196.81
196.81
Abandonment; commission approval required. 196.81(1)(1) No public utility may abandon or discontinue any line or extension or service thereon without first securing the approval of the commission. In granting its approval, the commission may impose any term, condition or requirement it deems necessary to protect the public interest. If a public utility abandons or discontinues a line or extension or service thereon upon receiving commission approval, the public utility shall be deemed to have waived any objection to any term, condition or requirement imposed by the commission in granting the approval.
196.81(2)
(2) The commission may not approve a request by an electric or telecommunications utility to abandon a right-of-way, unless the commission requires the public utility to remove any pole at ground level from the right-of-way and any other structure which extends more than 3 feet above ground level and which belongs to the utility at the time of abandonment. If the commission approves a request under this section it shall require any part of the abandoned right-of-way which is in a rural area and which was obtained by the utility by condemnation to be disposed of by the utility within 3 years from the date of approval. The commission may rescind the disposal requirement if the utility applies for rescission within 6 months prior to the end of the 3-year period and if the commission finds that the requirement would subject the utility to undue hardship.
196.81(3)
(3) This section does not apply to a service discontinuance by a telecommunications utility.
196.84
196.84
Commission's holding company and nonutility affiliate regulation costs. Under rules promulgated by the commission, a holding company, as defined in
s. 196.795 (1) (h) or a nonutility affiliate, as defined under
s. 196.795 (1) (j), shall compensate the commission for the cost of any increase in regulation of any public utility affiliate, as defined under
s. 196.795 (1) (L), which is with the holding company or nonutility affiliate in a holding company system as defined in
s. 196.795 (1) (i), if the commission determines that the increase is reasonably required in order for the commission to implement and enforce
s. 196.795. Such compensation may not be recovered directly or indirectly from any public utility affiliate. The commission shall assess such compensation using the procedure prescribed in
s. 196.85, except that no advance payment of a remainder assessment under
s. 196.85 (2) may be required for the first 2 fiscal years after November 28, 1985. No assessment may be made under this section against any holding company or nonutility affiliate for any time worked by any person under
s. 196.795 (10m) if the time is properly assessable for utility regulation under
s. 196.85. For the purpose of calculating cost increases under this section, 90% of the cost increases determined shall be costs of the commission and 10% of the cost increases determined shall be costs of state government operations.
196.84 History
History: 1985 a. 79;
1991 a. 269.
196.85
196.85
Payment of commission's expenditures. 196.85(1)
(1) If the commission in a proceeding upon its own motion, on complaint, or upon an application to it deems it necessary in order to carry out the duties imposed upon it by law to investigate the books, accounts, practices and activities of, or make appraisals of the property of any public utility, power district or sewerage system or to render any engineering or accounting services to any public utility, power district or sewerage system, the public utility, power district or sewerage system shall pay the expenses attributable to the investigation, including the cost of litigation, appraisal or service. The commission shall mail a bill for the expenses to the public utility, power district or sewerage system either at the conclusion of the investigation, appraisal or services, or during its progress. The bill constitutes notice of the assessment and demand of payment. The public utility, power district or sewerage system shall, within 30 days after the mailing of the bill pay to the commission the amount of the special expense for which it is billed. Ninety percent of the payment shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.155 (1) (g). The total amount in any one calendar year for which any public utility, power district or sewerage system is liable, by reason of costs incurred by the commission within the calendar year, including charges under
s. 200.10 (3), may not exceed four-fifths of one percent of its gross operating revenues derived from intrastate operations in the last preceding calendar year. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the commission from rendering bills in one calendar year for costs incurred within a previous year. For the purpose of calculating the costs of investigations, appraisals and other services under this subsection, 90% of the costs determined shall be costs of the commission and 10% of the costs determined shall be costs of state government operations.
Effective date note
NOTE: Section 196.85 (title) is shown as amended eff. 5-1-99 by
1997 Wis. Act 229. Prior to 5-1-99 it reads:
196.85 Note
196.85 (title) Payment of commission's expenditures by utilities.
