reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TN Code § 65-4-107 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-107. Approval of Privilege or Franchise

  No privilege or franchise hereafter granted to any public utility by the state or by any political subdivision of the state shall be valid until approved by the commission, such approval to be given when, after hearing, the commission determines that such privilege or franchise is necessary and proper for the public convenience and properly conserves the public interest, and the commission shall have power, if it so approves, to impose such conditions as to construction, equipment, maintenance, service or operation as the public convenience and interest may reasonably require; provided, however, that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as applying to the laying of sidings, sidetracks, or switchouts, by any public utility, and it shall not be necessary for any such public utility to obtain a certificate of convenience from the commission for such purpose.   All terms, conditions, obligations, and rights of a privilege or franchise approved by the commission for the provision of natural gas service shall remain in effect until approval of a subsequent privilege or franchise by the commission.
TN Code § 65-4-108 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-108. Appeal to Commission From Local Regulation

 Any such public utility may appeal to the commission from any order or regulation made by any local, municipal, or county governing body, and the commission is given power and jurisdiction to hear such appeal and to determine the matter in question on the merits and make such order in the premises as may be just and reasonable.
TN Code § 65-4-109 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-109. Issuance of Stocks or Other Evidences of Indebtedness

 No public utility shall issue any stocks, stock certificates, bonds, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness payable in more than one (1) year from the date thereof, until it shall have first obtained authority from the commission for such proposed issue. It shall be the duty of the commission after hearing to approve any such proposed issue maturing more than one (1) year from the date thereof upon being satisfied that the proposed issue, sale and delivery is to be made in accordance with law and the purpose of such be approved by the commission.
TN Code § 65-4-110 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-110. Depreciation Account for Protection of Holders of Securities

 The commission has the power, after hearing, upon notice, by order in writing, to require every public utility as defined in § 65-4-101 to carry for the protection of stockholders, bondholders or holders of securities a proper and adequate depreciation account in accordance with such rules, regulations, and forms of account, as the commission may prescribe. The commission shall have power to ascertain and determine, and by order in writing, after hearing, fix proper and adequate rates of depreciation of the property of each public utility, and each public utility shall conform its depreciation accounts to the rates so ascertained, determined, and fixed, and shall set aside the moneys so provided for out of earnings and carry the same in a depreciation fund. The income from investments of moneys in such fund shall likewise be carried in such fund. This depreciation fund shall not be expended otherwise than for depreciation, improvements, new constructions, extensions, or additions to the property of such public utility, unless the commission shall by order in writing give permission to the public utility to divert the fund to purposes other than those named in this section.
TN Code § 65-4-111 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-111. Uniform System of Accounting — Reports

  The commission has the power, after hearing, upon notice, by order in writing, to require every public utility as defined in § 65-4-101 to keep its books, records, and accounts so as to afford an intelligent understanding of the conduct of its business, and to that end to require every such public utility of the same class to adopt a uniform system of accounting. The accounting system shall conform, where applicable, to any system adopted or approved by the interstate commerce commission.   The commission also has the power to require each such utility to furnish annually, or at such other times as the commission may require, a detailed report of finances and operations as shown by such system of accounts.
TN Code § 65-4-112 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-112. Utilities Leasing, Merging, or Consolidating Property

  No lease of its property, rights, or franchises, by any such public utility, and no merger or consolidation of its property, rights and franchises by any such public utility with the property, rights and franchises of any other such public utility of like character shall be valid until approved by the commission, even though power to take such action has been conferred on such public utility by the state or by any political subdivision of the state.   Any public utility as defined in § 65-4-101, may, without the approval or consent of the state or the commission, or any other agency of the state, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any of its property, including, but without limitation, franchises, rights, facilities, and other assets, and its capital stock, to any of the nonutilities defined in § 65-4-101.
TN Code § 65-4-113 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-113. Transfer of Authority to Provide Utility Services

  No public utility, as defined in § 65-4-101, shall transfer all or any part of its authority to provide utility services, derived from its certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the commission, to any individual, partnership, corporation or other entity without first obtaining the approval of the commission.   Upon petition for approval of the transfer of authority to provide utility services, the commission shall take into consideration all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the suitability, the financial responsibility, and capability of the proposed transferee to perform efficiently the utility services to be transferred and the benefit to the consuming public to be gained from the transfer. The commission shall approve the transfer after consideration of all relevant factors and upon finding that such transfer furthers the public interest.   Following approval of the transfer pursuant to this section, the transferee shall be granted full authority to provide the transferred services subject to the continuing regulation of the commission. The transferor shall no longer have any authority to provide the transferred services, but shall retain authority to provide other services, if any are retained, which were not included in such transfer.   This section shall not apply to any transfers falling under § 65-4-112. This section shall apply to all other utility service transfers, including, but not limited to, the transfer of the authority to provide communications services held by a land line telephone company pursuant to § 65-30-105(h).   To the extent transferees receiving authority under this section would be prohibited from performing the service by § 65-30-104, § 65-30-105(a), or § 65-30-105(f)(2), those sections are declared inapplicable.
TN Code § 65-4-114 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-114. Service Requirements

