reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MT Code § 69-3-110 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 1. Role of Commission and Power of Eminent Domain|69-3-110. Enforcement of public utility law

  69-3-110. Enforcement of public utility law. (1) The commission shall inquire into any neglect or violation of the laws of this state by any public utility, as hereinbefore defined, doing business in this state or by the officers, agents, or employees thereof. The commission shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and report all violations thereof to the attorney general.   (2) All rates, fares, charges, classifications, and joint rates fixed by the commission shall be enforced and are prima facie lawful from the date of the order until changed or modified by the commission or in pursuance of part 4. All rules, practices, and services prescribed by the commission shall be enforced and enforcement actions shall be brought pursuant to the provisions of part 4 until the rules, practices, or services are changed or modified by the commission upon a satisfactory showing being made.   (3) Upon the request of the commission, it is the duty of the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney of any county to aid in any investigation, prosecution, hearing, or trial had under the provisions of this chapter and to institute and prosecute all actions or proceedings necessary for the enforcement of this chapter.   (4) Any forfeiture or penalty herein provided shall be recovered and suit thereon shall be brought in the name of the state in the district court of any county having jurisdiction of the defendant. The attorney general shall be the counsel in any proceeding, investigation, hearing, or trial prosecuted or defended by the commission, as also shall any prosecuting attorney selected by the commission or other special counsel furnished the commission in any county where such action is pending.   (5) In addition to the other remedies provided by this chapter for the prevention and punishment of any violation of the provisions thereof and all orders of the commission, the commission may compel compliance with the provisions of this chapter and of the orders of the commission by proceedings in mandamus, by injunction, or by other civil remedies.   History: En. Secs. 24, 25, 30, 31, Ch. 52, L. 1913; re-en. Secs. 3904, 3905, 3910, 3911, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Secs. 3904, 3905, 3910, 3911, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 70-126, 70-127, 70-132, 70-133; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 43, L. 1979.
MT Code § 69-3-111 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 1. Role of Commission and Power of Eminent Domain|69-3-111. Persons with interest in property leased or to be sold to public utility -- exemption

  69-3-111. Persons with interest in property leased or to be sold to public utility -- exemption. (1) Upon application, the commission may, by order, determine that any person not otherwise a public utility is not a public utility subject to the jurisdiction, control, or regulation of the commission under this title solely because the person owns or controls any plant or equipment, any part of or undivided interest in a plant or equipment, or any water right described in 69-3-101:   (a) that is leased or sold or held for lease or sale to any public utility or other lessee;   (b) the operation and use of which is vested by lease or other contract in a public utility or other lessee; or   (c) for a period of not more than 90 days after termination of any lease or contract described in subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b) or after the person gains possession of the property following a breach of a lease or contract.   (2) An order may not be revoked or modified by the commission unless there is a material change in the lease or contract terms forming the basis of the order.   (3) The commission may, upon application by a public utility, issue its order approving the terms of any lease or contract described in subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b) for the purpose of qualifying any party to the lease or contract for an exemption by the United States securities and exchange commission, or its successor, from the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005.   (4) A public utility, as lessee of any plant or equipment, any part of or undivided interest in a plant or equipment, or any water right described in 69-3-101, that is subject to any lease or contract described in this section shall comply with this title regarding the plant, equipment, or water right.   (5) Nothing in this section may be construed to alter or modify the authority of the commission to regulate the rates and services of a public utility that is subject to the provisions of this title.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 195, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 32, Ch. 19, L. 2011.
MT Code § 69-3-112 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 1. Role of Commission and Power of Eminent Domain|69-3-112. Evaluation of coal or other boiler fuel costs