196.85(1m)(a)(a) For the purpose of direct assessment under
sub. (1) of expenses incurred by the commission in connection with its activities under
s. 196.491, the term "public utility" includes electric utilities as defined in
s. 196.491 (1) (d).
196.85(1m)(b)
(b) For the purpose of direct assessment under
sub. (1) of expenses incurred by the commission in connection with its activities under
s. 196.04 (4), the term "public utility" includes a cable operator, as defined in
s. 66.082 (2) (b).
196.85(2)
(2) The commission shall annually, within 90 days of the commencement of each fiscal year, calculate the total of its expenditures during the prior fiscal year which are reasonably attributable to the performance of its duties relating to public utilities, sewerage systems and power districts under this chapter and
chs. 66,
198 and
200 and expenditures of the state for state government operations to support the performance of such duties. For purposes of such calculation, 90% of the expenditures so determined shall be expenditures of the commission and 10% of the expenditures so determined shall be expenditures for state government operations. The commission shall deduct from this total all amounts chargeable to public utilities, sewerage systems and power districts under
sub. (1) and
s. 200.10 (3). The commission shall assess a sum equal to the remainder plus 10% of the remainder to the public utilities and power districts in proportion to their respective gross operating revenues during the last calendar year, derived from intrastate operations. If, at the time of payment, the prior year's expenditures made under this section exceeded the payment made under this section in the prior year, the commission shall charge the remainder to the public utilities and power districts in proportion to their gross operating revenues during the last calendar year. If, at the time of payment it is determined that the prior year's expenditures made under this section were less than the payment made under this section in the prior year, the commission shall credit the difference to the current year's payment. The assessment shall be paid within 30 days after the bill has been mailed to the public utilities and power districts. The bill constitutes notice of the assessment and demand of payment. Ninety percent of the payment shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.155 (1) (g).
196.85(2e)
(2e) Annually, the commission shall assess a joint local water authority for the commission's costs under
s. 66.0735 (8) directly attributable to that joint local water authority. The commission shall bill the joint local water authority for the amount of the assessment.
196.85(2g)
(2g) The commission shall annually, within 90 days after the commencement of each fiscal year, assess against mobile home park operators the total amount appropriated under
s. 20.155 (1) (i). The commission shall assess each mobile home park operator an amount in proportion to the total number of mobile homes and manufactured homes in all mobile home parks owned or managed by the mobile home park operator on July 1 of the current fiscal year as a fraction of the total number of mobile homes and manufactured homes in all mobile home parks in this state on July 1 of the current fiscal year. If necessary, the commission shall adjust the amount assessed to correct any incorrect assessment that was made in a prior fiscal year. A mobile home park operator shall pay the assessment within 30 days after the commission mails the bill to the mobile home park operator. The bill constitutes notice of the assessment and demand for payment. Payments shall be credited to the the appropriation account under
s. 20.155 (1) (i).
196.85(2m)
(2m) Annually, the commission shall assess telecommunications utilities for the cost of one attorney position in the department of justice to provide services relating to telecommunications matters and for the cost of supplies, services and equipment related to that position. The amounts received under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation under
s. 20.455 (1) (kt). This subsection does not apply after June 30, 1999.
196.85(3)
(3) If any public utility, sewerage system, joint local water authority, mobile home park operator or power district is billed under
sub. (1),
(2), [or] (2e) or (2g) and fails to pay the bill within 30 days or fails to file objections to the bill with the commission, as provided in this subsection, the commission shall transmit to the state treasurer a certified copy of the bill, together with notice of failure to pay the bill, and on the same day the commission shall mail by registered mail to the public utility, sewerage system, joint local water authority, mobile home park operator or power district a copy of the notice which it has transmitted to the state treasurer. Within 10 days after the receipt of notice and certified copy of the bill the state treasurer shall levy the amount stated on the bill to be due, with interest, by distress and sale of any property, including stocks, securities, bank accounts, evidences of debt, and accounts receivable belonging to the delinquent public utility, sewerage system, joint local water authority, mobile home park operator or power district. The levy by distress and sale shall be governed by s.
