reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AR Code § 23-3-109 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 23-3-109. Annual statements of gross earnings

 (a) Annually, during the month of March, each utility subject by law to the payment of fees or charges under the jurisdiction of either the Arkansas Public Service Commission or the Arkansas Department of Transportation shall prepare and transmit to the commission or the department having jurisdiction over the utility a certified statement of the gross earnings from its properties in Arkansas for the preceding calendar year ending December 31.  (b) No deduction shall be made from the gross earnings on account of any payments, expenses, or uncollectible accounts, except refunds occasioned by errors or overcharge.  (c) Upon receipt of these certified statements, the commission or the department shall determine the total gross earnings of all of the utilities.  (d) However, any utility may deduct from its gross earnings any amounts derived from wholesale sales of electricity to any other utility, an electric cooperative corporation, or any other entity at wholesale rates regulated by the Arkansas Public Service Commission or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
AR Code § 23-3-110 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 23-3-110. Annual fees generally

 (a)  (1) There is levied and charged and there shall be collected annually from each utility subject by law to the payment of fees or charges under the jurisdiction of either the Arkansas Public Service Commission or the Arkansas Department of Transportation a fee in an amount equivalent to that proportion of the total utilities costs that the gross earnings of each of the utilities bear to the total gross earnings of all utilities.  (2) However, the fee to be collected annually from each of the utilities shall not exceed, in any year, an amount exceeding two-fifths of one percent (2/5 of 1%) of the gross earnings of each respective utility.  (3) In determining the amount of any fee for any individual utility pursuant to this subsection, the amount of gross earnings subject to the levy shall be reduced by any amounts derived from the sale of electricity to any other utility, an electric cooperative corporation, or any other entity at wholesale rates regulated by the Arkansas Public Service Commission or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.    (b)  (1) After determining the amount of the fee due to be paid by each of the utilities, the commission or the department having jurisdiction shall, annually on or before August 15, prepare and transmit to each of the utilities a statement of the fees due for utilities costs during the preceding fiscal year.  (2) Thereafter, on or before August 31, each of the utilities shall pay to the secretary of the commission or the department having jurisdiction all fees shown to be due by the statements.    (c) On receipt of the fees and charges, the secretary shall pay them into the State Treasury, and the amounts so received by the Treasurer of State shall be credited by him or her to the General Revenue Fund Account of the State Apportionment Fund.  (d) In the event any utility fails or refuses to pay the fees provided for in this section on or before August 31, the commission or the department having jurisdiction shall add to the fee a penalty of twenty-five percent (25%) thereof and certify the amount of the delinquent tax and penalty to the Attorney General for collection.
AR Code § 23-3-111 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 23-3-111. Fees — Foreign companies doing intrastate business

 (a) All foreign railroad, street, interurban, or other transportation companies now doing intrastate business, or desiring to engage in intrastate business, or authorized to engage in intrastate business, before being permitted to continue to do intrastate business or authorized to engage in intrastate business, shall pay the same fees as are required of like domestic corporations.  (b)  (1) Every foreign express company, sleeping car company, and private car company doing intrastate business or seeking to do intrastate business in Arkansas, before being permitted to continue to do intrastate business or authorized to engage in intrastate business, shall pay one dollar ($1.00) for every mile of railroad over which the corporation does, or proposes to do, intrastate business in this state.  (2) If any such corporation operates over more miles of railroad in the transaction of its business after the payment of the first fee, it shall pay an additional fee at the same rate provided by subdivision (b)(1) of this section.
AR Code § 23-3-112 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 23-3-112. Forms sent to utilities to be filled out and returned

 (a) Any public utility receiving from the commission any blanks with directions to fill the blanks shall cause the blanks to be properly filled out so as to answer fully, specifically, and correctly every question therein propounded.  (b)  (1) Answers shall be verified under oath by the president, secretary, superintendent, or general manager of the public utility and returned to the commission at its office within a reasonable time, or within the period fixed by the commission.  (2) In case the public utility is unable to answer any questions, it shall give a good and sufficient reason for such a failure.
AR Code § 23-3-113 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 23-3-113. Adequate service, facilities, etc., to be provided

 (a) Every public utility shall furnish, provide, and maintain such adequate and efficient service, instrumentalities, equipment, and facilities as shall promote the safety, health, comfort, requirements, and convenience of its patrons, employees, and the public.  (b) Every person, firm, or corporation engaged in a public service business in this state shall establish and maintain adequate and suitable facilities, safety appliances, or other suitable devices and shall perform such service in respect thereto as shall be reasonable, safe, and sufficient for the security and convenience of the public and the safety and comfort of its employees, and, in all respects, just and fair, and without any unjust discrimination or preference.
AR Code § 23-3-114 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 23-3-114. Unreasonable preferences prohibited