  69-3-112. Evaluation of coal or other boiler fuel costs. (1) The purchases of coal or other boiler fuel for the generation of electricity by a public utility from a fuel supplier that is an affiliate of the public utility are subject to review by the commission to enable the commission to determine whether the costs incurred by the public utility are reasonable.   (2) In determining whether the costs incurred are reasonable, the commission shall compare the costs incurred by the public utility to the costs that the public utility would have incurred if the coal or other boiler fuel had been purchased from a different supplier under similar contract terms.   (3) The commission may disallow recovery in the rates charged by the public utility of any amount by which the costs incurred exceed the amount that the commission determines to be reasonable based on the comparison required under subsection (2).   (4) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:   (a) "Affiliate" means a corporation or other entity wholly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the public utility or by a corporation or other entity that wholly owns or controls, directly or indirectly, the public utility.   (b) "Different supplier" means a fuel supplier that is not an affiliate of the public utility that is subject to commission review under this section.   History: En. Secs. 1, 2, Ch. 166, L. 1995.
MT Code § 69-3-113 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 1. Role of Commission and Power of Eminent Domain|69-3-113. Power of eminent domain

  69-3-113. Power of eminent domain. A public utility as defined in 69-3-101 may acquire by eminent domain any interest in property, as provided in Title 70, chapter 30, for a public use authorized by law to provide service to the customers of its regulated service.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 321, L. 2011.
MT Code § 69-3-201 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-201. Utilities to provide adequate service at reasonable charges

  69-3-201. Utilities to provide adequate service at reasonable charges. Every public utility is required to furnish reasonably adequate service and facilities. The charge made by any public utility for any heat, light, power, water, or regulated telecommunications service produced, transmitted, delivered, or furnished or for any service to be rendered as or in connection with any public utility shall be reasonable and just, and every unjust and unreasonable charge is prohibited and declared unlawful.   History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 52, L. 1913; re-en. Sec. 3883, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3883, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 70-105; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 546, L. 1985.
MT Code § 69-3-202 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-202. Records of public utilities

  69-3-202. Records of public utilities. (1) Every public utility shall keep and render to the commission, in the manner and form prescribed by the commission, uniform accounts of all business transacted.   (2) Every public utility engaged directly or indirectly in any other businesses than those mentioned in 69-3-101 shall, if required by the commission, keep and render separately to the commission, in like manner and form, the accounts of all such other businesses, in which case all the provisions of this chapter shall apply with like force and effect to the books, accounts, papers, and records of such other businesses.   (3) The commission shall cause to be prepared suitable blanks for carrying out the purposes of this chapter and shall, when necessary, furnish such blanks to each public utility. No public utility shall keep any other books, accounts, papers, or records of the business transacted than those prescribed or approved by the commission.   (4) Each public utility shall have an office in one of the towns, villages, or cities in this state in which its property or some part thereof is located and shall keep in said office all such books, accounts, papers, and records as shall be required by the commission to be kept within the state. No books, accounts, papers, or records required by the commission to be kept within the state shall at any time be removed from the state except upon such conditions as may be prescribed by the commission.   (5) Any commissioner or any person or persons authorized by the commission shall have the right to examine the books, accounts, records, and papers of any public utility for the purposes of determining their correctness and whether they are being kept in accordance with the rules and system prescribed by the commission.   History: (1) thru (4)En. Sec. 7, Ch. 52, L. 1913; re-en. Sec. 3885, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3885, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 70-107, R.C.M. 1947; (5)En. Sec. 7, Ch. 52, L. 1913; re-en. Sec. 3887, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3887, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 70-109, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 70-107, 70-109.
MT Code § 69-3-203 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-203. Annual report to commission

  69-3-203. Annual report to commission. (1) The accounts of all public utilities must be closed annually on either June 30 or December 31. A balance sheet must be taken promptly from the accounts, and a full annual report of the business of the utility must be made to the commission not later than October 31 if the accounts are closed on June 30 and not later than April 30 if the accounts are closed on December 31.   (2) The reports must be in the form prescribed by the commission and must contain all the information that the commission considers necessary for the proper performance of its duties. The commission may at any time request information omitted from the reports or not provided for in the reports whenever, in the judgment of the commission, the information is necessary.   History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 52, L. 1913; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 186, L. 1919; re-en. Sec. 3886, R.C.M. 1921; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 172, L. 1929; re-en. Sec. 3886, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 160, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 24, L. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 70-108; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 82, L. 1995.
MT Code § 69-3-204 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-204. Fees to be charged by commission

