SB614-SSA1,23,138 196.09 (6) (b) After application and hearing the commission, upon a finding
9that it is necessary in the public interest, may exempt a public utility or regulated
10district
from the duty of crediting to the depreciation reserve in any accounting
11period a greater amount than is possible without impairing its ability to pay
12dividends for the current calendar year. Nothing in this section shall be construed
13to modify the requirements of ss. 180.0623 and 180.0640.
SB614-SSA1, s. 63 14Section 63. 196.09 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,23,2315 196.09 (7) (intro.) If a public utility or regulated district desires to account for
16depreciation on a sinking fund basis and the commission determines that such basis
17of accounting for depreciation reasonably may be employed, the commission shall
18establish, under sub. (2), the composite rate to be applied to the aggregate fixed
19capital used for public utility or regulated district purposes to determine the amount
20which shall be charged to operating expenses, and the interest rate applicable to the
21reserve balance at which additional credits to the reserve shall be computed. If a
22public utility or regulated district accounts for depreciation on a sinking fund basis,
23the public utility or regulated district shall:
SB614-SSA1, s. 64 24Section 64. 196.09 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,24,4
1196.09 (7) (b) Be subject to the same restrictions and regulations in its
2accounting for the entire amount to be credited to the depreciation reserve as are
3applicable to other public utilities which account for depreciation by other methods
4under this section.
SB614-SSA1, s. 65 5Section 65. 196.09 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,24,76 196.09 (8) No public utility or regulated district may charge to its depreciation
7reserve anything except losses on property actually retired from service.
SB614-SSA1, s. 66 8Section 66. 196.10 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,24,13 9196.10 Construction; accounting. The commission shall keep itself
10informed of all new construction, extensions and additions to the property of public
11utilities and regulated districts, and shall prescribe the necessary forms, regulations
12and instructions for the keeping of construction accounts, which shall clearly
13distinguish all operating expenses from new construction.
SB614-SSA1, s. 67 14Section 67. 196.11 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,24,1815 196.11 (1) A public utility or a regulated district may enter into any reasonable
16arrangement with its consumers or employes, for the division or distribution of its
17surplus profits, or providing for a sliding scale of charges, or other financial device
18if the arrangement is meets all of the following conditions:
SB614-SSA1,24,2019 (a) Practicable The arrangement is practicable and advantageous to the parties
20interested; and.
SB614-SSA1,24,2421 (b) Entered The arrangement is entered into by a public utility other than a
22telecommunications utility or by a regulated district and the arrangement is found
23by the commission to be reasonable and just and consistent with the purposes of this
24chapter.
SB614-SSA1, s. 68 25Section 68. 196.12 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,25,1
1196.12 (title) Report by public utilities and regulated districts; items.
SB614-SSA1, s. 69 2Section 69. 196.12 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,25,53 196.12 (1) (intro.) Each public utility and each regulated district shall furnish
4to the commission, in the form and at the time the commission requires, accounts,
5reports or other information which shows in itemized detail:
SB614-SSA1, s. 70 6Section 70. 196.13 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,25,10 7196.13 Commission's report. (1) The commission shall publish biennial
8reports showing its proceedings together with any financial or other data which
9concerns and is appropriate for all public utilities or all regulated districts and may
10publish any other report related to public utilities or regulated districts.
SB614-SSA1,25,16 11(2) The commission shall publish in its reports the value of all the property
12actually used and useful for the convenience of the public of a regulated district or
13a
public utility, other than a telecommunications utility, if the commission has held
14a hearing on the regulated district's or public utility's rates, charges, service or
15regulations or if the commission has otherwise determined the value of the regulated
16district's or
public utility's property.
SB614-SSA1, s. 71 17Section 71. 196.14 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,25,20 18196.14 Public record exception. The commission may withhold from public
19inspection any information which would aid a competitor of a public utility or a
20regulated district
in competition with the public utility or regulated district.
SB614-SSA1, s. 72 21Section 72. 196.15 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,25,25 22196.15 Units of product or service. The commission shall prescribe for
23regulated districts and for each kind of public utility, other than a
24telecommunications utility, suitable and convenient standard commercial units of
25product or service.
SB614-SSA1, s. 73
1Section 73. 196.16 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,26,62 196.16 (1) The commission shall fix adequate and serviceable standards for the
3measurement of quality, pressure, initial voltage or other condition pertaining to the
4supply of the product or service rendered by a public utility or regulated district. The
5commission shall prescribe reasonable regulations for measurement, examination
6and testing of the product or service.