 (a)  (1) As to rates or services, no public utility shall make or grant any unreasonable preference or advantage to any corporation or person or subject any corporation or person to any unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage.  (2) No public utility shall establish or maintain any unreasonable difference as to rates or services, either as between localities or as between classes of service.    (b) The commission, in the exercise of its jurisdiction granted by this act, may fix uniform rates applicable throughout the territory served by any public utility whenever in its judgment public interest requires such uniform rates.  (c) The commission may determine any question or fact arising under this section.
AR Code § 23-3-115 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 23-3-115. Wires transmitting electricity or messages over public or private ways

 Every public utility which owns, operates, manages, or controls along or across any public or private way any wires over which electricity or messages are transmitted shall construct, operate, and maintain the wires and the equipment used in connection therewith in a reasonably adequate and safe manner and so as not to unreasonably interfere with the service furnished by other public utilities.
AR Code § 23-3-116 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 23-3-116. Power, water, gas, or electricity — Violation of municipal franchise — Penalties — Damages

 (a)  (1) Whenever a person, company, or corporation which has secured a franchise from any municipality in this state to furnish power, water, gas, or electricity to the municipality and to consumers thereof, fails or refuses to keep, erect, or use due diligence to maintain reasonably adequate facilities or instrumentalities to enable it to carry out its contractual obligations with the municipality and the consumers therein, and negligently or willfully fails or refuses to furnish an adequate supply of the utility it has contracted and agreed to furnish and provide, then, and in every such case, the person, company, or corporation so failing or refusing shall be subject to a penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day the negligent or willful failure or refusal continues to exist. Each day shall constitute a separate offense.  (2) The penalty shall be recovered by the city attorney of any municipality in a suit instituted by him or her, or by the prosecuting attorney filing information in behalf of the state for the use and benefit of the municipality affected, in a court of competent jurisdiction, from any such utility because of the negligent or willful failure or refusal of such a person, company, or corporation to furnish an adequate supply of the utility as provided by its contract.    (b) Any person or consumer of the utility having a contract with the utility for service, upon the failure or refusal of the utility, shall have the right to institute a suit in his or her own behalf in a court of competent jurisdiction and recover compensatory damages for the failure or refusal in whatsoever amount the proof may show he or she has been damaged.  (c) This section shall not apply to cities or towns of a population of less than three thousand (3,000) persons that have granted franchises for electric current for lighting and other purposes that is furnished by manufacturing establishments not solely engaged in the manufacture of electric current for lighting and other purposes.
AR Code § 23-3-117 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 23-3-117. Contracts for interruptible service with industrial users

 Public utilities are authorized to contract for the sale, on an interruptible basis, of utility services at agreed prices for a definite term not to exceed twenty-five (25) years with customers whose use of the service is for manufacturing, generation, processing, preparation of products, or industrial purposes. However, the contracts shall be subject to approval by the Arkansas Public Service Commission before becoming effective. These contracts, after approval by the commission, shall continue in full force and effect for the term thereof.
AR Code § 23-3-118 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 23-3-118. Rates, charges, or service — Investigations

 (a) Whenever the commission believes that any rate or charge may be unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory, that any service is inadequate, or that an investigation of any matter relating to any public utility should for any reason be made, it may on its own motion and with or without notice, make a preliminary investigation.  (b) If, after making the preliminary investigation, the commission believes that sufficient grounds exist to justify a formal investigation of and hearing on the matters preliminarily investigated, it shall make an order to that effect.  (c) Thereupon, proceedings shall be had, conducted, and concluded in reference to the matters in like manner as though complaint had been filed with the commission.
AR Code § 23-3-120 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 1 - General Provisions|§ 23-3-120. Definition

 As used in this subchapter, unless the context requires otherwise, the terms “corporation” or “company” include a corporation and a limited liability company.
AR Code § 23-3-202 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 2 - Certificates of Convenience and Necessity|§ 23-3-202. Requirement for operation under suspended permit

 A public utility shall not exercise any right or privilege under any franchise or permit, the exercise of which has been suspended or discontinued for more than one (1) year, without first obtaining from the Arkansas Public Service Commission or the Arkansas Department of Transportation a certificate that public convenience and necessity require the exercise of such a right or privilege.
AR Code § 23-3-203 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 2 - Certificates of Convenience and Necessity|§ 23-3-203. Application for certificate

 (a) Every applicant for a certificate shall give notice of its application as the commission may require and shall file in the office of the commission evidence as shall be required by the commission to show that the applicant has received the consent, franchise, permit, ordinance, vote, or other authority of the proper municipality or other public authority if required.  (b) Before any certificate may issue under § 23-3-205, if the applicant therefor is a corporation, a certified copy of the articles of incorporation or charter shall be on file in the office of the commission.
AR Code § 23-3-204 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 2 - Certificates of Convenience and Necessity|§ 23-3-204. Preliminary orders

