SB614,13,223 66.91 (5) (e) The commission may separately compute, on any reasonable basis,
24both capital and operating costs of providing sewerage service to any federal, state,
25county or municipal facility and may, upon approval by the public service

1commission,
directly bill the federal government, the state, the county or the
2municipality.
SB614, s. 29 3Section 29. 66.912 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,13,54 66.912 (2) (a) Compute a proposed uniform schedule of charges based on
5operating expenses to be recovered from users under this subsection.
SB614, s. 30 6Section 30. 66.912 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,13,87 66.912 (2) (b) Adopt Propose the uniform schedule of charges computed under
8par. (a). The commission may modify the schedule periodically.
SB614, s. 31 9Section 31. 66.912 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,13,1310 66.912 (2) (c) Submit the proposed schedule adopted under par. (b) and every
11modification to every municipality within the sewerage service area as early in every
12calendar year as practicable
the public service commission for approval under ch.
13196
.
SB614, s. 32 14Section 32. 66.912 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,13,2115 66.912 (3) Factors in charge schedules. In computing a proposed charge
16schedule under sub. (2) (a), the sewerage commission shall require each user to pay
17the proportion of total operating cost of the system incurred by the transmission and
18treatment of the user's wastewater. In determining such proportional costs, the
19sewerage commission shall consider such factors, without limitation because of
20enumeration, as strength, volume and delivery flow rate characteristics of each
21user's sewage.
SB614, s. 33 22Section 33. 66.912 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
SB614, s. 34 23Section 34. 196.01 (6m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB614,13,2524 196.01 (6m) "Regulated district" means a metropolitan sewerage district
25created under s. 66.882.
SB614, s. 35
1Section 35. 196.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,14,42 196.02 (1) Jurisdiction. The commission has jurisdiction to supervise and
3regulate every public utility and regulated district in this state and to do all things
4necessary and convenient to its jurisdiction.
SB614, s. 36 5Section 36. 196.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,14,146 196.02 (2) Definition; classification. In this subsection, "public utility" does
7not include a telecommunications cooperative or a small telecommunications utility
8except as provided under s. 196.205 or 196.215 (2) and does not include an alternative
9telecommunications utility. The commission shall provide for a comprehensive
10classification of service for each public utility and each regulated district. The
11classification may take into account the quantity used, the time when used, the
12purpose for which used, and any other reasonable consideration. Each public utility
13and regulated district shall conform its schedules of rates, tolls and charges to such
14classification.
SB614, s. 37 15Section 37. 196.02 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,14,2016 196.02 (4) (a) The commission may inquire into the management of the
17business of all public utilities and all regulated districts. The commission shall keep
18itself informed as to the manner and method in which the same is conducted. The
19commission may obtain from any public utility or any regulated district any
20information necessary to enable the commission to perform its duties.
SB614, s. 38 21Section 38. 196.02 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,15,222 196.02 (4) (c) If any public utility or regulated district fails to furnish the
23commission with information required of it by the commission, the commission may
24issue an order directing the delinquent public utility or regulated district to furnish
25the information immediately or to show good cause why the information cannot be

1obtained. Failure of any public utility or regulated district to comply with the order
2of the commission is a violation of this chapter within the meaning of s. 196.66.
SB614, s. 39 3Section 39. 196.02 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,15,104 196.02 (5) Inspect books. The commission or any commissioner or any person
5employed by the commission for that purpose may, upon demand, inspect the books,
6accounts, papers, records and memoranda of any public utility or regulated district,
7and examine under oath any officer, agent or employe of the public utility or
8regulated district
in relation to its business and affairs. Any person, other than one
9of the commissioners, who makes a demand shall produce his or her authority to
10make the inspection.
SB614, s. 40 11Section 40. 196.02 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,15,1912 196.02 (6) Production of records. The commission may require, by order or
13subpoena served on any public utility or regulated district as a summons is served
14in circuit court, the production within this state at the time and place the commission
15designates of any books, accounts, papers or records kept by the public utility or
16regulated district
outside the state, or verified copies in lieu thereof, if the
17commission orders. If a public utility or regulated district fails or refuses to comply
18with the order or subpoena, for each day of the failure or refusal the public utility or
19regulated district
shall forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $500.
SB614, s. 41 20Section 41. 196.02 (13) of the statutes is created to read:
SB614,16,1021 196.02 (13) Sale or lease of regulated district assets. The public service
22commission may, upon demand, inspect the books, accounts, papers, records and
23memoranda of a regulated district and examine under oath any commissioner of a
24regulated district, agent or employe of the regulated district in order to obtain
25information bearing upon the determinations to be made by the public service