SB614-SSA1, s. 74 7Section 74. 196.16 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,26,108 196.16 (2) The commission shall establish reasonable rules, regulations,
9specifications and standards to secure the accuracy of all meters and appliances for
10measurement of public utility or regulated district service.
SB614-SSA1, s. 75 11Section 75. 196.17 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,26,1412 196.17 (1) The commission shall provide for the examination and testing of
13every appliance used for measuring any product or service of a public utility or
14regulated district
.
SB614-SSA1, s. 76 15Section 76. 196.171 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,26,2316 196.171 (1) Any officer or agent of any public utility or regulated district
17furnishing or transmitting sewerage service, water, gas or electric current to the
18public or for public purposes may enter, at any reasonable time, any place supplied
19with the sewerage service, gas, electricity or water by the public utility or regulated
20district
, for the purpose of inspecting, examining, repairing, installing or removing
21the meters, pipes, fittings, wires and works for supplying or regulating the supply
22of sewerage service, gas, electricity or water and for the purpose of ascertaining the
23quantity of sewerage service, gas, electricity or water supplied.
SB614-SSA1, s. 77 24Section 77. 196.171 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,27,3
1196.171 (2) No officer or agent of a public utility or regulated district may enter
2any premises under this section unless the officer or agent meets all of the following
3conditions
:
SB614-SSA1,27,54 (a) Was The officer or agent is duly appointed by the public utility or regulated
5district
for the purpose of acting under this section.
SB614-SSA1,27,116 (b) Exhibits The officer or agent exhibits written authority signed by the
7president, by a vice president and secretary, or by a vice president and assistant
8secretary of the public utility or regulated district. The authority of any officer or
9agent of a municipally owned public utility or regulated district shall be signed by
10the commissioner of public works or by any other official in charge of the public utility
11or regulated district.
SB614-SSA1, s. 78 12Section 78. 196.18 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,27,17 13196.18 Entry upon premises. The commission, its agents, experts or
14examiners may enter any premises occupied by a public utility or a regulated district
15to make any examination or test under this chapter and may set up and use on the
16premises any apparatus or appliance and occupy reasonable space for the
17examination or test.
SB614-SSA1, s. 79 18Section 79. 196.19 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,27,2419 196.19 (1) Each public utility and each regulated district shall file with the
20commission schedules showing all rates, tolls and charges which it has established
21and which are in force at the time for any service performed by it within the state,
22or for any service in connection therewith or performed by any public utility or
23regulated district
controlled or operated by it. The rates, tolls and charges shown on
24such schedules may not be changed except as provided under this chapter.
SB614-SSA1, s. 80 25Section 80. 196.19 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,28,7
1196.19 (2) Every public utility and every regulated district shall file with and
2as a part of such schedule all rules and regulations that, in the judgment of the
3commission, in any manner affect the service or product, or the rates charged or to
4be charged for any service or product, as well as any contracts, agreements or
5arrangements relating to the service or product or the rates to be charged for any
6service or product to which the schedule is applicable as the commission may by
7general or special order direct.
SB614-SSA1, s. 81 8Section 81. 196.19 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,28,139 196.19 (3) A copy of as much of the schedules filed under sub. (1) as the
10commission determines necessary for the use of the public shall be printed in plain
11type, and kept on file in every public utility or regulated district station or office
12where payments are made by consumers in a form and place readily accessible to the
13public.
SB614-SSA1, s. 82 14Section 82. 196.19 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,28,1915 196.19 (4) If a schedule of joint rates or charges is in force between public
16utilities or regulated districts, the schedule shall be printed and filed with the
17commission under sub. (1). The commission shall determine the portion of the
18schedule necessary for the use of the public. The public utilities or regulated districts
19shall file the portion of the schedule under sub. (3).
SB614-SSA1, s. 83 20Section 83. 196.19 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,28,2221 196.19 (6) The commission may prescribe the form in which any schedule is
22issued under this section by any public utility or regulated district.
