reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MS Code § 77-3-45 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-45. Promulgation of rules and regulations

 The commission shall prescribe, issue, amend and rescind such reasonable rules and regulations as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this chapter. No rule or regulation shall be effective until thirty (30) days after a notice setting forth either the terms or substance thereof or a description of the subjects and issues involved and the time and place of a hearing thereon shall have been published in a newspaper of general circulation in the state. The commission shall file the notice with the Secretary of State pursuant to the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law and mail a copy of it to all affected public utilities. The commission shall mail a copy of the proposed rule or regulation to any public utility that requests a copy. The hearing may be held at any time twenty (20) days after date of publication of the notice, but the rules or regulations shall not become effective until a hearing thereon. A proceeding to contest any rule or regulation due to noncompliance with the procedural requirements of this section must be commenced within one (1) year from the effective date of the rule or regulation. All rules and regulations of the commission shall be filed with its executive secretary and shall be readily available for public inspection and examination during reasonable business hours. Any interested person shall have the right to petition the commission for issuance, amendment or repeal of a rule or regulation.   The commission shall, in the exercise of its power to promulgate rules and regulations, adopt standard practices and procedures:   To specify what costs may be used for determining a public utility's rate base, which balance the interests of consumers and investors;   To prescribe the time period for measuring a public utility's rate base;   To specify allowable operating expenses, provided, however, that the commission shall exclude from a public utility's allowable operating expenses any interest such utility paid, or credited, to its consumers in connection with refunds in a rate proceeding in which its rates were finally determined to be excessive;   To determine accurately the capital costs of a public utility;   To define specific costs which may be included by a public utility in its monthly fuel adjustment clause retail billings;   To define specific costs which may be included by a public utility distributing gas in its monthly purchased gas adjustments retail billings;   To prescribe minimal uniform standards of service for various classes of public utilities; and   To provide for any other rules and regulations deemed by the commission to be appropriate for carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
MS Code § 77-3-46 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-46. Management reviews of public utility companies

 Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the commission may, in its discretion, initiate a management review of any public utility company, the rates of which are subject to regulation under the provisions of this chapter and which has in excess of twenty-five thousand (25,000) customers, once every five (5) years, and at such other times deemed necessary by the commission as determined by it during a hearing, by a competent, qualified and independent firm, such review to examine thoroughly the efficiency and effectiveness of management decisions among other factors as directed by the commission. Such public utility shall render to the commission for such purpose books, records and other items prescribed by the commission. The cost of such review is to be borne by the particular public utility subject to the review; provided, however, that carriers subject to regulation by and auditing of the interstate commerce commission shall not be required to bear the expense of additional management review required hereunder.   Whenever the commission is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so, the commission may in its discretion initiate a management review of any other public utility company, the rates of which are subject to regulation under the provisions of this chapter, in accordance with the procedures set forth above in this section.   The commission shall not contract for such management review with any firm that has within three (3) years prior thereto performed a financial audit on behalf of such public utility nor on behalf of any affiliate, subsidiary, holding or parent company.
MS Code § 77-3-47 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-47. Hearings by commission

 The commission may, in addition to the hearings specifically provided for by this chapter, conduct such other hearings as may be deemed necessary in the administration of the powers and duties conferred upon it by this title.   The commission shall fix the time and place of hearings and shall serve notice thereof, not less than twenty (20) days before the time set for such hearings, unless the commission shall find that public convenience or necessity requires that such hearings be held at an earlier date. The commission may dismiss any complaint without a hearing if in its opinion a hearing is not necessary in the public interest or for the protection of substantial rights. Notice of all such hearings shall be given the persons interested therein by mailing such notice to each public utility which may be affected by any order resulting therefrom and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation published in Jackson, Mississippi, and, in a proceeding for a facility certificate or an area certificate, by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties where the facility or area is located. In addition to any other notice requirements prescribed in this section, notice of a hearing regarding a major change in rates and schedules, as defined in Section 77-3-37(8), by a public utility of the type defined in Section 77-3-3(d)(iv) shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in an area where service is being provided by the public utility.   At the time fixed for any hearing before the commission, or the time to which the same may have been continued, the complainant and the person complained of shall be entitled in person or by attorney to be heard and to introduce evidence.
MS Code § 77-3-49 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-49. Issuance of process by commission; witnesses

 The commission may issue subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum and all necessary process in proceedings pending before it. Such process shall extend to all parts of the state and may be served by any person authorized to serve process of courts of record. All process issued by the commission shall be signed by the chairman or secretary of the commission, and the seal of the commission shall be affixed thereto.   The commission and each of the commissioners, for the purpose mentioned in this article, may administer oaths, examine witnesses and certify official acts.   In case of failure on the part of any person or persons to comply with any lawful order of the commission, or with any subpoena or subpoenas duces tecum, or in the case of the refusal of any witness to testify concerning any matter on which he may be interrogated lawfully, any court of record of general jurisdiction or a judge thereof, may on application of the commission compel obedience by proceedings for contempt as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from such court or a refusal to testify therein.
MS Code § 77-3-51 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-51. Depositions by agreement

