SB614: Bill Text

SB614, s. 67 Section 67. 196.18 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,25,9 196.18 Entry upon premises. The commission, its agents, experts or examiners may enter any premises occupied by a public utility or a regulated district to make any examination or test under this chapter and may set up and use on the premises any apparatus or appliance and occupy reasonable space for the examination or test.

SB614, s. 68 Section 68. 196.19 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,25,16 196.19 (1) Each public utility and each regulated district shall file with the commission schedules showing all rates, tolls and charges which it has established and which are in force at the time for any service performed by it within the state, or for any service in connection therewith or performed by any public utility or regulated district controlled or operated by it. The rates, tolls and charges shown on such schedules may not be changed except as provided under this chapter.

SB614, s. 69 Section 69. 196.19 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,25,24 196.19 (2) Every public utility and every regulated district shall file with and as a part of such schedule all rules and regulations that, in the judgment of the commission, in any manner affect the service or product, or the rates charged or to be charged for any service or product, as well as any contracts, agreements or arrangements relating to the service or product or the rates to be charged for any service or product to which the schedule is applicable as the commission may by general or special order direct.

SB614, s. 70 Section 70. 196.19 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,26,5 196.19 (3) A copy of as much of the schedules filed under sub. (1) as the commission determines necessary for the use of the public shall be printed in plain type, and kept on file in every public utility or regulated district station or office where payments are made by consumers in a form and place readily accessible to the public.

SB614, s. 71 Section 71. 196.19 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,26,11 196.19 (4) If a schedule of joint rates or charges is in force between public utilities or regulated districts, the schedule shall be printed and filed with the commission under sub. (1). The commission shall determine the portion of the schedule necessary for the use of the public. The public utilities or regulated districts shall file the portion of the schedule under sub. (3).

SB614, s. 72 Section 72. 196.19 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,26,14 196.19 (6) The commission may prescribe the form in which any schedule is issued under this section by any public utility or regulated district.

SB614, s. 73 Section 73. 196.20 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,26,25 196.20 (1) The rate schedules of any public utility or regulated district shall include all rules applicable to the rendition or discontinuance of the service to which the rates specified in the schedules are applicable. No change may be made by any public utility or regulated district in its schedules except by filing the change as proposed with the commission. Except for a telecommunications utility, no change in any public utility or regulated district rule which purports to curtail the obligation or undertaking of service of the public utility or regulated district shall be effective without the written approval of the commission after hearing, except that the commission, by emergency order, may make the rule, as filed, effective from the date of the order, pending final approval of the rule after hearing.

SB614, s. 74 Section 74. 196.20 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,27,4 196.20 (2) (a) 2. The commission, upon application of any public utility or regulated district, directs that a proposed reduction in rates be made effective less than 10 days after filing the proposed reduction.

SB614, s. 75 Section 75. 196.20 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,27,13 196.20 (2) (b) 1. A suspension under par. (a) 1. shall be effective for a period not exceeding 4 months, during which period the commission shall investigate any matter relative to the reasonableness or lawfulness of any change in schedule as filed. After the investigation the commission, by order, shall approve or disapprove the change, except as provided under subd. 2. The commission shall give the public utility or regulated district proposing the change an opportunity for hearing prior to issuing any order disapproving a change. If the commission disapproves the change, the change shall be ineffective.

SB614,27,19 2. If the commission orders a suspension under par. (a) 1., the commission, after notice to the public utility or regulated district of its objections to the change and after giving the public utility or regulated district an opportunity to be heard on the objections, may prescribe a schedule which, revised on the basis of the objections, the commission finds to be lawful and reasonable instead of disapproving the schedule under subd. 1.

SB614, s. 76 Section 76. 196.21 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,28,2 196.21 Publicity of revised schedules. A Each public utility and each regulated district shall file new schedules under s. 196.19 in every station and office of the public utility or regulated district where consumers make payments. A The public utility or regulated district shall file new schedules under this section at least 10 days prior to the time the new schedules take effect unless the commission prescribes a shorter time period.

SB614, s. 77 Section 77. 196.22 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,28,9 196.22 Discrimination forbidden. No public utility or regulated district may charge, demand, collect or receive more or less compensation for any service performed by it within the state, or for any service in connection therewith, than is specified in the schedules for the service filed under s. 196.19, including schedules of joint rates, as may at the time be in force, or demand, collect or receive any rate, toll or charge not specified in the schedule.

