Case Name: Frank M. EDWARDS, Jr. v. LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1983-05-17
Citations: 439 So. 2d 442
Docket Number: No. 82 CA 0665
Parties: Frank M. EDWARDS, Jr. v. LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY.
Judges: Before PONDER, SAVOIE and CRAIN, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 439
Pages: 442–444

Head Matter:
Frank M. EDWARDS, Jr. v. LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY.
No. 82 CA 0665.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.
May 17, 1983.
On Rehearing Sept. 16, 1983.
Jesse P. Lagarde and Frank M. Edwards, Jr., Amite, for plaintiff-appellee.
Arthur W. Macy, Hammond, and J. Wayne Anderson, New Orleans, for defendant-appellant.
Before PONDER, SAVOIE and CRAIN, JJ.

Opinion:
PONDER, Judge.
Defendant appealed the judgment granting plaintiff a preliminary injunction and denying its motion to dissolve a temporary restraining order.
The issues are the propriety of the temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, damages, attorney's fees and jurisdiction.
We reverse in part and dismiss in part.
Plaintiff entered into a contract with defendant, Louisiana Power & Light Company, to provide three phase electrical service to plaintiff's dairy barn, to be paid for in accordance with rate schedules specified therein. The cost of constructing the facilities necessary to provide the three phase service to plaintiff was approximately $21,-000.00. Pursuant to a provision in the rate schedule attached to the contract, plaintiff agreed to pay a facilities charge of $229.56 per month for ten years, in addition to payment for electricity consumed.
Plaintiff filed suit for damages for breach of contract and asked for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent defendant from disconnecting the electricity to the dairy for nonpayment of the facilities charge.
Defendant filed a plea to the jurisdiction and a motion to dissolve the temporary restraining order asking for damages and attorney's fees for its wrongful issuance. After hearing, the trial court denied the plea and motion and issued a preliminary injunction. Defendant appealed.
We believe the lower court erred in maintaining its jurisdiction.
The Public Service Commission has power and authority over an electric public utility "for the purpose of fixing and regulating the rates charged or to be charged by and service furnished by" the utility. La.R.S. 45:1163.
"The power, authority, and duties of the commission shall affect and include all matters and things connected with, concerning, and growing out of the service to be given or rendered by such public utility ." La. R.S. 45:1164.
The determination of who shall bear the additional cost of extra facilities is equated with the determination of a rate and is therefore beyond the jurisdiction of the court. Aurora Properties, Inc., et al. v. Louisiana Power and Light Company, 251 La. 880, 207 So.2d 356 (1968).
Essentially, plaintiff is claiming that defendant is charging him in excess of the tariff filed with the Public Service Commission, in that he is not getting the service to be provided him under the rates of that tariff. Defendant asserts that plaintiff is receiving the service but is not paying the rate required by that tariff and is attempting to effect a reformation of the tariff schedule. Certainly, this dispute seems to come under the provisions of La.R.S. 45:1163 and 1164.
The trial court therefore should have maintained the plea to the jurisdiction.
While attorney's fees may be awarded for the improvident issuance of a preliminary injunction, under the circumstances of this case we elect not to grant them.
For these reasons, the plea of jurisdiction over the dispute as to the furnishing of services and the cost thereof is maintained. The preliminary injunction is ordered dissolved.
All costs are assessed to the appellee.
The suit insofar as it involves the claim for damages is remanded for further action not inconsistent with this opinion.
DISMISSED IN PART AND REMANDED IN PART.