reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
GA Code § 46-4-160.5 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 4 - Distribution, Storage, and Sale of Gas|Article 5 - Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation|§ 46-4-160.5. Retail Customer Recovery for Violations

  Any retail customer who is damaged by a marketer's violation of any provision of Code Section 46-4-160, any duly promulgated rules or regulations issued under such Code section, or any commission order shall be entitled to maintain a civil action and shall be entitled to recover actual damages sustained by the retail customer, as well as incidental damages, consequential damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and court costs.   Any violation of Code Section 46-4-160 or any duly promulgated rules or regulations issued under such Code section is declared to be a violation of Part 2 of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 10, the "Fair Business Practices Act of 1975." Any remedy available under such part shall be available to any retail customer and any action by the Attorney General that such part authorizes for a violation of such part shall be authorized for violation of Code Section 46-4-160 or any duly promulgated rules or regulations issued under such Code section. This subsection shall not be construed to provide that other violations of this article or rules promulgated under this article are not violations of such part.   The provisions of this Code section shall apply to violations of subsections (g) and (h) of Code Section 46-4-156, Code Sections 46-4-158.2, 46-4-160.1, and 46-4-160.2, and substantial violations of Code Section 46-4-158.3.     (Code 1981, §46-4-160.5, enacted by Ga. L. 2002, p. 475, § 18; Ga. L. 2004, p. 631, § 46; Ga. L. 2015, p. 1088, § 41/SB 148.)   Editor's notes.   - Ga. L. 2002, p. 475, § 1, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: "This Act shall be known and may be cited as the 'Natural Gas Consumers' Relief Act.'"   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   Recovery of overpayments made to energy company.    - Trial court erred by dismissing a class action complaint under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-12(b)(6) for failure to state a cause of action in a suit brought by customers against an energy company seeking recovery of overpayments as the voluntary payment doctrine did not apply to bar the action. Ellison v. Southstar Energy Servs., LLC, 298 Ga. App. 170, 679 S.E.2d 750 (2009), aff'd, 286 Ga. 709, 691 S.E.2d 203 (2010).   Voluntary payment doctrine not a defense.    - Trial court erred in dismissing natural gas customers' class action alleging that a provider intentionally and deceptively overcharged the customers based on the voluntary payment doctrine. O.C.G.A. § 46-4-160.5, which specifically authorized a private right of action for damages for the customers, prevailed over O.C.G.A. § 13-1-13, the general statute setting forth the voluntary payment doctrine. Southstar Energy Servs., LLC v. Ellison, 286 Ga. 709, 691 S.E.2d 203 (2010).
GA Code § 46-4-162 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 4 - Distribution, Storage, and Sale of Gas|Article 5 - Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation|§ 46-4-162. Commission's Authority to Approve Certain Pilot Programs

 Nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit the commission from approving, upon application by a gas company, pilot programs which allow increased customer choice on such gas company's distribution system but which are not otherwise subject to the provisions of this article.    (Code 1981, §46-4-162, enacted by Ga. L. 1997, p. 798, § 4.)
GA Code § 46-4-163 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 4 - Distribution, Storage, and Sale of Gas|Article 5 - Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation|§ 46-4-163. Special or Negotiated Contracts Valid

 Any special or negotiated contract between a gas company and a retail customer approved by the commission shall not be invalidated or modified by the provisions of this article.    (Code 1981, §46-4-163, enacted by Ga. L. 1997, p. 798, § 4.)
GA Code § 46-4-165 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 4 - Distribution, Storage, and Sale of Gas|Article 5 - Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation|§ 46-4-165. Annual Reports

 The commission shall report to the General Assembly annually through the year 2002 on the status of the transition to competitive markets for natural gas services in Georgia.    (Code 1981, §46-4-165, enacted by Ga. L. 1997, p. 798, § 4.)
GA Code § 46-5-4 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 1 - General Provisions|§ 46-5-4. Seizure and Disposal of Devices, Equipment, or Any Plan or Instruction Used for Committing Theft of Telecommunications Service

