage service, gas, electricity or water supplied.
SB614, s. 66 17Section 66. 196.171 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,24,2018 196.171 (2) No officer or agent of a public utility or regulated district may enter
19any premises under this section unless the officer or agent meets all of the following
20conditions
:
SB614,24,2221 (a) Was The officer or agent is duly appointed by the public utility or regulated
22district
for the purpose of acting under this section.
SB614,25,323 (b) Exhibits The officer or agent exhibits written authority signed by the
24president, by a vice president and secretary, or by a vice president and assistant
25secretary of the public utility or regulated district. The authority of any officer or

1agent of a municipally owned public utility or regulated district shall be signed by
2the commissioner of public works or by any other official in charge of the public utility
3or regulated district.
SB614, s. 67 4Section 67. 196.18 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,25,9 5196.18 Entry upon premises. The commission, its agents, experts or
6examiners may enter any premises occupied by a public utility or a regulated district
7to make any examination or test under this chapter and may set up and use on the
8premises any apparatus or appliance and occupy reasonable space for the
9examination or test.
SB614, s. 68 10Section 68. 196.19 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,25,1611 196.19 (1) Each public utility and each regulated district shall file with the
12commission schedules showing all rates, tolls and charges which it has established
13and which are in force at the time for any service performed by it within the state,
14or for any service in connection therewith or performed by any public utility or
15regulated district
controlled or operated by it. The rates, tolls and charges shown on
16such schedules may not be changed except as provided under this chapter.
SB614, s. 69 17Section 69. 196.19 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,25,2418 196.19 (2) Every public utility and every regulated district shall file with and
19as a part of such schedule all rules and regulations that, in the judgment of the
20commission, in any manner affect the service or product, or the rates charged or to
21be charged for any service or product, as well as any contracts, agreements or
22arrangements relating to the service or product or the rates to be charged for any
23service or product to which the schedule is applicable as the commission may by
24general or special order direct.
SB614, s. 70 25Section 70. 196.19 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,26,5
1196.19 (3) A copy of as much of the schedules filed under sub. (1) as the
2commission determines necessary for the use of the public shall be printed in plain
3type, and kept on file in every public utility or regulated district station or office
4where payments are made by consumers in a form and place readily accessible to the
5public.
SB614, s. 71 6Section 71. 196.19 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,26,117 196.19 (4) If a schedule of joint rates or charges is in force between public
8utilities or regulated districts, the schedule shall be printed and filed with the
9commission under sub. (1). The commission shall determine the portion of the
10schedule necessary for the use of the public. The public utilities or regulated districts
11shall file the portion of the schedule under sub. (3).
SB614, s. 72 12Section 72. 196.19 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,26,1413 196.19 (6) The commission may prescribe the form in which any schedule is
14issued under this section by any public utility or regulated district.
SB614, s. 73 15Section 73. 196.20 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,26,2516 196.20 (1) The rate schedules of any public utility or regulated district shall
17include all rules applicable to the rendition or discontinuance of the service to which
18the rates specified in the schedules are applicable. No change may be made by any
19public utility or regulated district in its schedules except by filing the change as
20proposed with the commission. Except for a telecommunications utility, no change
21in any public utility or regulated district rule which purports to curtail the obligation
22or undertaking of service of the public utility or regulated district shall be effective
23without the written approval of the commission after hearing, except that the
24commission, by emergency order, may make the rule, as filed, effective from the date
25of the order, pending final approval of the rule after hearing.
SB614, s. 74
1Section 74. 196.20 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,27,42 196.20 (2) (a) 2. The commission, upon application of any public utility or
3regulated district
, directs that a proposed reduction in rates be made effective less
4than 10 days after filing the proposed reduction.
SB614, s. 75 5Section 75. 196.20 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,27,136 196.20 (2) (b) 1. A suspension under par. (a) 1. shall be effective for a period not
7exceeding 4 months, during which period the commission shall investigate any
8matter relative to the reasonableness or lawfulness of any change in schedule as
9filed. After the investigation the commission, by order, shall approve or disapprove
10the change, except as provided under subd. 2. The commission shall give the public
11utility or regulated district proposing the change an opportunity for hearing prior to
12issuing any order disapproving a change. If the commission disapproves the change,
13the change shall be ineffective.
SB614,27,1914 2. If the commission orders a suspension under par. (a) 1., the commission, after
15notice to the public utility or regulated district of its objections to the change and
16after giving the public utility or regulated district an opportunity to be heard on the
17objections, may prescribe a schedule which, revised on the basis of the objections, the
18commission finds to be lawful and reasonable instead of disapproving the schedule
19under subd. 1.
SB614, s. 76 20Section 76. 196.21 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,28,2 21196.21 Publicity of revised schedules. A Each public utility and each
22regulated district
shall file new schedules under s. 196.19 in every station and office
23of the public utility or regulated district where consumers make payments. A The
24public utility or regulated district shall file new schedules under this section at least