 The commission has the power, after hearing, upon notice, by order in writing, to require every public utility, as defined in § 65-4-101, to:   Furnish safe, adequate, and proper service and to keep and maintain its property and equipment in such condition as to enable it to do so; and   Establish, construct, maintain, and operate any reasonable extension of its existing facilities where, in the judgment of the commission, such extension is reasonable and practicable, and will furnish sufficient business to justify the construction, operation, and maintenance of the same, and when the financial condition of the public utility affected reasonably warrants the original expenditure required in making such extension, or to abandon any service when, in the judgment of the commission, the public welfare no longer requires the same.
TN Code § 65-4-115 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-115. Unjust Practices and Unsafe Services Prohibited

 No public utility shall adopt, maintain, or enforce any regulation, practice, or measurement which is unjust, unreasonable, unduly preferential or discriminatory, nor shall any public utility provide or maintain any service that is unsafe, improper, or inadequate, or withhold or refuse any service which can reasonably be demanded and furnished when ordered by the commission.
TN Code § 65-4-116 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-116. Penalties

  The penalties prescribed by chapter 3 of this title shall be and remain in full force and effect, and shall in every case apply to any public utility within this chapter in the same manner and to the same extent as they are made applicable to and imposed on railroad and transportation companies under chapter 3 of this title.   In determining the amount of the penalty, the appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the business of the person, firm or corporation charged, the gravity of the violation and the good faith of the person, firm or corporation charged in attempting to achieve compliance, after notification of a violation, shall be considered. The amount of the penalty, when finally determined, may be deducted from any sums owing by the state to the person, firm or corporation charged or may be recovered in a civil action in the courts of this state.
TN Code § 65-4-119 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-119. Complaints Referred to Employees

 Any person employed by the commission in the consumer advocate division may be assigned by the commission to investigate, hear, and, wherever possible, adjust any individual or general complaint made by any person against any such public utility, wherein its investment, property, service charges, or claims preferred against it, may be involved, and may hear and take proof, and, in the event the commission employee is unable to effect a satisfactory adjustment of any such complaint, then the commission employee shall certify the same to the commission, with recommendations in the premises, whereupon the commission shall, after hearing, make its final order, which shall be binding upon the parties to any such controversy.
TN Code § 65-4-120 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-120. Penalty for Noncompliance With Authority

 Any public utility which violates or fails to comply with any lawful order, judgment, finding, rule, or requirement of the commission, shall in the discretion of the commission be subject to a penalty of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each day of any such violation or failure, which may be declared due and payable by the commission, upon complaint, and after hearing, and when paid, either voluntarily, or after suit, which may be brought by the commission, shall be placed to the credit of the public utility account.
TN Code § 65-4-121 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-121. Appeals

 Any appeal, order, decision, ruling or action of the commission affecting any utility as defined in § 65-4-101, exclusive of railroads or common carriers, or any company engaged in the transmission of intelligence or communications, shall be filed in a court of record of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the dispute or matters in controversy arose; and no other nisi prius court of this state shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine such appeal. In the event of an appeal from the judgment or order of circuit or chancery court reviewing such order, or judgment, such appeal shall be prosecuted to the court of appeals in the grand division of the state in which the dispute or matters in controversy arose; and any appeal therefrom shall be perfected to the supreme court.
TN Code § 65-4-122 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-122. Discriminatory Charges — Reasonableness of Rates — Unreasonable Preferences — Penalties

  If any common carrier or public service company, directly or indirectly, by any special rate, rebate, drawback, or other device, charges, demands, collects, or receives from any person a greater or less compensation for any service within this state than it charges, demands, collects, or receives from any other person for service of a like kind under substantially like circumstances and conditions, and if such common carrier or such other public service company makes any preference between the parties aforementioned, such common carrier or other public service company commits unjust discrimination, which is prohibited and declared unlawful.   Any such corporation which charges, collects, or receives more than a just and reasonable rate of toll or compensation for service in this state commits extortion, which is prohibited and declared unlawful.   It is unlawful for any such corporation to make or give an undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any particular person or locality, or any particular description of traffic or service, or to subject any particular person, company, firm, corporation, or locality, or any particular description of traffic or service to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage.   Any such corporation that shall be guilty of extortion or unjust discrimination, or of giving to any person or locality, or to any description of traffic an undue or unreasonable preference or advantage, shall be fined in any sum not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than two thousand dollars ($2,000).   An action may be brought by any person against any person or corporation, owning or operating such public service company in Tennessee, for the violation of this section, before any court having jurisdiction to try the same.
TN Code § 65-4-123 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-123. Declaration of Telecommunications Services Policy

 The general assembly declares that the policy of this state is to foster the development of an efficient, technologically advanced, statewide system of telecommunications services by permitting competition in all telecommunications services markets, and by permitting alternative forms of regulation for telecommunications services and telecommunications services providers. To that end, the regulation of telecommunications services and telecommunications services providers shall protect the interests of consumers without unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage to any telecommunications services provider; universal service shall be maintained; and rates charged to residential customers for essential telecommunications services shall remain affordable.
TN Code § 65-4-124 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-124. Administrative Rules