74.10, 1985 stats., except that it shall be made by the state treasurer and that goods and chattels anywhere within the state may be levied upon.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (3) is shown as affected eff. 5-1-99 by two acts of the 1997 legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c). The bracketed language was inserted by
1997 Wis. Act 218, but rendered surplusage by
1997 Wis. Act 229. Corrective legislation is pending. Prior to 5-1-99 it reads:
Effective date text
(3) If any public utility, sewerage system, joint local water authority or power district is billed under sub. (1), (2) or (2e) and fails to pay the bill within 30 days or fails to file objections to the bill with the commission, as provided in this subsection, the commission shall transmit to the state treasurer a certified copy of the bill, together with notice of failure to pay the bill, and on the same day the commission shall mail by registered mail to the public utility, sewerage system, joint local water authority or power district a copy of the notice which it has transmitted to the state treasurer. Within 10 days after the receipt of notice and certified copy of the bill the state treasurer shall levy the amount stated on the bill to be due, with interest, by distress and sale of any property, including stocks, securities, bank accounts, evidences of debt, and accounts receivable belonging to the delinquent public utility, sewerage system, joint local water authority or power district. The levy by distress and sale shall be governed by s. 74.10, 1985 stats., except that it shall be made by the state treasurer and that goods and chattels anywhere within the state may be levied upon.
196.85(4)(a)(a) Within 30 days after the date of the mailing of any bill under
sub. (1),
(2), [and] (2e) or (2g) the public utility, sewerage system, joint local water authority, mobile home park operator or power district that has been billed may file with the commission objections setting out in detail the grounds upon which the objector regards the bill to be excessive, erroneous, unlawful or invalid. The commission, after notice to the objector, shall hold a hearing upon the objections, from 5 to 10 days after providing the notice. If after the hearing the commission finds any part of the bill to be excessive, erroneous, unlawful or invalid it shall record its findings upon its minutes and transmit to the objector by registered mail an amended bill, in accordance with the findings. The amended bill shall have the same force and effect under this section as an original bill rendered under
sub. (1),
(2), [and] (2e) or (2g).
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (a) is shown as affected eff. 5-1-99 by two acts of the 1997 legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c). The bracketed language was inserted by
1997 Wis. Act 218, but rendered surplusage by
1997 Wis. Act 229. Corrective legislation is pending. Prior to 5-1-99 it reads:
Effective date text
(a) Within 30 days after the date of the mailing of any bill under subs. (1), (2) and (2e) the public utility, sewerage system, joint local water authority or power district that has been billed may file with the commission objections setting out in detail the grounds upon which the objector regards the bill to be excessive, erroneous, unlawful or invalid. The commission, after notice to the objector, shall hold a hearing upon the objections, from 5 to 10 days after providing the notice. If after the hearing the commission finds any part of the bill to be excessive, erroneous, unlawful or invalid it shall record its findings upon its minutes and transmit to the objector by registered mail an amended bill, in accordance with the findings. The amended bill shall have the same force and effect under this section as an original bill rendered under subs. (1), (2) and (2e).
196.85(4)(b)
(b) If after such hearing the commission finds the entire bill unlawful or invalid it shall notify the objector by registered mail of such determination, in which case said original bill shall be deemed null and void.
196.85(4)(c)
(c) If after such hearing the commission finds that the bill as rendered is neither excessive, erroneous, unlawful or invalid either in whole or in part it shall record such findings upon its minutes, and transmit to the objector by registered mail notice of such finding.
