Norwich bulletin., 1921-02-15

which the error does not exceed two (2) per centum for gas meters or four Ten centum for electric or water meters"
 Section 36S2 provides that any munich pality in which a public service company is furnishing service or any ten (10) patrons of any such company may peti- tion the utilities commission in regard to the plant or equipment of sucb company bein inadequate or unsuIIed tC the pub lice need. Upon such petition the matter shall be heard and sukable order issued 1 Section 36S5 provides that aly munich pality in which any public service com
 pany is operating or any ten (10) patrons I of such company or any such company ! itself may bring written petition to the commission alleging that the rates or 1 charges made by such company o.' pre- scribed by tine commission are unreason-
 able, or that the service furnished by such company is inadequate, to, or the service ordered by the commission ex- ceeds, public necessity and convenience"
 The commission shall appoint a hearing
 and issue an order in accordance With the. findings.
 Section 3636 provides that in the case of unreasonable refusal or failure on the part of any public service comuany to
 furnish service to any person within Its
 territory, such person may Bring peti-
 tion before the commission, upon which
 a hearing shall be held and ap order is- sued in accordance with the findings.
 Section S6S7 provides that every public
 service company shall on or before the
 31st day of March of each year make q report to the utilities commission i7 the
 form and upon blanks furnished by the
 commission. Failure to do so is punish , able by fine of twenty-five (25) dollars
 for each day of such failure.
 Section SsSS provides for the correct. ness of the annual report ana also thai "the commission may examine the ofH- cers, agents and employees, books, rec ords, accounts, vouchers, plant and equip
 ment of such company, and may correc such items in such report as upon exam ination the commission may find ought tt [ be corrected"
 : Section 3640 provides that every per l son who wilfully makes any false return l or report to the commission and any per l son who aids or abets in such act shal be fined not more than five (5) thousand dollars or imprisonment of not more thai
 five (5) years or both.
 Section 3642 provides that any munici e pal corporation or person aggrieved b, s .tny order or decision of the utilities com Il mission may appeal therefrom to the su - )erior court.
 Section 364S provides that every COT - poration, its officers, agents and employe y shall comply with every order made b = the commission and that each violation . $ such order shall be a separate otfens . punishable by fine of not more than fiv k (5) thousand dollars.
 y Section 3649 provides that nothing i
 this chapter shall authorize the commi, 0 sion to interfere in any manner Wit e contracts between public service con T panies and their employees.
 g In accord with the authority grante e the commission to regulate the standard
 of service, the utilities commission issue n q general order on rules and regulation IS and standards for electric companie T. providing for testing. and adjustment n meters. identification of poles. inspectic II of distribution systems. variation of vol ages and frequency. accuracy of meter $ etc.. with view to maintaining a prop, l! standard of safety.
 'I The statutes noted appear to show tn;
 under the present scheme of municipal
 operated property all decisions as
 standards. rates and service are in Il g. hands of the board of commissioners l. with no provision for appeal to any di 7s interested party. and that under the ju 70 isdiction of the public utilities commi I'd sion every operating or business conditic o- affecting the utility company in relatic V to it's customers on matters of operatio 10 service. rates and safety come under tl ic direct jurisdict:o1N and supervision of Il le public utilities commission. The publ
 utilities commission is disinterest m tribune, having at it's command the SC ne vice of experts in such matters as m. nc be brought before it, being consequent al able to render decisions in the light of 9n broad experience.