110 days prior to the time the new schedules take effect unless the commission
2prescribes a shorter time period.
SB614, s. 77 3Section 77. 196.22 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,28,9 4196.22 Discrimination forbidden. No public utility or regulated district
5may charge, demand, collect or receive more or less compensation for any service
6performed by it within the state, or for any service in connection therewith, than is
7specified in the schedules for the service filed under s. 196.19, including schedules
8of joint rates, as may at the time be in force, or demand, collect or receive any rate,
9toll or charge not specified in the schedule.
SB614, s. 78 10Section 78. 196.24 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,28,1311 196.24 (1) For the purpose of making any investigation with regard to any
12public utility or regulated district the commission may appoint, by an order in
13writing, an agent whose duties shall be prescribed in the order.
SB614, s. 79 14Section 79. 196.25 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,28,2315 196.25 (1) If a public utility or a regulated district receives from the commission
16any questionnaire, the public utility or regulated district shall respond fully,
17specifically and correctly to each question. If a public utility or regulated district is
18unable to answer any question, the public utility or regulated district shall give a
19good and sufficient reason for its failure. Every answer by a public utility or a
20regulated district
under this section shall be verified under oath by the president,
21secretary, superintendent or general manager of the public utility , or in the case of
22a regulated district by the executive director,
and returned to the commission at its
23office within the period fixed by the commission.
SB614, s. 80 24Section 80. 196.25 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,29,4
1196.25 (2) If required by the commission, a public utility or regulated district
2shall deliver to the commission the original or a copy of any map, profile, contract or
3engineer's report and any other document, book, account, paper or record with a
4complete inventory of all its property, in such form as the commission directs.
SB614, s. 81 5Section 81. 196.26 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,29,106 196.26 (1) Complaint. In this section , "complaint" means a complaint filed with
7the commission that any rate, toll, charge or schedule, joint rate, regulation,
8measurement, act or practice relating to the provision of heat, light, water, power,
9sewerage service
or telephone service is unreasonable, inadequate, unjustly
10discriminatory or cannot be obtained.
SB614, s. 82 11Section 82. 196.26 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,29,1712 196.26 (1m) Complaint and investigation. If any mercantile, agricultural or
13manufacturing society, body politic, municipal organization or 25 persons file a
14complaint against a public utility or a regulated district, the commission, with or
15without notice, may investigate the complaint as it deems necessary. The
16commission may not issue an order based on the investigation without a public
17hearing.
SB614, s. 83 18Section 83. 196.26 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,29,2219 196.26 (2) (a) Prior to a hearing under this section, the commission shall notify
20the public utility or regulated district complained of that a complaint has been made,
21and 10 days after the notice has been given the commission may proceed to set a time
22and place for a hearing and an investigation.
SB614, s. 84 23Section 84. 196.26 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,30,424 196.26 (2) (b) The commission shall give the public utility or regulated district
25which is the subject of a complaint filed under sub. (1) and the complainant 10 days'

1notice of the time and place of the hearing and the matter to be considered and
2determined at the hearing. The complainant, and the public utility or regulated
3district,
may be heard. The commission may subpoena any witness at the request
4of the public utility, the regulated district or complainant.
SB614, s. 85 5Section 85. 196.28 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,30,106 196.28 (1) If the commission believes that any rate or charge is unreasonable
7or unjustly discriminatory or that any service is inadequate or cannot be obtained
8or that an investigation of any matter relating to any public utility or regulated
9district
should for any reason be made, the commission on its own motion summarily
10may investigate with or without notice.
SB614, s. 86 11Section 86. 196.28 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,30,1812 196.28 (3) Notice of the time and place for a hearing under sub. (2) shall be
13given to the public utility or regulated district, and to such other interested persons
14as the commission deems necessary. After the notice has been given, proceedings
15shall be had and conducted in reference to the matter investigated as if a complaint
16had been filed with the commission under s. 196.26 (1) relative to the matter
17investigated. The same order or orders may be made in reference to the matter as
18if the investigation had been made on complaint under s. 196.26.
SB614, s. 87 19Section 87. 196.30 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,30,22 20196.30 Utilities may complain. Any public utility or regulated district may
21file a complaint with the commission on any matter affecting its own product or
22service.
SB614, s. 88 23Section 88. 196.31 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,31,224 196.31 (1) (intro.) In any proceeding before the commission, the commission
25may compensate any participant in the proceeding who is not a public utility or