196.85(4)(d)
(d) If any bill against which objections have been filed is not paid within 10 days after notice of a finding that the objections have been overruled and disallowed by the commission has been mailed to the objector as provided in this subsection, the commission shall give notice of the delinquency to the state treasurer and to the objector, in the manner provided in
sub. (3). The state treasurer shall then proceed to collect the amount of the delinquent bill as provided in
sub. (3). If an amended bill is not paid within 10 days after a copy of the amended bill is mailed to the objector by registered mail, the commission shall notify the state treasurer and the objector as in the case of delinquency in the payment of an original bill. The state treasurer shall then proceed to collect the amount of the amended bill as provided in the case of an original bill.
196.85(5)
(5) No suit or proceeding may be maintained in any court to restrain or delay the collection or payment of any bill rendered under
sub. (1),
(2), [and] (2e) or (2g). Every public utility, sewerage system, joint local water authority, mobile home park operator or power district that is billed shall pay the amount of the bill, and after payment may in the manner provided under this section, at any time within 2 years from the date the payment was made, sue the state to recover the amount paid plus interest from the date of payment, upon the ground that the assessment was excessive, erroneous, unlawful or invalid in whole or in part. If the court finds that any part of the bill for which payment was made was excessive, erroneous, unlawful or invalid, the state treasurer shall make a refund to the claimant as directed by the court. The refund shall be charged to the appropriations to the commission.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (5) is shown as affected eff. 5-1-99 by two acts of the 1997 legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c). The bracketed language was inserted by
1997 Wis. Act 218, but rendered surplusage by
1997 Wis. Act 229. Corrective legislation is pending. Prior to 5-1-99 it reads:
Effective date text
(5) No suit or proceeding may be maintained in any court to restrain or delay the collection or payment of any bill rendered under subs. (1), (2) and (2e). Every public utility, sewerage system, joint local water authority or power district that is billed shall pay the amount of the bill, and after payment may in the manner provided under this section, at any time within 2 years from the date the payment was made, sue the state to recover the amount paid plus interest from the date of payment, upon the ground that the assessment was excessive, erroneous, unlawful or invalid in whole or in part. If the court finds that any part of the bill for which payment was made was excessive, erroneous, unlawful or invalid, the state treasurer shall make a refund to the claimant as directed by the court. The refund shall be charged to the appropriations to the commission.
196.85(6)
(6) No action for recovery of any amount paid pursuant to this section shall be maintained in any court unless objections have been filed with the commission as herein provided. In any action for recovery of any payments made under this section the claimant shall be entitled to raise every relevant issue of law, but the commission's findings of fact made pursuant to this section shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated.
196.85(7)
(7) The following shall be deemed to be findings of fact of the commission, within the meaning of this section:
196.85(7)(a)(a) Determinations of fact expressed in bills rendered pursuant to this section; (b) determinations of fact set out in those minutes of the commission which record the action of the commission in passing upon said bills, and in passing upon objections thereto.
196.85(8)
(8) The procedure by this section providing for determining the lawfulness of bills and the recovery back of payments made pursuant to such bills shall be exclusive of all other remedies and procedures.
196.85 Annotation
Revenue from "intrastate operations" under sub. (2) includes revenue from interstate telecommunications originating within the state. MCI Telecommunications Corp. v. State, 209 W (2d) 310, 562 NW (2d) 594 (1997).
196.855
196.855
Assessment of costs against municipalities. Any expense incurred by the commission in making any appraisal or investigation of public utility property under
ch. 197 shall be charged directly to the municipality making the application. The commission shall ascertain the expense, and shall render and review any bill under
s. 196.85 insofar as applicable. For the purpose of calculating the expense, 90% of the costs determined shall be costs of the commission and 10% of the costs determined shall be costs of state government operations. If a bill under this section is not paid within the time required by
s. 196.85, the bill shall bear interest at the rate of 6% per year and the amount of the bill and the interest shall be certified to the department of administration and shall be levied and collected as a special charge in the same manner as a state tax.
196.857
196.857
Stray voltage program. 196.857(1g)(a)(a) The commission shall establish and administer a stray voltage program. The program shall focus on regulation, education, inspection and investigation relating to stray voltage.