1commission under s. 66.891 (1) (a) and (b). If the public service commission makes
2the determinations under s. 66.891 (1) (a) and (b) and if the public service commission
3believes that the commission of the regulated district has not acted in the best
4interests of the regulated district's ratepayers in selling or leasing the district's
5assets and facilities, the public service commission may appoint an individual to
6negotiate and enter into agreements for the sale or lease of any or all of the district's
7assets and facilities. This individual may exercise, on behalf of the regulated district,
8the powers given the commission of the regulated district under ss. 66.90 (1) and
966.904 (1). The district shall pay all costs incurred by the individual in the
10performance of his or her duties under this subsection.
SB614, s. 42 11Section 42. 196.03 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,16,1812 196.03 (1) Subject to s. 196.63, a public utility and a regulated district shall
13furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities. The charge made by any public
14utility or regulated district for any heat, light, water, sewerage service,
15telecommunications service or power produced, transmitted, delivered or furnished
16or for any service rendered or to be rendered in connection therewith shall be
17reasonable and just and every unjust or unreasonable charge for such service is
18prohibited and declared unlawful.
SB614, s. 43 19Section 43. 196.05 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,16,24 20196.05 (title) Public utility and regulated district property; valuation;
21revaluation.
If the commission deems it proper or necessary for effective
22regulation, the commission shall value or revalue all the property of every public
23utility and every regulated district actually used and useful for the convenience of
24the public.
SB614, s. 44 25Section 44. 196.06 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,17,3
1196.06 Uniform accounting; forms; books; office. (1) Every public utility
2and every regulated district shall keep and render to the commission in the manner
3and form prescribed by the commission uniform accounts of all business transacted.
SB614,17,11 4(2) The commission may require any public utility or any regulated district
5engaged directly or indirectly in any business other than that of the production,
6transmission or furnishing of heat, light, water, sewerage service,
7telecommunications service or power to keep and render separately to the
8commission in like manner and form the accounts of all such other business. This
9chapter applies to the books, accounts, papers and records of such other business if
10the commission requires the keeping and rendering separately of the accounts under
11this subsection.
SB614,17,15 12(3) Each public utility and each regulated district shall keep and render its
13books, accounts, papers and records accurately and faithfully in the manner and
14form prescribed by the commission and shall comply with all directions of the
15commission relating to such books, accounts, papers and records.
SB614,17,21 16(6) Each public utility and each regulated district shall have an office in one
17of the towns, villages or cities in this state in which its property or some part thereof
18is located, in which it shall keep all books, accounts, papers and records required by
19the commission to be kept within the state. No books, accounts, papers or records
20required by the commission to be kept within the state shall be removed from the
21state, except upon conditions prescribed by the commission.
SB614, s. 45 22Section 45. 196.07 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,18,4 23196.07 Balance sheet filed annually. (1) Each public utility and each
24regulated district
shall close its accounts annually on December 31 and promptly
25prepare a balance sheet of that date. On or before the following April 1 every public

1utility and every regulated district shall file with the commission the balance sheet
2together with any other information the commission prescribes, verified by an officer
3of the public utility or regulated district. The commission, for good cause shown, may
4extend the time for filing the balance sheet and prescribed information.
SB614,18,14 5(2) If a public utility or a regulated district fails to file a report with the
6commission containing its balance sheet and other information prescribed by the
7commission by the date the report is due under sub. (1), the commission may prepare
8the report from the records of the public utility or regulated district. All expenses
9of the commission in preparing the report, plus a penalty equal to 50% of the amount
10of the expenses, shall be assessed against and collected from the public utility or
11regulated district
under s. 196.85. The amount of the charge to a public utility or
12regulated district
shall not be limited by s. 196.85 (1) and shall be in addition to any
13other charges assessable under s. 196.85. The penalty provision of the charge shall
14be credited to the general fund under s. 20.906.
SB614, s. 46 15Section 46. 196.09 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,19,216 196.09 (1) In this section, "public utility" does not include a
17telecommunications cooperative except as provided under s. 196.205. In subs. (2) to
18(7), "public utility" does not include a telecommunications utility. Subsection (9) only
19applies to a telecommunications utility. Every public utility and every regulated
20district
shall file with the commission, within such time as may be required by the
21commission, its estimate of the annual rate of depreciation required for each of its
22classes of fixed capital used for public utility or regulated district purposes, and of
23the composite annual rate of depreciation required for such fixed capital as an
24aggregate, which shall constitute the public utility's or regulated district's estimates