SB614-SSA1, s. 84 23Section 84. 196.20 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,29,824 196.20 (1) The rate schedules of any public utility or regulated district shall
25include all rules applicable to the rendition or discontinuance of the service to which

1the rates specified in the schedules are applicable. No change may be made by any
2public utility or regulated district in its schedules except by filing the change as
3proposed with the commission. Except for a telecommunications utility, no change
4in any public utility or regulated district rule which purports to curtail the obligation
5or undertaking of service of the public utility or regulated district shall be effective
6without the written approval of the commission after hearing, except that the
7commission, by emergency order, may make the rule, as filed, effective from the date
8of the order, pending final approval of the rule after hearing.
SB614-SSA1, s. 85 9Section 85. 196.20 (2) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,29,1210 196.20 (2) (a) 2. The commission, upon application of any public utility or
11regulated district
, directs that a proposed reduction in rates be made effective less
12than 10 days after filing the proposed reduction.
SB614-SSA1, s. 86 13Section 86. 196.20 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,29,2114 196.20 (2) (b) 1. A suspension under par. (a) 1. shall be effective for a period not
15exceeding 4 months, during which period the commission shall investigate any
16matter relative to the reasonableness or lawfulness of any change in schedule as
17filed. After the investigation the commission, by order, shall approve or disapprove
18the change, except as provided under subd. 2. The commission shall give the public
19utility or regulated district proposing the change an opportunity for hearing prior to
20issuing any order disapproving a change. If the commission disapproves the change,
21the change shall be ineffective.
SB614-SSA1,30,222 2. If the commission orders a suspension under par. (a) 1., the commission, after
23notice to the public utility or regulated district of its objections to the change and
24after giving the public utility or regulated district an opportunity to be heard on the
25objections, may prescribe a schedule which, revised on the basis of the objections, the

1commission finds to be lawful and reasonable instead of disapproving the schedule
2under subd. 1.
SB614-SSA1, s. 87 3Section 87. 196.21 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,30,9 4196.21 Publicity of revised schedules. A Each public utility and each
5regulated district
shall file new schedules under s. 196.19 in every station and office
6of the public utility or regulated district where consumers make payments. A The
7public utility or regulated district shall file new schedules under this section at least
810 days prior to the time the new schedules take effect unless the commission
9prescribes a shorter time period.
SB614-SSA1, s. 88 10Section 88. 196.22 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,30,16 11196.22 Discrimination forbidden. No public utility or regulated district
12may charge, demand, collect or receive more or less compensation for any service
13performed by it within the state, or for any service in connection therewith, than is
14specified in the schedules for the service filed under s. 196.19, including schedules
15of joint rates, as may at the time be in force, or demand, collect or receive any rate,
16toll or charge not specified in the schedule.
SB614-SSA1, s. 89 17Section 89. 196.24 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,30,2018 196.24 (1) For the purpose of making any investigation with regard to any
19public utility or regulated district the commission may appoint, by an order in
20writing, an agent whose duties shall be prescribed in the order.
SB614-SSA1, s. 90 21Section 90. 196.25 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,31,522 196.25 (1) If a public utility or a regulated district receives from the commission
23any questionnaire, the public utility or regulated district shall respond fully,
24specifically and correctly to each question. If a public utility or regulated district is
25unable to answer any question, the public utility or regulated district shall give a

1good and sufficient reason for its failure. Every answer by a public utility or a
2regulated district
under this section shall be verified under oath by the president,
3secretary, superintendent or general manager of the public utility , or in the case of
4a regulated district by the executive director,
and returned to the commission at its
5office within the period fixed by the commission.
SB614-SSA1, s. 91 6Section 91. 196.25 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,31,107 196.25 (2) If required by the commission, a public utility or regulated district
8shall deliver to the commission the original or a copy of any map, profile, contract or
9engineer's report and any other document, book, account, paper or record with a
10complete inventory of all its property, in such form as the commission directs.
SB614-SSA1, s. 92 11Section 92. 196.26 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,31,1612 196.26 (1) Complaint. In this section , "complaint" means a complaint filed with
13the commission that any rate, toll, charge or schedule, joint rate, regulation,
14measurement, act or practice relating to the provision of heat, light, water, power,
15sewerage service
or telephone service is unreasonable, inadequate, unjustly
16discriminatory or cannot be obtained.
SB614-SSA1, s. 93 17Section 93. 196.26 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,31,2318 196.26 (1m) Complaint and investigation. If any mercantile, agricultural or
19manufacturing society, body politic, municipal organization or 25 persons file a
20complaint against a public utility or a regulated district, the commission, with or
21without notice, may investigate the complaint as it deems necessary. The
22commission may not issue an order based on the investigation without a public
23hearing.