  69-3-204. Fees to be charged by commission. (1) The public service commission may, except as otherwise provided by law, require and receive fees before filing annual reports, schedules, and supplements not provided by law to be furnished free of charge.   (2) The commission shall require and receive an additional sum to be set by the commission to pay the cost of publishing notice as required by this chapter.   (3) This section does not require or authorize the public service commission to collect fees for the filing of annual reports, schedules, and supplements of these which relate solely to interstate commerce.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 100, L. 1935; re-en. Sec. 3847.26, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 73, L. 1947; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 67, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 315, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 472, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 8-126(part); amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 43, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 500, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 588, L. 1983.
MT Code § 69-3-205 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-205. Verification of reports and other papers

  69-3-205. Verification of reports and other papers. Every annual report, record, or statement required by this chapter to be made to the commission shall be sworn to by the proper officer, agent, or person in charge of such public utility. Any intentionally false oath as to the correctness of such report, record, or statement shall be deemed perjury, and the person making such false oath shall upon conviction be punished as in the case of other perjuries.   History: En. Sec. 29, Ch. 52, L. 1913; re-en. Sec. 3909, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3909, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 70-131.
MT Code § 69-3-206 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-206. Penalty for failure to make reports or permit examinations

  69-3-206. Penalty for failure to make reports or permit examinations. (1) Any officer, agent, or person in charge of the books, accounts, records, and papers or any of them of any public utility who shall refuse or fail for a period of 30 days to furnish the commission with any report required by the provisions of this chapter and any officer, agent, or person in charge of any particular books, accounts, records, or papers relating to the business of such public utility who shall refuse to permit any commissioner or other person duly authorized by the commission to inspect such books, accounts, records, or papers on behalf of the commission shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000.   (2) Such fine shall be recovered in a civil action upon the complaint of the commission in any court of competent jurisdiction. Each day's refusal or failure on the part of such officer, agent, or person in charge shall be deemed a separate offense and be subject to the penalty herein prescribed.   History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 52, L. 1913; re-en. Sec. 3888, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3888, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 248, L. 1969; R.C.M. 1947, 70-110(part).
MT Code § 69-3-207 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-207. Penalty for violation of natural gas pipeline safety provisions and regulations

  69-3-207. Penalty for violation of natural gas pipeline safety provisions and regulations. (1) A person violating any safety regulation or provision adopted under the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, as amended, that applies to areas the commission has authority to enforce is subject to a fine of not less than $100 or more than $100,000. Each day in which a violation of a safety regulation or provision continues is considered a separate offense and is subject to the penalty prescribed in this subsection, except that the maximum fine may not exceed $1 million for any related series of violations.   (2) In determining the amount of the penalty, the following must be considered: the nature, circumstances, and gravity of the violation and, with respect to the person found to have committed the violation, the degree of culpability; any history of prior violations; the effect on ability to continue to do business; any good faith in attempting to achieve compliance; ability to pay the penalty; and other matters as justice may require.   (3) The fine must be recovered in a civil action upon the complaint of the commission in any court of competent jurisdiction.   (4) The commission may prescribe rules necessary to effectively administer this section.   History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 52, L. 1913; re-en. Sec. 3888, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3888, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 248, L. 1969; R.C.M. 1947, 70-110(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 170, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 189, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 124, L. 2005.
MT Code § 69-3-208 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-208. Effect of failure by utility to cooperate with commission

  69-3-208. Effect of failure by utility to cooperate with commission. An officer, agent, or employee of any public utility is subject to the penalty prescribed in 69-3-206 whenever the officer, agent, or employee:   (1) willfully fails or refuses to fill out and return any blanks as required by this chapter;   (2) willfully fails or refuses to answer any questions contained in blanks as provided in this chapter;   (3) knowingly or willfully gives a false answer to any questions or evades the answer to the questions, where the fact inquired of is within the officer's, agent's, or employee's knowledge; or   (4) upon proper demand, willfully fails or refuses to exhibit to any commission or any commissioners or any person also authorized to examine the same, any book, paper, or account of the public utility that is in the officer's, agent's, or employee's possession or under the officer's, agent's, or employee's control.   History: En. Sec. 23, Ch. 52, L. 1913; re-en. Sec. 3903, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3903, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 70-125; amd. Sec. 1989, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
MT Code § 69-3-209 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-209. Violations of public utility laws or orders

