Opinion ID: 1560388
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Whether the PSC decision was arbitrary and capricious

Text: ¶ 29. AT & T bore the burden of proof to show its requested rate increase was just and reasonable. See Mississippi Pub. Serv. Comm'n v. South Cent. Bell Tel. Co., 464 So.2d 1133, 1134 (Miss. 1984). The PSC asserted in its order and in its brief to this Court that AT & T adduced no evidence at all to establish the just and reasonable nature of its requested rate increase. AT & T does not dispute this, but relies instead upon the argument it was not required to put on any such evidence given the amendment to Mississippi Code Section 77-3-35(4)(a). ¶ 30. Since all parties agree AT & T submitted no evidence to support its requested rate filing, AT & T did not carry its evidentiary burden. The absence of evidence was the basis of the PSC order's finding the proposed rate increase was not just and reasonable. There does not appear to be a legitimate basis for finding the PSC was arbitrary or capricious in reaching its conclusion.