SB614, s. 78 Section 78. 196.24 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,28,13 196.24 (1) For the purpose of making any investigation with regard to any public utility or regulated district the commission may appoint, by an order in writing, an agent whose duties shall be prescribed in the order.

SB614, s. 79 Section 79. 196.25 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,28,23 196.25 (1) If a public utility or a regulated district receives from the commission any questionnaire, the public utility or regulated district shall respond fully, specifically and correctly to each question. If a public utility or regulated district is unable to answer any question, the public utility or regulated district shall give a good and sufficient reason for its failure. Every answer by a public utility or a regulated district under this section shall be verified under oath by the president, secretary, superintendent or general manager of the public utility , or in the case of a regulated district by the executive director, and returned to the commission at its office within the period fixed by the commission.

SB614, s. 80 Section 80. 196.25 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,29,4 196.25 (2) If required by the commission, a public utility or regulated district shall deliver to the commission the original or a copy of any map, profile, contract or engineer's report and any other document, book, account, paper or record with a complete inventory of all its property, in such form as the commission directs.

SB614, s. 81 Section 81. 196.26 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,29,10 196.26 (1) Complaint. In this section , "complaint" means a complaint filed with the commission that any rate, toll, charge or schedule, joint rate, regulation, measurement, act or practice relating to the provision of heat, light, water, power, sewerage service or telephone service is unreasonable, inadequate, unjustly discriminatory or cannot be obtained.

SB614, s. 82 Section 82. 196.26 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,29,17 196.26 (1m) Complaint and investigation. If any mercantile, agricultural or manufacturing society, body politic, municipal organization or 25 persons file a complaint against a public utility or a regulated district, the commission, with or without notice, may investigate the complaint as it deems necessary. The commission may not issue an order based on the investigation without a public hearing.

SB614, s. 83 Section 83. 196.26 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,29,22 196.26 (2) (a) Prior to a hearing under this section, the commission shall notify the public utility or regulated district complained of that a complaint has been made, and 10 days after the notice has been given the commission may proceed to set a time and place for a hearing and an investigation.

SB614, s. 84 Section 84. 196.26 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,30,4 196.26 (2) (b) The commission shall give the public utility or regulated district which is the subject of a complaint filed under sub. (1) and the complainant 10 days' notice of the time and place of the hearing and the matter to be considered and determined at the hearing. The complainant, and the public utility or regulated district, may be heard. The commission may subpoena any witness at the request of the public utility, the regulated district or complainant.

SB614, s. 85 Section 85. 196.28 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,30,10 196.28 (1) If the commission believes that any rate or charge is unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory or that any service is inadequate or cannot be obtained or that an investigation of any matter relating to any public utility or regulated district should for any reason be made, the commission on its own motion summarily may investigate with or without notice.

SB614, s. 86 Section 86. 196.28 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,30,18 196.28 (3) Notice of the time and place for a hearing under sub. (2) shall be given to the public utility or regulated district, and to such other interested persons as the commission deems necessary. After the notice has been given, proceedings shall be had and conducted in reference to the matter investigated as if a complaint had been filed with the commission under s. 196.26 (1) relative to the matter investigated. The same order or orders may be made in reference to the matter as if the investigation had been made on complaint under s. 196.26.

SB614, s. 87 Section 87. 196.30 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,30,22 196.30 Utilities may complain. Any public utility or regulated district may file a complaint with the commission on any matter affecting its own product or service.

SB614, s. 88 Section 88. 196.31 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,31,2 196.31 (1) (intro.) In any proceeding before the commission, the commission may compensate any participant in the proceeding who is not a public utility or regulated district, for some or all of the reasonable costs of participation in the proceeding if the commission finds that:

SB614, s. 89 Section 89. 196.31 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,31,11 196.31 (2) Compensation granted under this section shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.155 (1) (j) and shall be assessed under s. 196.85 (1), except that, if the commission finds that the participation for which compensation is granted relates more to a general issue of utility regulation rather than to an issue arising from a single proceeding, the cost of the compensation may be assessed under s. 196.85 (2). Any payment by a public utility or regulated district for compensation under this section assessed under s. 196.85 (1) or (2) shall be credited to the appropriation under s. 20.155 (1) (j).

SB614, s. 90 Section 90. 196.37 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,31,17 196.37 (3) Any public utility or regulated district to which an order under this section applies shall make such changes in schedules on file under s. 196.19 to make the schedules conform to the order. The public utility or regulated district may not make any subsequent change in rates, tolls or charges without the approval of the commission, except as provided in s. 196.205 or 196.215 (2).

