The Attorney General of Texas 

November 5, 1981 

MARK WHITE 

Attorney General 

Supreme Court Bullding 

P. 0. BOX 12548 

Austin. TX. 78711 

5121475-2501 

Telex 9101874.1M7 

Telecopier 5121475.0286 

1807 Main St., Suite 1400 

Dallas, TX. 75201 

214l742a944 

4824 Alberta Ave., Suite 160 

El Paso, TX. 79905 

9151533-3484 

,220 Dallas Ave., Suite 202 

Houston, TX. 77002 

713/85&0%5 

806 Broadway. Suite 312 

Lubbock, TX. 79401 

8061747.5238 

4309 N. Tenth. Suite B 

McAllen. TX. 78501 

5121682.4547 

2w Main Plaza. SUM 400 

San Antonio. TX. 78205 

51212254191 

An Equal OpPotiunitYl 

Affirmative Action Employer 

Honorable James E. Nugent 

Chairman 

Railroad Commission of Texas 

P.O. Box 12967 

Austin, Texas 78711 

Opinion No. MW-385 

Re: Notice of rate change 

required by section 43(a) of 

article 1446~. V.T.C.S. 

Dear Chairman Nugent: 

You have requested our opinion concerning whether the Railroad 

Commission of Texas is empowered to waive the newspaper publication 

requirements contained in section 43(a) of the Public Utility 

Regulatory Act, article 1446~. V.T.C.S.; [hereinafter~ Utility Act] 

and allow a utility to send notice of proposed rate changes requests 

directly to ratepayers through bill inserts or to otherwise give 

actual notice to a utility ratepayer. 

Statutes regulating notice that contain liberal construction 

nrovisions. see section 89 of the Utility Act. are to be construed in 

iavor of theperson or persons to whom notice-is to be given. United 

Benefit Fire Insurance Co. V. Metropolitan Plumbing Co., 363 S.W.Zd 

843 (Tex. Civ. App. - El Paso 1962, no writ); Phinney v. Langdeau, 337 

S.W.2d 393 (Tex. Civ. APP. - Austin 1960, writ ref'd. n.r.e.). If the 

statute prescribes the method by which notice must be given. that 

method must be followed with reasonable strictness. Rotello V. Brazes 

County Water Control and Improvement District Number One, 574 S.W.2d 

208 (Tex. Civ. App. - Houston [lst Dist.] 1978). rev'd on other 

rounds, 598 S.W.2d 227 (Tex. 1980); Clayton V. 

?Tex. 

Newton, 524 S.W.2d 368 

Civ. App. - Ft. Worth 1975, no writ); see Johnson Service Co. V. 

Climate Control Contractors, Inc., 478 S.W.2d643 (Tex. Civ. App. - 

Austin 1972. no writ). The language contained in section 43(a) of the 

Utility Act addressing the notice a utility must give when it intends 

to change its rates is mandatory, not discretionary: "...notice shall 

be given by publication in conspicuous form and place of a notice to 

the public of such proposed change once in each week for four 

successive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in each 

county containing territory affected by the proposed change...." 

(Emphasis added). Pursuant to the above cited rule of construction 

concerning statutory notice provisions, it is our opinion that the 

statute does not grant the commission the discretion to provide for a 

substitute method of notice. Of course, the cotiission may permit 

additional notice by billing inserts. 
Mr. James E. Nugent - Page 2 (m-385) 

SUMH,ARY 

Sectim 43(a) .of the Public utility 

Regulatory Act, article 1446~. V.T.C.S.. governing 

notice of proposed rate changes is mandatory. 

MARK WHITE 

Attorney General of Texas 

JOHN W. FAINTER, JR. 

First Assistant Attorney General 

RICHARD E. GRAY III 

Executive Assistant Attorney General 

Prepared by Martha Terry 

Assistant Attorney General 

APPROVED: 

OPINION COMMITTEE 

Susan L. Garrison, Chairman 

Jon Bible 

Rick Gilpin 

Jim Moellinger 

Martha Terry 

p. 1311