  All telecommunications services providers shall provide non-discriminatory interconnection to their public networks under reasonable terms and conditions; and all telecommunications services providers shall, to the extent that it is technically and financially feasible, be provided desired features, functions and services promptly, and on an unbundled and non-discriminatory basis from all other telecommunications services providers.   The Tennessee public utility commission shall, at a minimum, promulgate rules and issue such orders as necessary to implement the requirements of subsection (a) and to provide for unbundling of service elements and functions, terms for resale, interLATA presubscription, number portability, and packaging of a basic local exchange telephone service or unbundled features or functions with services of other providers.   These rules shall also ensure that all telecommunications services providers who provide basic local exchange telephone service or its equivalent provide each customer a basic White Pages directory listing, provide access to 911 emergency services, provide free blocking service for 900/976 type services, provide access to telecommunications relay services, provide Lifeline and Link-Up Tennessee services to qualifying citizens of the state and provide educational discounts existing on June 6, 1995.   The granting of applications for certificates of convenience and necessity to competing telecommunications service providers or the adoption of a price regulation plan for incumbent local exchange telephone companies is not dependent upon the promulgation of these rules.
TN Code § 65-4-126 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 1 - General Provisions|§ 65-4-126. State Policy on Using Energy More Efficiently

 The general assembly declares that the policy of this state is that the Tennessee public utility commission will seek to implement, in appropriate proceedings for each electric and gas utility, with respect to which the commission has rate making authority, a general policy that ensures that utility financial incentives are aligned with helping their customers use energy more efficiently and that provides timely cost recovery and a timely earnings opportunity for utilities associated with cost-effective measurable and verifiable efficiency savings, in a way that sustains or enhances utility customers' incentives to use energy more efficiently.
TN Code § 65-4-202 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 2 - Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity|§ 65-4-202. Complaint of Interference — Limited Certificate

 If any public utility, in establishing, constructing, reconstructing, or extending its route, line, plant or system, shall interfere or be about to interfere with the existing route, line, plant, or system of any other public utility, the commission, on complaint of the public utility claiming to be injuriously affected, may, after hearing, make such order and prescribe such terms and conditions in harmony with this part as are just and reasonable. The commission shall have power, after a hearing involving the financial ability and good faith of the applicant, the necessity for additional service in the municipality or territory, and such other matters as it deems relevant, to issue a certificate of public necessity and convenience, or to refuse to issue the same or to issue it for the establishment or construction of a portion only of the contemplated plant, route, line, or system or extension thereof, or for the partial exercise only of such right or privilege, and may attach to the exercise of the rights granted by the certificate such terms and conditions as to time or otherwise as in its judgment the public convenience, necessity, and protection may require, and may forfeit such certificate after issuance, for noncompliance with its terms, or provide therein for an ipso facto forfeiture of the same for failure to exercise the rights granted within the time fixed by the commission; provided, that nothing in this part shall be construed as requiring such certificate for a municipally owned plant, project, or development.
TN Code § 65-4-203 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 2 - Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity|§ 65-4-203. Basis for Granting Certificate — Notice of Hearing

  The commission shall not grant a certificate for a proposed route, plant, line, or system, or extension thereof, which will be in competition with any other route, plant, line, or system, unless it shall first determine that the facilities of the existing route, plant, line, or system are inadequate to meet the reasonable needs of the public, or the public utility operating the same refuses or neglects or is unable to or has refused or neglected, after reasonable opportunity after notice, to make such additions and extensions as may reasonably be required under this part.   In all proceedings under this section, the commission shall give at least ten (10) days' notice to the authorities of, and the public utilities operating in, the municipality or territory affected.   This section shall not apply to telecommunications service providers.
TN Code § 65-4-204 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 2 - Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity|§ 65-4-204. Public Hearing on Certificate — Plans and Information Required of Applicant

 The commission may, upon its own initiative, or shall upon written application of any party in interest, order a public hearing with due notice to all interested parties, at which hearing the person proposing to create the development of water power or other plant or equipment, or extension of the same, shall be required to file with the commission, under oath, engineering plans and other information fully descriptive of the proposed development or such thereof as in the opinion of the commission can reasonably be furnished by such applicant, together with such other reasonable information as may be called for at the hearing or any adjournment of the same; and the commission shall have full power to issue or refuse the certificate of public necessity and convenience, or to qualify or withdraw the same as provided in § 65-4-203.
TN Code § 65-4-205 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 2 - Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity|§ 65-4-205. Evidence

 All evidence taken by the commission in any such hearing or hearings shall be taken under oath and may be treated as evidence in any court.
TN Code § 65-4-207 (2021)
2021 Tennessee Code|Title 65 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 4 - Regulation of Public Utilities by Commission|Part 2 - Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity|§ 65-4-207. Law Inapplicable at Local Option

  This part does not apply where any municipality or county by resolution or ordinance declares that a public necessity requires a competing company in that municipality or county.   This section shall not apply to telecommunications service providers; provided, that this section shall continue to apply with respect to any ordinance adopted, and any franchise granted pursuant to such an ordinance, prior to June 6, 1995.