SB614, s. 91 Section 91. 196.39 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,32,3 196.39 Change, amendment and rescission of orders; reopening cases. The commission at any time, on its own motion or upon motion of an interested party, and upon notice to the public utility or regulated district and after opportunity to be heard, may rescind, alter or amend any order fixing rates, tolls, charges or schedules, or any other order made by the commission, and may reopen any case following the issuance of an order in the case, for any reason. Any order rescinding, altering, amending or reopening a prior order shall have the same effect as an original order. Within 30 days after service of an order, the commission may correct an error or omission in the order related to transcription, typing or calculation without hearing if the correction does not alter the intended effect of the order.

SB614, s. 92 Section 92. 196.44 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,32,9 196.44 (1) Duty of commission. The commission shall inquire into the neglect or violation of the laws of this state by public utilities or regulated districts, or by their officers, agents or employes or by persons operating public utilities or regulated districts, and shall enforce all laws relating to public utilities and regulated districts, and report all violations to the attorney general.

SB614, s. 93 Section 93. 196.44 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,32,16 196.44 (2) Attorney general and district attorney to prosecute. Upon request of the commission, the attorney general or the district attorney of the proper county shall aid in any investigation, hearing or trial had under this chapter, and shall institute and prosecute all necessary actions or proceedings for the enforcement of all laws relating to public utilities and regulated districts, and for the punishment of all violations.

SB614, s. 94 Section 94. 196.44 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 1993 Wisconsin Act 496 and 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is repealed and recreated to read:

SB614,32,24 196.44 (2) Duties of attorney general and district attorneys. (a) Upon request of the commission, the attorney general or the district attorney of the proper county shall aid in any investigation, hearing or trial had under this chapter, and shall institute and prosecute all necessary actions or proceedings for the enforcement of all laws relating to public utilities and regulated districts, and for the punishment of all violations.

SB614,33,6 (b) The attorney general may, on his or her own initiative, appear before the commission on telecommunications matters relating to consumer protection and antitrust. If acting under the authority granted by this paragraph, the attorney general shall have the rights accorded a party before the commission in its proceedings but may not appeal as a party a decision of the commission to the circuit court. This paragraph does not apply after June 30, 1999.

SB614, s. 95 Section 95. 196.49 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,33,23 196.49 (2) No A public utility or regulated district may not begin the construction, installation or operation of any new plant, equipment, property or facility, nor the construction or installation of any extension, improvement or addition to its existing plant, equipment, property, apparatus or facilities unless the public utility or regulated district has complied with any applicable rule or order of the commission and with s. 144.026, if applicable. If a cooperative association has been incorporated under ch. 185 for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of light or power and has filed with the commission a map of the territory to be served by the association and a statement showing that a majority of the prospective consumers in the area are included in the project, no public utility may begin any such construction, installation or operation within the territory until after the expiration of 6 months from the date of filing the map and notice. If the cooperative association has entered into a loan agreement with any federal agency for the financing of its proposed system and has given written notice of the agreement to the commission, no public utility may begin any construction, installation or operation within the territory until 12 months after the date of the loan agreement.

SB614, s. 96 Section 96. 196.49 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,34,7 196.49 (3) (a) In this subsection, "project" means construction of any new plant, equipment, property or facility, or extension, improvement or addition to its existing plant, equipment, property, apparatus or facilities. The commission may require by rule or special order that a public utility or a regulated district submit, periodically or at such times as the commission specifies and in such detail as the commission requires, plans, specifications and estimated costs of any proposed project which the commission finds will materially affect the public interest.

SB614, s. 97 Section 97. 196.49 (3) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,34,13 196.49 (3) (b) (intro.) Except as provided in par. pars. (d) and (e), the commission may require by rule or special order under par. (a) that no project may proceed until the commission has certified that public convenience and necessity require the project. The commission may refuse to certify a project if it appears that the completion of the project will do any of the following:

SB614, s. 98 Section 98. 196.49 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,34,16 196.49 (3) (b) 1. Substantially impair the efficiency of the service of the public utility or regulated district.

SB614, s. 99 Section 99. 196.49 (3) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,34,21 196.49 (3) (b) 3. When placed in operation, add to the cost of service without proportionately increasing the value or available quantity of service unless the public utility or regulated district waives consideration by the commission, in the fixation of rates, of such consequent increase of cost of service.