 Upon agreement of the parties in any proceeding, depositions of any witnesses may be taken and used in evidence pursuant to procedure for taking depositions which may be prescribed by rules and regulations of the commission.
MS Code § 77-3-53 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-53. Certified copies of documents and orders as evidence

 Copies of official documents and orders filed or deposited according to law in the office of the commission, certified by a commissioner or by the secretary under the official seal of the commission to be true copies of the original shall be evidence in like manner as the originals, in all matters before the commission and in the courts of this state, or any other state or jurisdiction.
MS Code § 77-3-55 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-55. Orders, findings, authorizations and certificates to be in writing and entered in minutes

 Every order, finding, authorization or certificate issued or approved by the commission under any provisions of this article shall be in writing and entered on the minutes of the commission. A certificate under the seal of the commission that any such order, finding, authorization or certificate has not been modified, stayed, suspended or revoked, shall be received as evidence in any proceeding as to the facts therein stated.
MS Code § 77-3-57 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-57. Service on parties

 Service in all hearings, investigations and proceedings pending before the commission shall be made personally in the manner in which process is required by law to be served or by registered or certified mail, as the commission may direct.
MS Code § 77-3-59 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-59. Decisions; compliance with orders

 The commission shall make and file its findings and order, and its opinion, if any. All findings shall be supported by substantial evidence presented and shall be in sufficient detail to enable the court on appeal to determine the controverted questions presented, and the basis of the commission's conclusion. A copy of such order certified under the seal of the commission, shall be served upon the person against whom it runs, or his attorney, and notice thereof shall be given to the other parties to the proceedings or their attorneys. Said order shall take effect twenty (20) days after the service thereof, unless otherwise provided, and shall continue in force, either for a period which may be designated therein or until changed or revoked by the commission. If an order cannot, in the judgment of the commission, be complied with within twenty (20) days, the commission may grant and prescribe such additional time as in its judgment is reasonably necessary to comply with the order, and may, on application and for good cause shown, extend the time for compliance fixed in its order.
MS Code § 77-3-61 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-61. Alteration of orders

 The commission may at any time, after notice, and after opportunity to be heard as provided in Section 77-3-47, rescind or amend any order or decision made by it. Any order rescinding or amending a prior order or decision shall, when served upon the utility affected and after notice thereof is given to the other parties to the proceedings, have the same effect as original orders or decisions. However, no such order shall affect the legality or validity of any acts done by said utility before service upon it of the notice of such change.
MS Code § 77-3-63 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-63. Record of proceedings; reporter

 A full and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings had before the commission or any commissioner or any formal hearing. All testimony shall be taken down by a reporter appointed by the commission, whose qualifications and compensations shall be the same as now provided by law for the circuit and chancery court reporters.
MS Code § 77-3-65 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-65. Rehearing; stay of order

 After an order or decision has been made by the commission, any party to the proceedings may, within thirty (30) days after the entry of the order or decision, apply for a rehearing in respect of any matters determined in said proceedings and specified in the application for rehearing, and the commission may grant and hold such rehearings on such matters.   The filing of an application for rehearing shall not stay or suspend the effective date of any commission order or the obligation of any person to comply in all respects with such order unless the commission shall, in the exercise of its discretion, stay, suspend or modify such order. Any party to the proceedings shall be entitled to a stay of the order, other than an order resulting from a proceeding under Section 77-3-39, as a matter of right, upon filing with the commission a bond payable to the State of Mississippi in such amount and with sufficient surety, both as determined by the commission, to insure the prompt payment of any damages or refunds to the party or persons entitled thereto, if the order shall, at the conclusion of any subsequent proceedings, become effective. Such damages or refunds shall be paid in full, including interest at the same rate prescribed in Section 77-3-39, Section 77-3-69 and Section 77-3-71. In lieu of payment, the utility may credit the service account with the amount due under this section if the consumer entitled to the damages or refund is, at that time, a consumer of the utility.   The commission shall either grant or refuse an application for rehearing within twenty (20) days after the date of application therefor. A failure by the commission to act upon such application within that period shall be deemed refusal thereof. If the application is granted, the commission shall conduct and conclude a rehearing within thirty (30) days of the entry of the order for rehearing and shall enter a new order after the rehearing shall have been concluded, which shall become effective ten (10) days after such order is entered, unless otherwise provided by the commission for reasonable cause.
MS Code § 77-3-73 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-73. Appealed commission matters to take preference in all courts

 All commission matters appealed to any court shall take preference over other cases as a matter affecting the public interest, and all courts shall docket and dispose of such causes at the earliest moment compatible with the ends of justice.
MS Code § 77-3-75 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-75. Enforcement of commission orders

 The commission may apply to the chancery court, First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, for enforcement, by mandamus, injunction or other appropriate remedy, of any order of the commission.
MS Code § 77-3-77 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-77. Burden of proof on party seeking to vacate commission order

 In all actions and proceedings arising under the provisions of this article or growing out of the exercise of the authority and powers herein granted to the commission, the burden of proof shall be on the party seeking to vacate an order of said commission.
MS Code § 77-3-81 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-81. Violations of article or orders of commission; furnishing to commission of false testimony, reports, records, etc.

