Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 515 - RULES OF GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Chapter 515-3 - GENERAL RULES › Subject 515-3-1 - GENERAL RULES › Rule 515-3-1-.07 - No Change in Rates, Charges, Classification or Service

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) No change shall
				be made by any person, firm or corporation (hereinafter referred to as
				"utility") subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission in any
				rate, charge, classification or service subject to the jurisdiction of the
				Commission, or in any rule or regulation relating thereto, except alter thirty
				days' notice to the Commission and to the public, unless the Commission
				otherwise orders, or unless the Commission has previously authorized or
				approved the same. Such notice shall be given by filing with the Commission and
				keeping open for public inspection new schedules stating plainly the change or
				changes to be made in the schedule or schedules then in force and the time when
				the change or changes will go into effect. The Commission, for good cause
				shown, may allow changes to take effect without requiring the thirty days'
				notice herein provided for by an order specifying the changes so to be made and
				the time when they shall take effect and the manner in which they shall be
				filed and published.
(2) Whenever
				any such new schedule is filed, the Commission shall have authority, either
				upon written complaint or upon its own initiative without complaint, at once,
				and, if it so orders, without answer to formal pleading by the utility but upon
				reasonable notice, to enter upon a hearing concerning the lawfulness of such
				rate, charge, classification, or service; and, pending such hearing and the
				decision thereon, the Commission, upon filing with such schedules and
				delivering to the utility affected thereby a statement in writing of its
				reasons for such suspension, may suspend the operation of such schedule and
				defer the use of such rate, charge, classification or service, but not for a
				longer period than five months beyond the time when it would otherwise go into
				effect; and after such hearings as are required, either completed before or
				after the rate, charge, classification, or service goes into effect, the
				Commission may make such orders as are proper with reference thereto within the
				authority vested in the Commission. The Commission is empowered to reduce or
				revoke any such suspension with respect to all or any part of such schedule. If
				the proceeding has not been concluded and an order made at the expiration of
				the suspension period, the proposed change of rate, charge, classification, or
				service shall go into effect at the end of such period, but in case of a
				proposed increased rate or charge, the Commission shall by order require the
				interested utility to keep accurate account in detail of all amounts received
				by reason of such increase, specifying by whom and in whose behalf such amounts
				were paid, and upon completion of the hearing and decision shall by further
				order require such utility to refund, with interest at the maximum legal rate,
				in such manner as the Commission may direct, such portion of such increased
				rates or charges as by its decision shall be found not justified. Any portion
				of such refunds not thus refunded to patrons or customers of the utility shall
				be refunded or disposed of by the utility as the Commission may direct,
				provided, however, no such funds shall accrue to the benefit of the utility. At
				any hearing involving a rate or charge sought to be increased, the burden of
				proof to show that the increased rate or charge is just and reasonable shall be
				upon the utility, and the Commission shall give to the hearing and decision of
				such questions preference over other questions pending before it and decide the
				same as speedily as possible.
(3)
				Before any increased rate or charge shall go into effect without the approval
				of the Commission, the Commission shall by order, require the interested
				utility to file a bond with the Commission written by a surety approved by the
				Commission and authorized to transact business in this State. The bond shall be
				fixed by the Commission in an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty thousand
				dollars ($250,000.00). The bond shall be payable to the Governor and
				conditioned upon the faithful performance of the requirements of the refund
				order entered by the Commission, Code Sec. 93-307-1, and the rules and
				regulations of the Commission.
Ga. L. 1878-79, p.
				  125; 1907, pp. 72, 75; 1922, pp. 143, 144; 1950, p. 311; 1956, pp. 104, 105;
				  1970, p. 104; 1972, pp. 138, 439, 615; 1973, pp.
				  200-220.