SB614, s. 100 Section 100. 196.49 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

SB614,35,3 196.49 (3) (e) Before the first day of the 13th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], this subsection does not apply to a project with a total cost that is not more than $1,000,000. Beginning on the first day of the 13th month beginning after the effective date of this paragraph .... [revisor inserts date], this subsection does not apply to any project of a regulated district that does not exceed a dollar amount established by the commission by rule.

SB614, s. 101 Section 101. 196.49 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,35,13 196.49 (6) If the commission finds that any public utility or regulated district has taken or is about to take an action which violates or disregards a rule or special order under this section, the commission, in its own name either before or after investigation or public hearing and either before or after issuing any additional orders or directions it deems proper, may bring an action in the circuit court of Dane county to enjoin the action. If necessary to preserve the existing state of affairs, the court may issue a temporary injunction pending a hearing upon the merits. An appeal from an order or judgment of the circuit court may be taken to the court of appeals.

SB614, s. 102 Section 102. 196.525 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,35,23 196.525 (1) (intro.) Except under rules prescribed by the commission, a public utility or regulated district may not lend funds or credit to any of its officers or directors by any of the following and a regulated district or a public utility other than a telecommunications utility may not lend funds or credit to any corporation, except a public utility or regulated district subject to the regulatory powers of the commission, if the corporation holds, directly or indirectly through any chain of ownership, 5% or more of the voting stock of the public utility or renders any managerial, supervising, engineering, legal, accounting or financial service to the public utility or regulated district by any of the following:

SB614, s. 103 Section 103. 196.525 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,36,7 196.525 (2) Any contract made in violation of this section shall be void and subject to cancellation and recoupment by action at law. If a contract is made contrary to the provisions of this section, the commission, after notice and hearing, may order the public utility or regulated district to take steps within 30 days to recover the funds or assets thus illegally loaned or transferred by action at law or other proceedings which will effectively release the public utility or regulated district from the contract as surety, guarantor or endorser.

SB614, s. 104 Section 104. 196.525 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,36,13 196.525 (3) Any director, treasurer or other officer or agent of a public utility who makes or votes to authorize a transaction in violation of this section may be fined not more than $10,000. Any commissioner, officer or agent of a regulated district who makes or votes to authorize a transaction in violation of this section may be fined not more than $10,000.

SB614, s. 105 Section 105. 196.58 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,36,21 196.58 (1) (a) Determine by contract, ordinance or resolution the quality and character of each kind of product or service to be furnished or rendered by any public utility or regulated district within the municipality and all other terms and conditions, consistent with this chapter and ch. 197, upon which the public utility or regulated district may be permitted to occupy the streets, highways or other public places within the municipality. The contract, ordinance or resolution shall be in force and on its face reasonable.

SB614, s. 106 Section 106. 196.58 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,37,3 196.58 (1) (b) Require of any public utility or regulated district any addition or extension to its physical plant within the municipality as shall be reasonable and necessary in the interest of the public, and designate the location and nature of the addition or extension, the time within which it must be completed, and any condition under which it must be constructed, subject to review by the commission under sub. (4).

SB614, s. 107 Section 107. 196.58 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,37,8 196.58 (4) Upon complaint made by a public utility , a regulated district or by any qualified complainant under s. 196.26, the commission shall set a hearing and if it finds a contract, ordinance or resolution under sub. (1) to be unreasonable, the contract, ordinance or resolution shall be void.

SB614, s. 108 Section 108. 196.58 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,37,14 196.58 (5) The commission shall have original and concurrent jurisdiction with municipalities to require extensions of service and to regulate service of public utilities and regulated districts. Nothing in this section shall limit the power of the commission to act on its own motion to require extensions of service and to regulate the service of public utilities and regulated districts.

SB614, s. 109 Section 109. 196.60 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB614,37,25 196.60 (1) (a) Except as provided under sub. (2), no a public utility, and no regulated district, or an agent, as defined in s. 196.66 (3) (a), or officer of a public utility or regulated district, directly or indirectly, may not charge, demand, collect or receive from any person more or less compensation for any service rendered or to be rendered by it in or affecting or relating to the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water, sewerage service, telecommunications service or power or for any service in connection therewith, than that prescribed in the published schedules or tariffs then in force, or established under this chapter, or than it charges, demands, collects or receives from any other person for a like contemporaneous service.

SB614,38,4 (b) A public utility, regulated district or an agent that violates par. (a) shall be deemed guilty of unjust discrimination and shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $5,000 for each offense. An officer who violates par. (a) shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $2,500 for each offense.