 Any unlawful telecommunication device as defined in subsection (a) of Code Section 46-5-3 or other instrument, apparatus, equipment, or device, or any plan or instruction therefor, referred to in Code Section 46-5-3 may be seized by court order, or under a search warrant issued by a judge or a magistrate, or incident to a lawful arrest. Upon the conviction of any person for a violation of any provisions of Code Section 46-5-2 or 46-5-3, such instrument, apparatus, equipment, device, plan, or instruction shall be either destroyed as contraband by the sheriff of the county in which such person was convicted or turned over to the telephone company or telecommunication service provider in whose territory such instrument, apparatus, equipment, device, plan, or instruction was seized.   (Ga. L. 1976, p. 1179, § 2; Ga. L. 1996, p. 1085, § 3.)   Cross references.   - Licensing and regulation of cable television systems by counties, Ch. 18, T. 36.   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 74 Am. Jur. 2d, Telecommunications, § 188.   ALR.   - Lawfulness of seizure of property used in violation of law as prerequisite to forfeiture action or proceeding, 8 A.L.R.3d 473.
GA Code § 46-5-5 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 1 - General Provisions|§ 46-5-5. Inclusion of Local Exchanges 495 and 567 in Area Code 404

 Local exchanges 495 and 567 shall be included in the current 404 area code on or before July 1, 1996, and removed from the 706 area code; provided, however, that if a geographic area of the 404 area code is designated as a different area code and such geographic area is contiguous to a part of the geographic area where local exchange 495 or 567 is operational, then nothing in this Code section shall prohibit local exchange 495 or 567 from being included in the newly designated area code.    (Code 1981, §46-5-5, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 886, § 1.)   Editor's notes.   - Ga. L. 1995, p. 886, § 3, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "The Public Service Commission shall be required to conduct at least three hearings in locations outside the metropolitan areas of the state and accept evidence as to the costs, feasibility, and methodology of providing for toll free calling between two telephones where the central offices serving such telephones are within an extended area of service of not less than 22 miles of each other. The methodology and analysis of the cost and feasibility of such toll free calling area shall be conducted under the supposition of an alternative system of regulation within the framework of Section 1 of this Act. The commission shall conduct such hearings prior to November 30, 1995, and shall report its findings to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 1995. The Public Service Commission shall conclude its consideration in Docket 4231-U of the expansion of local calling areas pursuant to its rules, including but not limited to all balloting and the formulation of an appropriate rate design, on or before January 1, 1996. The implementation of the expanded calling areas shall be completed on or before July 1, 1996."   Ga. L. 1995, p. 886, § 4, not codified by the General Assembly, provides for severability.   Law reviews.   - For note on the 1995 amendment of this section, see 12 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 333 (1995).
GA Code § 46-5-6 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 1 - General Provisions|§ 46-5-6. Exclusive Power and Authority of the Public Service Commission to Prescribe Rules and Regulations Regarding Public Pay Telephones

 The Public Service Commission shall have the exclusive power and authority to prescribe rules and regulations for the operation, maintenance, location, and deployment of public pay telephones within this state.    (Code 1981, §46-5-6, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 848, § 3.)
GA Code § 46-5-7 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 1 - General Provisions|§ 46-5-7. Plan to Ensure Confidentiality of Family Violence Shelters' Addresses and Locations

  Prior to January 1, 2005, each person, corporation, or other entity that provides telephone service in this state and each person, corporation, or other entity that publishes, disseminates, or otherwise provides telephone directory information or listings of telephone subscribers in this state shall file a plan with the commission setting forth in detail how such person, corporation, or other entity will protect the confidentiality of the address or location of family violence shelters, as defined in Code Section 19-13-20, in this state. Such plan shall describe the manner in which the person, corporation, or other entity will identify all such shelters and the manner in which the person, corporation, or other entity will keep the location and address of such shelters confidential.   Such persons, corporations, and other entities shall update such plans at least every 24 months.   Such original and updated plans shall be approved by the commission within a reasonable time upon a determination that the plans are reasonably effective in identifying the family violence shelters in the state and in maintaining the confidentiality of the location and address of such family violence shelters. If the commission determines that a plan is inadequate, it shall state the basis on which the plan was determined to be inadequate and shall allow the person, corporation, or other entity filing such plan a period of not more than 30 days to file a revised plan that is acceptable to the commission.   Such plans shall not be open to examination by the public and shall be exempt from disclosure under the provisions of Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50.   Within three days of filing original plans or updates with the commission, each person, corporation, or other entity subject to this Code section shall submit a copy of all original plans, updated plans, and revised plans to the State Commission on Family Violence, which is authorized to provide comments concerning such plans to the commission in order to aid in review and approval of such plans.   The filing or approval of such plans shall not in any manner be a defense to any action or prosecution.     (Code 1981, §46-5-7, enacted by Ga. L. 2004, p. 765, § 2.)   Editor's notes.   - Ga. L. 2004, p. 765, § 1, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: "This Act shall be known and may be cited as the 'Family Violence Shelter Confidentiality Act of 2004.' "
GA Code § 46-5-140 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 3 - Telegraph Service|§ 46-5-140. Through 46-5-149