1of the amount which should be returned to it out of its rates for service, to meet the
2depreciation of its property.
SB614, s. 47 3Section 47. 196.09 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,19,144 196.09 (2) After the submission of the estimates under sub. (1), the commission
5shall review the estimates. If the commission determines that the estimates
6submitted are reasonable and proper, it shall certify its determination to the public
7utility or regulated district. If the commission determines that the estimates
8submitted are not reasonable and proper, it shall certify to the public utility or
9regulated district
the percentages which it considers reasonable and proper. If the
10fixed capital accounts of the public utility or regulated district are not subdivided to
11permit the rates for the various classes of fixed capital used for public utility or
12regulated district
purposes to be applied, the estimates submitted by the public
13utility or the regulated district and the percentages determined by the commission
14may be based upon the aggregate of such fixed capital.
SB614, s. 48 15Section 48. 196.09 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,19,2316 196.09 (3) After the commission certifies to the public utility or regulated
17district
its findings as to the percentages required for depreciation under sub. (2), the
18public utility or regulated district shall have 30 days within which to make
19application to the commission for a hearing and order. If the public utility or
20regulated district
does not make application to the commission for a hearing and
21order within the time set, the commission's certification of findings shall have the
22effect of an order and the public utility or regulated district shall have the right of
23appeal from the certification as provided in this chapter.
SB614, s. 49 24Section 49. 196.09 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,20,8
1196.09 (4) The commission may provide, in order to meet changing conditions,
2that a public utility or regulated district submit from time to time the estimate
3required under sub. (1). If it requires such resubmission of estimates, the
4commission shall follow the procedure for certifying its findings under sub. (2). In
5revising the reasonable and proper percentages of depreciation, the commission
6shall give consideration to the experience of the public utility or regulated district
7in accumulating a depreciation reserve under previous rates, any retirements
8actually made and any other relevant factor.
SB614, s. 50 9Section 50. 196.09 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,20,1710 196.09 (5) If the commission establishes, by certification or order, the
11reasonable and proper percentages of depreciation, the percentages shall constitute
12the percentages to be used in any proceeding involving the rates or practices of the
13public utility or regulated district, except that if at the time of such proceeding the
14commission finds that the percentages of depreciation previously established are no
15longer reasonable and proper, the commission shall establish reasonable and proper
16percentages for the purpose of such proceeding and certify the new percentages
17under this section.
SB614, s. 51 18Section 51. 196.09 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,21,319 196.09 (6) (a) If the commission establishes for any public utility or regulated
20district
, by certification or order, the percentages necessary for depreciation on fixed
21capital used for public utility or regulated district purposes, the public utility or
22regulated district
shall credit to its depreciation reserve in each accounting period
23the amount required to provide for depreciation at the percentage established. If the
24public utility is a corporation, the corporation may not pay any dividend out of
25earnings for any fiscal period subsequent to the commission's certification or order,

1or carry any portion of its earnings to its surplus account, except out of earnings
2remaining after crediting its depreciation reserve in accordance with the rates
3established by the commission, except as provided under par. (b).
SB614, s. 52 4Section 52. 196.09 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,21,105 196.09 (6) (b) After application and hearing the commission, upon a finding
6that it is necessary in the public interest, may exempt a public utility or regulated
7district
from the duty of crediting to the depreciation reserve in any accounting
8period a greater amount than is possible without impairing its ability to pay
9dividends for the current calendar year. Nothing in this section shall be construed
10to modify the requirements of ss. 180.0623 and 180.0640.
SB614, s. 53 11Section 53. 196.09 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,21,2012 196.09 (7) (intro.) If a public utility or regulated district desires to account for
13depreciation on a sinking fund basis and the commission determines that such basis
14of accounting for depreciation reasonably may be employed, the commission shall
15establish, under sub. (2), the composite rate to be applied to the aggregate fixed
16capital used for public utility or regulated district purposes to determine the amount
17which shall be charged to operating expenses, and the interest rate applicable to the
18reserve balance at which additional credits to the reserve shall be computed. If a
19public utility or regulated district accounts for depreciation on a sinking fund basis,
20the public utility or regulated district shall:
SB614, s. 54 21Section 54. 196.09 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB614,21,2322 196.09 (8) No public utility or regulated district may charge to its depreciation
23reserve anything except losses on property actually retired from service.
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.
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