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.
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:
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