2023 Ohio Revised Code › Title 49 | Public Utilities › Chapter 4909 | Public Utilities Commission - Fixation of Rates › Section 4909.39 | Findings as to Rate - Valuation of Property.

Effective:
September 28, 1979
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 156 - 113th General Assembly
If the public utilities commission, after the hearing referred to in sections 4909.34 to 4909.36 of the Revised Code, is of the opinion that the rate, price, charge, toll, or rental, so fixed by ordinance is or will be unjust, unreasonable, or insufficient to yield reasonable compensation for the service, the commission shall fix and determine the just and reasonable rate, price, charge, toll, or rental to be charged, demanded, exacted, or collected by such public utility during the period so fixed by ordinance, which period shall not be less than two years, and order the rate, price, charge, toll, or rental so fixed substituted for the rate, price, charge, toll, or rental fixed by ordinance. The commission may find and declare that the rate, price, charge, toll, or rental, so fixed by ordinance, is just and reasonable, and ratify and confirm it.
No rate, price, charge, toll, or rental so determined by the commission shall become effective until after the commission has ascertained and determined the valuation upon which such price, charge, toll, or rental is based. Such valuation, so determined, shall be at all times open to public inspection. Thereupon the commission shall make inquiry and investigation with respect to the ability of such public utility to furnish its product during such period. If it is found that the public utility is able to do so, the commission shall order it to continue to furnish such product for the period and at the rate, price, charge, toll, or rental so fixed and determined, and such public utility shall continue to furnish its product as provided in such order. If the commission, after the hearing provided for in this section and sections 4909.34 to 4909.36 of the Revised Code, is of the opinion that any provisions of the ordinance or ordinances appealed from or complained of other than the rate, price, charge, toll, or rental fixed by such ordinance or ordinances are or will be unjust or unreasonable or that the form and structure of the rate, price, charge, toll, or rental fixed by such ordinance or ordinances may be unfair or unreasonable, or may have the effect of causing any rate, price, charge, toll, or rental to be fixed by the commission to become unfair or unreasonable, the commission shall, in its order, strike out such unjust or unreasonable provisions, conditions, form, and structure of said ordinance or ordinances and shall substitute for them, if it deems it necessary, such provisions and conditions as it considers fair and reasonable, and make such changes in the form and structure of the rate, price, charge, toll, or rental fixed in such ordinance or ordinances as it considers fair and reasonable.
In fulfillment of its duties under this section as to what constitutes an unjust, unreasonable, or insufficient rate, price, charge, toll, or rental, as to what constitutes a just and reasonable rate, price, charge, toll, or rental, as to what constitutes an unjust or unreasonable rate, price, charge, toll, or rental, or, insofar as the form and structure of any rate, price, charge, toll, or rental is concerned, as to what may have the effect of causing it to become unfair and unreasonable, the decision of the commission shall be based on the factors stated in section 4909.15 of the Revised Code.