196.857(1g)(b)
(b) The commission shall identify standardized test procedures check lists and equipment to be used by public utilities to investigate stray voltage. The commission may audit the results of investigations.
196.857(1g)(c)
(c) The commission shall conduct classroom and on-farm stray voltage training sessions for public utilities, cooperatives, electricians or other interested parties.
196.857(1g)(d)
(d) The commission shall conduct unannounced spot checks of on-farm stray voltage testing done by public utilities if the farmer gives permission for the check at the time the farm is visited. The commission may inspect the operation of public utility stray voltage programs to ensure that proper equipment and procedures are being used and to ensure that investigators are properly trained.
196.857(1g)(e)
(e) In cooperation with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, the commission shall investigate the causes of stray voltage on individual farms, recommend to farmers solutions to stray voltage problems and evaluate the effectiveness of on-site technical assistance.
196.857(1m)
(1m) Assessments. The commission shall assess annually all of the following amounts to public utilities which produce electricity and which have annual gross operating revenues related to electricity in excess of $100,000,000 in proportion to their respective electric gross operating revenues during the last calendar year, derived from intrastate operations:
196.857(1m)(b)
(b) The amount appropriated under
s. 20.115 (3) (j), less any fees received from farmers under
sub. (2g) and credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.115 (3) (j). The amounts received under this paragraph shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.115 (3) (j).
196.857(2)
(2) Due date. A public utility shall pay the total amount that it is assessed under
sub. (1m) within 30 days after it receives a bill for that amount from the commission. The bill constitutes notice of the assessment and demand of payment.
196.857(2g)
(2g) Farm services fees. The commission may charge reasonable fees not to exceed $300 per farm for services provided to farmers under this section. The fees shall be in accordance with a standardized schedule of fees established by the commission by rule. The fees collected under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.115 (3) (j) in each fiscal year.
196.857(2k)
(2k) Other services fees. The commission may charge a reasonable fee for services, other than on-farm site-related services, provided under this section. The fee may not exceed the actual costs of the services. The fees collected under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.155 (1) (L) in each fiscal year.
196.857(2m)
(2m) Additional investigations. If the commission, at the request of an electric cooperative organized under
ch. 185 or any public utility which is not assessed under
sub. (1m), conducts an investigation of the causes of stray voltage on any farm receiving electrical service from that electric cooperative or public utility, that electric cooperative or public utility shall pay reasonable fees assessed by the commission in accordance with a standardized schedule of fees established by the commission by rule. The amounts received under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation account under
s. 20.155 (1) (L).
196.858
196.858
Assessment for telephone relay service. 196.858(1)(1) The commission shall annually assess against local exchange and interexchange telecommunications utilities the total, not to exceed $5,000,000, of the amounts appropriated under
s. 20.505 (4) (is).
196.858(2)
(2) The commission shall assess a sum equal to the annual total to local exchange and interexchange telecommunications utilities in proportion to their gross operating revenues during the last calendar year. If total expenditures for telephone relay service exceeded the payment made under this section in the prior year, the commission shall charge the remainder to assessed telecommunications utilities in proportion to their gross operating revenues during the last calendar year. A telecommunications utility shall pay the assessment within 30 days after the bill has been mailed to the assessed telecommunication utility. The bill constitutes notice of the assessment and demand of payment. Payments shall be credited to the appropriation under
s. 20.505 (4) (is).
196.858(5)
(5) A telecommunications utility may not recover the assessment under this section by billing a customer for the assessment on a separate line in a billing statement.
196.858 History
History: 1989 a. 336;
1991 a. 39.
196.91
196.91
Acquisition of existing dams. 196.91(1)
(1) Except as provided under
s. 196.92 (3) (c), every domestic corporation lawfully engaged in the business of producing, transmitting, delivering or furnishing heat, light, water or power to or for the public may acquire, for the purpose of developing power and generating energy for public use in the business:
196.91(1)(a)
(a) Any dam in or across any navigable waters of this state.