 Reserved. Repealed by Ga. L. 2012, p. 847, § 11/HB 1115, effective July 1, 2012.   Editor's notes.   - This article consisted of Code Sections46-5-140 through46-5-149, relating to telegraph service, and was based on Ga. L. 1880-81, p. 115, §§ 1, 2; Code 1882, § 3412; Ga. L. 1893, p. 86, §§ 1-5; Civil Code 1895, §§ 2339-2343, 2348; Ga. L. 1908, p. 94, §§ 1, 2; Civil Code 1910, §§ 2803-2807, 2812-2814; Code 1933, §§ 104-101 - 104-104, 104-201, 104-206 - 104-208; Code 1981, §§ 46-5-140 -46-5-149; Ga. L. 1983, p. 859, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 22, § 46, Ga. L. 1992, p. 6, § 46; Ga. L. 2005, p. 524, § 1/HB 622.
GA Code § 46-5-160 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 4 - Telecommunications and Competition Development|§ 46-5-160. Short Title

 This article shall be known and may be cited as "The Telecommunications and Competition Development Act of 1995."    (Code 1981, §46-5-160, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 886, § 2.)
GA Code § 46-5-161 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 4 - Telecommunications and Competition Development|§ 46-5-161. Legislative Findings; Intent

  The General Assembly finds:   It is in the public interest to establish a new regulatory model for telecommunications services in Georgia to reflect the transition to a reliance on market based competition as the best mechanism for the selection and provision of needed telecommunications services at the most efficient pricing;   Investment in the telecommunications infrastructure required to further economic growth in Georgia and to meet the growing demands of Georgia's consumers will be encouraged through competition; and   In order to ensure the implementation of this new reliance on market based competition, any legislative obstacles to competition for local exchange services must be removed.     It is the intent of this article to:   Permit local exchange companies to elect alternative forms of regulation;   Protect the consumer during the transition to a competitive telecommunications market;   Assure reasonable cost for universal access to basic telecommunications services throughout Georgia;   Encourage investment in Georgia's telecommunications infrastructure and encourage the introduction of innovative products and services for Georgia's consumers;   Authorize competition for local exchange services; and   Allow pricing flexibility for all telecommunications services other than basic local exchange services.       (Code 1981, §46-5-161, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 886, § 2.)
GA Code § 46-5-163 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 4 - Telecommunications and Competition Development|§ 46-5-163. Certificates of Authority

  A telecommunications company including a telecommunications services reseller shall not provide telecommunications services without a certificate of authority issued by the commission. The provisions of Code Section 46-5-45 shall apply in circumstances where a telecommunications company is providing telecommunications services without a certificate issued by the commission.   The commission shall have the authority to issue multiple certificates of authority for local exchange services upon a showing to the commission that an applicant possesses satisfactory financial and technical capability. Any certificate existing on July 1, 1995, shall remain effective and shall be considered a certificate of authority under this article. A certificate is not required for a telecommunications company to provide commercial mobile services. The commission shall also have the authority to issue certificates to long distance telecommunications carriers subject to federal court decisions, federal law, and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission.   A showing of public convenience and necessity is not a condition for issuing a competing certificate of authority. Prior to July 1, 1998, only a currently certificated Tier 2 local exchange company may be issued a certificate of authority to compete for service in an area serviced by an existing Tier 2 local exchange company.   Any certificate of authority issued by the commission is subject to revocation, suspension, or adjustment where the commission finds upon complaint and hearing that a local exchange company has engaged in unfair competition or has abused its market position.   The commission shall grant certificates of authority in a timely manner and all such proceedings on complaints regarding abuse shall be resolved in a timely manner.   All local exchange companies certificated by the commission shall be subject to the same rules and regulations applied by the commission to other local exchange companies certificated to provide local exchange services within the same area; provided, however, that in promulgating rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this article, the commission may adopt rules and regulations for local exchange companies certificated after July 1, 1995, which vary from other rules and regulations applicable to the delivery of telecommunications services but which are appropriate and consistent to service being delivered by such local exchange companies and are adopted in the public interest.     (Code 1981, §46-5-163, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 886, § 2.)
GA Code § 46-5-165 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 4 - Telecommunications and Competition Development|§ 46-5-165. Alternative Regulation of Rates, Terms, and Conditions