SB614-SSA1, s. 94 24Section 94. 196.26 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,32,4
1196.26 (2) (a) Prior to a hearing under this section, the commission shall notify
2the public utility or regulated district complained of that a complaint has been made,
3and 10 days after the notice has been given the commission may proceed to set a time
4and place for a hearing and an investigation.
SB614-SSA1, s. 95 5Section 95. 196.26 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,32,116 196.26 (2) (b) The commission shall give the public utility or regulated district
7which is the subject of a complaint filed under sub. (1) and the complainant 10 days'
8notice of the time and place of the hearing and the matter to be considered and
9determined at the hearing. The complainant, and the public utility or regulated
10district,
may be heard. The commission may subpoena any witness at the request
11of the public utility, the regulated district or complainant.
SB614-SSA1, s. 96 12Section 96. 196.28 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,32,1713 196.28 (1) If the commission believes that any rate or charge is unreasonable
14or unjustly discriminatory or that any service is inadequate or cannot be obtained
15or that an investigation of any matter relating to any public utility or regulated
16district
should for any reason be made, the commission on its own motion summarily
17may investigate with or without notice.
SB614-SSA1, s. 97 18Section 97. 196.28 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,32,2519 196.28 (3) Notice of the time and place for a hearing under sub. (2) shall be
20given to the public utility or regulated district, and to such other interested persons
21as the commission deems necessary. After the notice has been given, proceedings
22shall be had and conducted in reference to the matter investigated as if a complaint
23had been filed with the commission under s. 196.26 (1) relative to the matter
24investigated. The same order or orders may be made in reference to the matter as
25if the investigation had been made on complaint under s. 196.26.
SB614-SSA1, s. 98
1Section 98. 196.30 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,33,4 2196.30 Utilities may complain. Any public utility or regulated district may
3file a complaint with the commission on any matter affecting its own product or
4service.
SB614-SSA1, s. 99 5Section 99. 196.31 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,33,96 196.31 (1) (intro.) In any proceeding before the commission, the commission
7may compensate any participant in the proceeding who is not a public utility or
8regulated district
, for some or all of the reasonable costs of participation in the
9proceeding if the commission finds that:
SB614-SSA1, s. 100 10Section 100. 196.31 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,33,1811 196.31 (2) Compensation granted under this section shall be paid from the
12appropriation under s. 20.155 (1) (j) and shall be assessed under s. 196.85 (1), except
13that, if the commission finds that the participation for which compensation is
14granted relates more to a general issue of utility regulation rather than to an issue
15arising from a single proceeding, the cost of the compensation may be assessed under
16s. 196.85 (2). Any payment by a public utility or regulated district for compensation
17under this section assessed under s. 196.85 (1) or (2) shall be credited to the
18appropriation under s. 20.155 (1) (j).
SB614-SSA1, s. 101 19Section 101. 196.37 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,33,2420 196.37 (3) Any public utility or regulated district to which an order under this
21section applies shall make such changes in schedules on file under s. 196.19 to make
22the schedules conform to the order. The public utility or regulated district may not
23make any subsequent change in rates, tolls or charges without the approval of the
24commission, except as provided in s. 196.205 or 196.215 (2).
SB614-SSA1, s. 102 25Section 102. 196.39 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,34,10
1196.39 Change, amendment and rescission of orders; reopening cases.
2The commission at any time, on its own motion or upon motion of an interested party,
3and upon notice to the public utility or regulated district and after opportunity to be
4heard, may rescind, alter or amend any order fixing rates, tolls, charges or schedules,
5or any other order made by the commission, and may reopen any case following the
6issuance of an order in the case, for any reason. Any order rescinding, altering,
7amending or reopening a prior order shall have the same effect as an original order.
8Within 30 days after service of an order, the commission may correct an error or
9omission in the order related to transcription, typing or calculation without hearing
10if the correction does not alter the intended effect of the order.
SB614-SSA1, s. 103 11Section 103. 196.44 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614-SSA1,34,1612 196.44 (1) Duty of commission. The commission shall inquire into the neglect
13or violation of the laws of this state by public utilities or regulated districts, or by
14their officers, agents or employes or by persons operating public utilities or regulated
15districts
, and shall enforce all laws relating to public utilities and regulated districts,
16and report all violations to the attorney general.
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