196.91(1)(b)
(b) All flowage and other rights and property necessary to the maintenance of any dam under
par. (a).
196.91(1)(c)
(c) Any undeveloped water power or dam site upon any navigable waters within this state, except as provided under
sub. (2).
196.91(2)
(2) No award in any condemnation proceedings authorized by
sub. (1) shall be effective, and no corporation may purchase or otherwise acquire any property under
sub. (1) until it obtains from the commission a certificate that public convenience and necessity require the acquisition of the property, at the amount fixed by the award or agreed upon with the owner of the property.
196.91 History
History: 1983 a. 53;
1985 a. 187.
196.92
196.92
Procedure for acquiring dams. 196.92(1)
(1) If a corporation under
s. 196.91 (1) desires to purchase or acquire any property under
s. 196.91, the corporation shall apply to the commission for a certificate of public convenience and necessity. The application shall state:
196.92(1)(a)
(a) The name of any owner of the property sought to be acquired.
196.92(1)(b)
(b) The business in connection with which it is desired to utilize the property.
196.92(1)(c)
(c) The specific public purpose for which it is proposed to use the property.
196.92(1)(d)
(d) The compensation or price to be paid for the property.
196.92(1)(e)
(e) A statement to the effect that the corporation agrees to cancel all contracts for the sale of hydroelectric power outside this state, if the commission finds that the contract interferes with adequate service and reasonable rates to the people of this state.
196.92(1)(f)
(f) Any other information the commission requires.
196.92(2)
(2) If the commission receives an application under
sub. (1), the commission shall fix a convenient time and place for a public hearing on the application. The time may not be more than 8 weeks from the date of filing the application. The commission shall give notice of the time and place to the applicant. Prior to the hearing the applicant shall publish the time and place as a class 3 notice, under
ch. 985. Not less than 20 days prior to that date, the applicant shall serve notice of the hearing upon any owner of the property personally, or by registered mail, if the post-office address of the owner, by due diligence, can be ascertained. Proof of the publication and service of the notice shall be filed with the commission.
196.92(3)(a)(a) At a hearing under this section or any adjournment of the hearing, the commission shall consider the application and shall receive the evidence offered by the applicant and any other person for or against the application.
196.92(3)(b)
(b) The commission may issue a certificate that public convenience and necessity require the utilization of the property as proposed by the applicant if the commission finds that:
196.92(3)(b)1.
1. The acquisition and use of the property in connection with the business of the applicant for the purpose or purposes and at the price or compensation set forth in the application would be a public convenience;
196.92(3)(b)2.
2. The applicant possesses the financial ability to utilize the property for its proposed purpose; and
196.92(3)(b)3.
3. Public necessity requires the proposed acquisition and use.
196.92(3)(c)
(c) Section 196.91 shall not apply to the acquisition of flowage rights necessary for the improvement or development of dams or dam sites previously acquired.
196.92 History
History: 1983 a. 53 ss.
109 to
111,
113.
196.97
196.97
Nonessential uses of natural gas. 196.97(1)
(1) No gas utility doing business in this state or other person may install, connect or cause to be installed or connected to the distribution system any device which constitutes a nonessential use of natural gas, unless such devices have been ordered and received by any person prior to the effective date of each rule specifying a nonessential use of natural gas under
sub. (2), including item inventories held by retailers or wholesalers.
196.97(2)
(2) The commission shall, by rule, specify criteria for determining a nonessential use of natural gas for purposes of this section. The commission shall, by rule, specify each nonessential use of natural gas under this section. The commission may review any nonessential use of natural gas specified under this subsection at any time. Every rule promulgated under this subsection shall be transmitted to the joint committee for review of administrative rules for review by the joint committee.
196.97(3)
(3) The commission may make rules as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of and to enforce this section. The commission shall provide for exemptions for nonessential uses of natural gas for reasons of health, safety or unusual hardship.