  Any Tier 1 local exchange company may elect to have its rates, terms, and conditions for its services determined pursuant to the alternative regulation described in this article, in lieu of other forms of regulation including but not limited to rate of return or rate base monitoring or regulation, upon the filing of notice with the commission and committing to provide basic local exchange services upon reasonable request and to invest $500 million per year for five years to improve and strengthen telecommunications services in Georgia; provided, however, that after the expiration of three years of such investments, the commission shall determine, after notice and opportunity for a Tier 1 local exchange company or other interested parties to be heard, whether such investment commitment should be continued for the remaining two years or whether such commitment should be reduced.   Any Tier 2 local exchange company may elect to have the rates, terms, and conditions for its services determined pursuant to the alternative regulation described in this article upon the filing of notice with the commission and committing to provide basic local exchange services upon reasonable request.   The alternative regulation under this article shall become effective on the date specified by the electing company but in no event sooner than 30 days after such notice is filed with the commission.   On the date a telecommunications company elects the alternative regulation described in this article, all existing rates, terms, and conditions for the services provided by the electing company contained in the then existing tariffs and contracts are deemed just and reasonable.     (Code 1981, §46-5-165, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 886, § 2.)
GA Code § 46-5-169 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 4 - Telecommunications and Competition Development|§ 46-5-169. Company Obligations Associated With Alternative Regulation

 A company electing alternative regulation:    Shall comply with orders issued and rules adopted by the commission to implement the express provisions of this article as a condition of obtaining or retaining a certificate of authority under this article;   Shall not refuse any reasonable application for basic local exchange service;   Shall not give any unreasonable preference or advantage to any customer when providing telecommunications services;   Shall not, either directly or through affiliated companies, engage in any anticompetitive act or practice including but not limited to price squeezing, price discrimination, predatory pricing, or tying arrangements, as such terms are commonly applied in antitrust law;   Shall not cross-subsidize nonregulated or alternatively regulated services with revenue created by regulated services;   Shall not give any preference to affiliated companies;   Shall allow the resale of its services. Nothing in this Code section shall restrict a customer from authorizing an agent to order such services on its behalf; and   Shall not be required to seek regulatory approval of its depreciation rates or schedules.     (Code 1981, §46-5-169, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 886, § 2.)
GA Code § 46-5-170 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 4 - Telecommunications and Competition Development|§ 46-5-170. Access to Local Telephone Numbering Resources and Assignments

 Providers of local exchange services shall have access to local telephone numbering resources and assignments on equitable terms that include recognition of the scarcity of such resources and that are in accordance with adopted national assignment guidelines and commission rules. Additionally, all local exchange companies shall make the necessary modifications to allow portability of local numbers between different certificated providers of local exchange service as soon as reasonably possible after such portability has been shown to be technically and economically feasible and in the public interest.    (Code 1981, §46-5-170, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 886, § 2.)
GA Code § 46-5-171 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 46 - Public Utilities and Public Transportation|Chapter 5 - Telephone Service|Article 4 - Telecommunications and Competition Development|§ 46-5-171. Local Call Charges Based on Duration or Time of Call Prohibited

 A local exchange company may not charge a residential customer or single line business for basic local exchange service based on the duration of a call or on the time of day that a call is made; provided, however, that such restriction shall not apply in any case where a customer or business requests charges based on the duration of a call or on the time of day that a call is made. This Code section does not prohibit a local exchange company from offering discounts based on the time of day that a call is made if the company also offers basic local exchange service at a rate permitted under Code Section 46-5-166.    (Code 1981, §46-5-171, enacted by Ga. L. 1995, p. 886, § 2.)