1regulated district
, for some or all of the reasonable costs of participation in the
2proceeding if the commission finds that:
SB614, s. 89 3Section 89. 196.31 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,31,114 196.31 (2) Compensation granted under this section shall be paid from the
5appropriation under s. 20.155 (1) (j) and shall be assessed under s. 196.85 (1), except
6that, if the commission finds that the participation for which compensation is
7granted relates more to a general issue of utility regulation rather than to an issue
8arising from a single proceeding, the cost of the compensation may be assessed under
9s. 196.85 (2). Any payment by a public utility or regulated district for compensation
10under this section assessed under s. 196.85 (1) or (2) shall be credited to the
11appropriation under s. 20.155 (1) (j).
SB614, s. 90 12Section 90. 196.37 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,31,1713 196.37 (3) Any public utility or regulated district to which an order under this
14section applies shall make such changes in schedules on file under s. 196.19 to make
15the schedules conform to the order. The public utility or regulated district may not
16make any subsequent change in rates, tolls or charges without the approval of the
17commission, except as provided in s. 196.205 or 196.215 (2).
SB614, s. 91 18Section 91. 196.39 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,32,3 19196.39 Change, amendment and rescission of orders; reopening cases.
20The commission at any time, on its own motion or upon motion of an interested party,
21and upon notice to the public utility or regulated district and after opportunity to be
22heard, may rescind, alter or amend any order fixing rates, tolls, charges or schedules,
23or any other order made by the commission, and may reopen any case following the
24issuance of an order in the case, for any reason. Any order rescinding, altering,
25amending or reopening a prior order shall have the same effect as an original order.

1Within 30 days after service of an order, the commission may correct an error or
2omission in the order related to transcription, typing or calculation without hearing
3if the correction does not alter the intended effect of the order.
SB614, s. 92 4Section 92. 196.44 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,32,95 196.44 (1) Duty of commission. The commission shall inquire into the neglect
6or violation of the laws of this state by public utilities or regulated districts, or by
7their officers, agents or employes or by persons operating public utilities or regulated
8districts
, and shall enforce all laws relating to public utilities and regulated districts,
9and report all violations to the attorney general.
SB614, s. 93 10Section 93. 196.44 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,32,1611 196.44 (2) Attorney general and district attorney to prosecute. Upon
12request of the commission, the attorney general or the district attorney of the proper
13county shall aid in any investigation, hearing or trial had under this chapter, and
14shall institute and prosecute all necessary actions or proceedings for the enforcement
15of all laws relating to public utilities and regulated districts, and for the punishment
16of all violations.
SB614, s. 94 17Section 94. 196.44 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 1993 Wisconsin Act 496
18and 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:
SB614,32,2419 196.44 (2) Duties of attorney general and district attorneys. (a) Upon
20request of the commission, the attorney general or the district attorney of the proper
21county shall aid in any investigation, hearing or trial had under this chapter, and
22shall institute and prosecute all necessary actions or proceedings for the enforcement
23of all laws relating to public utilities and regulated districts, and for the punishment
24of all violations.
SB614,33,6
1(b) The attorney general may, on his or her own initiative, appear before the
2commission on telecommunications matters relating to consumer protection and
3antitrust. If acting under the authority granted by this paragraph, the attorney
4general shall have the rights accorded a party before the commission in its
5proceedings but may not appeal as a party a decision of the commission to the circuit
6court. This paragraph does not apply after June 30, 1999.
SB614, s. 95 7Section 95. 196.49 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,33,238 196.49 (2) No A public utility or regulated district may not begin the
9construction, installation or operation of any new plant, equipment, property or
10facility, nor the construction or installation of any extension, improvement or
11addition to its existing plant, equipment, property, apparatus or facilities unless the
12public utility or regulated district has complied with any applicable rule or order of
13the commission and with s. 144.026, if applicable. If a cooperative association has
14been incorporated under ch. 185 for the production, transmission, delivery or
15furnishing of light or power and has filed with the commission a map of the territory
16to be served by the association and a statement showing that a majority of the
17prospective consumers in the area are included in the project, no public utility may
18begin any such construction, installation or operation within the territory until after
19the expiration of 6 months from the date of filing the map and notice. If the
20cooperative association has entered into a loan agreement with any federal agency
21for the financing of its proposed system and has given written notice of the agreement
22to the commission, no public utility may begin any construction, installation or
23operation within the territory until 12 months after the date of the loan agreement.
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