 (a) If the applicant desires to exercise the right or privilege under a franchise, permit, ordinance, vote, or other authority which it contemplates securing or which has not then been granted to it, the applicant may apply to the commission for an order preliminary to the issuance of the certificate.  (b) The commission may thereupon make an order declaring that it will thereafter, upon application under such rules as it may prescribe, issue the desired certificate upon the terms and conditions as it may designate after the applicant has obtained the contemplated franchise, permit, ordinance, vote, or other authority.  (c) Upon the presentation to the commission of evidence satisfactory to it, if such a franchise, permit, ordinance, vote, or other authority has been secured by the applicant, the commission shall thereupon issue the certificate.
AR Code § 23-3-205 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 2 - Certificates of Convenience and Necessity|§ 23-3-205. Issuance of certificate of public convenience and necessity — Terms and conditions — Definitions

 (a) As used in this section:  (1) “Consolidated utility district” means a consolidated utility district as defined in § 14-217-103 that owns or operates an electric system as defined in § 14-217-103; and  (2) “Municipality” means a municipality as defined in § 14-202-102 that:  (A) Owns or operates a municipal electric utility as defined in § 25-20-402; or  (B) Is an owner of an electric project as defined in § 25-20-402.      (b)  (1) After conducting a hearing to assess the merits of an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this subchapter, the Arkansas Public Service Commission may grant or deny all or part of the application upon any terms or conditions the commission finds appropriate to serve the purposes of this subchapter.  (2) The right to a hearing under this section may be waived by the applicant.    (c)  (1) Except as provided under subdivision (c)(2) of this section, the commission shall not issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity to any person or corporation that:  (A) Is not a public utility;  (B) Primarily transmits electricity; and  (C) Has not been directed or designated to construct an electric transmission facility from a regional transmission organization.    (2) After the commission conducts a hearing under subdivision (b)(1) of this section for a person or corporation that primarily transmits electricity and has not been directed to construct an electric transmission facility from a regional transmission organization, the commission may grant or deny all or part of the application upon any terms or conditions the commission finds appropriate for the purposes of this subchapter subject to the following considerations:  (A) The commission shall only authorize the person or corporation to contract with a municipality or a consolidated utility district that is not located within the service territory of another public utility;  (B) The commission shall not authorize the person or corporation to serve any customers outside of the boundaries of a municipality or consolidated utility district;  (C) The commission shall not authorize the person or corporation to serve any customers that are otherwise served by, or located within, the service territory of another public utility; and  (D) The commission shall not grant a certificate of public convenience and necessity under this subchapter to a person or corporation if doing so would result in an unreasonable impact on any other public utility or on the customers of any other electric utility in this state that is inconsistent with the public interest as determined by the commission.
AR Code § 23-3-206 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 2 - Certificates of Convenience and Necessity|§ 23-3-206. Unauthorized construction or operation

 (a) Whenever any new construction or operation is undertaken or about to be begun without having secured a certificate of public convenience and necessity as required by the provisions of this act, any interested person may file a complaint with the commission.  (b) The commission, with or without notice, may make its order requiring the party complained of to cease and desist from the construction or operation until the commission makes and files its decision on the complaint, or until the further order of the commission.  (c) The commission, after hearing and after reasonable notice, may make the order and prescribe such terms and conditions in harmony with this act as are just and reasonable.
AR Code § 23-3-301 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 3 - Merger or Acquisition of Control of Domestic Public Utilities|§ 23-3-301. Legislative determination

 (a) The methods and manner in which utility services are provided by domestic public utilities to the citizens, businesses, institutions, and other utility customers in Arkansas are directly related to the continued health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Arkansas. Homes, schools, churches, places of business, and other facilities necessarily used and occupied by the citizens of Arkansas depend upon and must receive safe, reliable, and justly priced utility services.  (b) The merger or acquisition or attempted acquisition of control of a domestic public utility may, if not regulated by the State of Arkansas:  (1) Diminish the ability or determination of the domestic public utility to meet its contractual obligations or render the same level of service that the domestic public utility is currently rendering;  (2) Substantially lessen competition in the furnishing of utility service;  (3) Jeopardize the financial stability of the domestic public utility;  (4) Be detrimental to the customers of the domestic public utility and not be in the public interest; or  (5) Lead to the control or operation of the domestic public utility by persons of such competence, experience, or integrity that would not be in the interest of the domestic public utility's customers or the public.
AR Code § 23-3-303 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 23 - Public Utilities and Regulated Industries|Subtitle 1 - Public Utilities And Carriers|Chapter 3 - Regulation of Utilities and Carriers Generally|Subchapter 3 - Merger or Acquisition of Control of Domestic Public Utilities|§ 23-3-303. Applicability

 (a) If a domestic public utility seeks to acquire control of another domestic public utility which is subject to the Arkansas Public Service Commission's jurisdiction in a transaction described in § 23-3-306 for which the filing of a statement would be required, then an application for approval containing any information which the commission may prescribe by rule adopted pursuant to this subchapter shall be filed with and heard by the commission after such notice as the commission may prescribe, and the transaction shall be approved or disapproved based upon the factors enumerated in § 23-3-310, subject to judicial review as provided in § 23-3-313, but the other provisions of this subchapter shall not apply to the transaction.  (b) Provisions of this subchapter shall not apply when voting securities are issued, exchanged, or sold by a domestic public utility upon terms and conditions approved by its board of directors.