    Any person or corporation which willfully and knowingly violates any provision of this article or which fails, omits or neglects to obey, observe or comply with any lawful order, or any part or provision thereof, of the commission shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), which shall be deposited in the State General Fund.   Every violation of the provisions of this article or of any lawful order of the commission, or any part or portion thereof by any corporation or person is a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a continuing violation after a first conviction, each day's continuance thereof shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.     Any person who knowingly or intentionally gives false testimony at any hearing held by the commission, a commissioner or a hearing examiner, or who knowingly or intentionally makes false reports to the commission, when the testimony and reports are required by this article or any lawful order or rule of the commission, or who knowingly or intentionally makes any false entries upon the books or records of any public utility subject to review by the commission, or who knowingly or intentionally makes or preserves any false or misleading vouchers, memoranda or records showing the nature of, or purpose for, the disbursement of funds of such public utilities, shall be deemed guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be committed to the custody of the State Department of Corrections for a period of not less than one (1) year nor more than ten (10) years for every offense.
MS Code § 77-3-83 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-83. Penalties are cumulative

 All penalties accruing under this article shall be cumulative, and a suit for the recovery of one penalty shall not be a bar to or affect the recovery of any other penalty or forfeiture or be a bar to any criminal prosecution against any public utility or any officer, director, agent or employee thereof or any other corporation or person.
MS Code § 77-3-85 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-85. Jurisdiction of actions to recover penalties and criminal prosecutions; limitation of actions

 Actions to recover penalties under this article, and criminal prosecutions under subsection (2) of Section 77-3-81, shall be brought in the name of the State of Mississippi in any court of competent jurisdiction. No action for penalty under subsection (1) of Section 77-3-81 may be maintained after the expiration of one (1) year from the date of the act of which complaint is made.
MS Code § 77-3-89 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-89. Payment of expenses; audit of books and accounts; Public Utilities Staff Regulation Fund; funding of agency expenses; deposit of monies into State General Fund

 It shall be the duty of the State Auditor to advise the commission of the amount of money on hand in the "Public Service Commission Regulation Fund" from time to time. All expenses of the commission authorized by this article, or any other act of the Legislature, shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer, which warrants shall be issued upon requisition signed by the chairman of the commission and countersigned by one (1) of the commissioners. Said requisition shall show upon its face the purpose for which the payment is being made by reference to the minute book in which such payment was authorized. It shall be unlawful for any person to withdraw any money from said fund other than by requisition issued as herein provided. A record of all requisitions issued by the commission showing to whom, for what purpose, and date issued, shall be placed upon the minute books of the commission and shall become a part of the official record of the commission.   The books and accounts of the commission shall be audited at the end of each fiscal year, and at any other time deemed necessary, by the State Auditor and a copy of such audits shall be furnished to the Governor and the commission. The State Auditor may prescribe such further accounting procedure as he deems necessary for the withdrawal of funds by the commission from said special fund. All requisitions drawn in compliance with this article shall be honored by the State Auditor and the funds disbursed in accordance therewith. The commission shall file a report at each regular session of the Legislature showing the expenditure of all funds by the commission.   The "Public Utilities Staff Regulation Fund" shall be administered in accordance with Section 77-2-19.   From and after July 1, 2016, the expenses of this agency shall be defrayed by appropriation from the State General Fund and all user charges and fees authorized under this section shall be deposited into the State General Fund as authorized by law.   From and after July 1, 2016, no state agency shall charge another state agency a fee, assessment, rent or other charge for services or resources received by authority of this section.
MS Code § 77-3-90 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 77 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Public Utilities|Article 1 - Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; Rates; Service|§ 77-3-90. Annual reports of commission

 It shall be the duty of the commission to make and publish annual reports to the governor and the legislature as provided in Section 27-101-1, et seq., of commission activities, including copies of its general orders and regulations, comparative statistical data on the operation of the various public utilities in the state, comparison of rates in Mississippi with rates elsewhere, a detailed report of its investigative division, a detailed report of the public utilities staff, a review of significant developments in the fields of utility law, economics and planning, a report of pending matters before the commission and a digest of the principal decisions of the commission and the Mississippi courts affecting public utilities.