  69-3-209. Violations of public utility laws or orders. If any public utility violates any provision of this chapter, does any act herein prohibited, or fails or refuses to perform any duty enjoined upon it, fails to place in operation any rate or joint rate, or fails, neglects, or refuses to obey any lawful requirement or order made by the commission or any court, then for every such violation, failure, or refusal the public utility is subject to the penalty prescribed by 69-3-206.   History: En. Sec. 28, Ch. 52, L. 1913; re-en. Sec. 3908, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 3908, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 70-130; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 43, L. 1979.
MT Code § 69-3-210 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-210. through 69-3-220 reserved

  69-3-210 through 69-3-220 reserved.
MT Code § 69-3-221 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-221. Public utility errors in billing customers

  69-3-221. Public utility errors in billing customers. (1) For the purposes of this section:   (a) "public utility" does not include a municipal utility as defined in chapter 7 of this title;   (b) a "customer billing error":   (i) includes any bill issued by the utility that is not designated as an estimated bill and that understates the amount owed by the customer;   (ii) includes a utility's failure to bill a customer for service provided that would be billed to the customer under the utility's normal billing practices;   (iii) excludes errors that result from the theft of service by the customer;   (iv) excludes errors involving a utility's industrial class customers; and   (v) excludes errors incurred in the billing of long-distance services by a telecommunications utility.   (2) Whenever a public utility discovers a customer billing error, the utility may submit a bill to the customer for a period not to exceed the 6 months preceding the date the billing error is discovered.   (3) The commission may adopt rules to implement subsections (1) and (2).   History: En. Secs. 1, 2, Ch. 587, L. 1985.
MT Code § 69-3-222 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-222. Utility disclosure required -- definition

  69-3-222. Utility disclosure required -- definition. (1) Except as provided in subsection (3), a utility shall provide the average annual energy use for a property.   (2) Average annual energy use must:   (a) be calculated using an average of the past 12 months of usage on a property and the rates currently in effect;   (b) include the electricity, natural gas, or both used on the property based on meters used for measuring or registering utility service; and   (c) be expressed in dollars.   (3) (a) A utility may not make public or otherwise disclose personal information protected by an individual privacy interest or information of a personal nature that would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.   (b) A utility may provide the information required pursuant to subsection (1) only to a person or entity owning the property or representing the person or entity or to a person involved in a real estate-related transaction on the property.   (4) As used in 69-3-223 and this section, the following definitions apply:   (a) "Real estate-related transaction" means any of the following:   (i) the making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance:   (A) for purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a housing accommodation or property; or   (B) secured by real estate; or   (ii) the selling, leasing, brokering, or appraising of real property.   (b) "Utility" means any public utility regulated by the commission pursuant to Title 69, chapter 3, that provides electricity or natural gas for sale to customers.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 391, L. 2013.
MT Code § 69-3-223 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-223. Utility -- liability

  69-3-223. Utility -- liability. A utility is liable for direct damages resulting from a discontinuance of utility service caused by breach of a continuous service agreement.   History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 391, L. 2013.
MT Code § 69-3-224 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-224. reserved

  69-3-224 reserved.
MT Code § 69-3-225 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 69. Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3. Regulation of Utilities|Part 2. Requirements for Public Utilities|69-3-225. Overbilling of regulated telecommunications tariff charges -- statute of limitations for recovery

  69-3-225. Overbilling of regulated telecommunications tariff charges -- statute of limitations for recovery. (1) A person or entity alleging overbilling of tariffed telecommunications charges by a regulated telecommunications company shall file the action before the commission or a court of competent jurisdiction within 2 years of the date of overbilling.  (2) This section is intended to be consistent with limitations on actions as provided in 47 U.S.C. 415.   (3) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:   (a) "Overbilling" means presenting a bill to a customer of a regulated telecommunications company that includes charges that overstate the amount owed by the customer pursuant to the tariff for the service as approved by and on file with the commission.   (b) "Regulated telecommunications company" means all public utility companies that are regulated pursuant to 69-3-101(1)(f), Title 69, chapter 3, part 8, and 69-3-803(10).   (c) "Tariffed telecommunications charges" means all charges and fees for regulated services billed by a regulated telecommunications company as authorized by a tariff that has been approved by and filed with the commission.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 490, L. 2021.