Opinion ID: 2399281
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: Md.Code (1998), § 3-203 of the Public Utility Companies Article sets forth the limited scope of review by this Court over decisions by the Public Service Commission. It states that: Every final decision, order, or regulation by the Commission shall be prima facie correct and shall be affirmed unless clearly shown to be: (1) unconstitutional; (2) outside the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the Commission; (3) made on unlawful procedure; (4) arbitrary or capricious; (5) affected by other error of law; or (6) if the subject of review is an order entered in a contested proceeding after a hearing, the order is unsupported by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole. In addition, while this Court has made clear that a decision of the Commission is subject to judicial review, it will not be disturbed on the basis of a factual question except upon clear and satisfactory evidence that it was unlawful and unreasonable. See Baltimore Gas & Elec. Co. v. Public Serv. Comm'n, 305 Md. 145, 161-62, 501 A.2d 1307, 1315 (1986); Public Serv. Comm'n v. Baltimore Gas & Elec. Co., 273 Md. 357, 361-62, 329 A.2d 691, 694 (1974); Public Serv. Comm'n v. Baltimore Transit Co., 207 Md. 524, 531, 114 A.2d 834, 836-37 (1955); Mayor and Council of Crisfield v. Public Serv. Comm'n, 183 Md. 179, 185-87, 36 A.2d 705, 708-09 (1944); Public Service Comm'n v. Byron, 153 Md. 464, 479, 138 A. 404, 410 (1927). Such a decision is accorded the respect due an informed agency that is aided by a competent and experienced staff. Potomac Edison Co. v. Public Serv. Comm'n, 279 Md. 573, 582-83, 369 A.2d 1035, 1041 (1977) (citing Balto. Trans. Co. v. Pub. Ser. Comm., 206 Md. 533, 558, 112 A.2d 687, 698 (1955)). Questions of law, however, are completely subject to review by the courts. Cambridge v. Eastern Shore Public Serv. Co., 192 Md. 333, 339, 64 A.2d 151, 154 (1949)(citing Mayor & Council of Crisfield v. Public Serv. Comm'n, 183 Md. at 189, 36 A.2d at 710). This is consistent with the standard of review applicable to administrative agencies generally. Ramsay, Scarlett & Co. v. Comptroller, 302 Md. 825, 836-37, 490 A.2d 1296, 1300-02 (1985). See also Liberty Nursing Center, Inc. v. Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 330 Md. 433, 443, 624 A.2d 941, 946 (1993); Caucus Distrib., Inc. v. Maryland Securities Comm'r, 320 Md. 313, 324, 577 A.2d 783, 788 (1990); Maryland State Police v. Lindsey, 318 Md. 325, 334, 568 A.2d 29, 33 (1990); State Election Bd. v. Billhimer, 314 Md. 46, 58, 548 A.2d 819, 825 (1988); Washington Nat'l Arena v. Comptroller, 308 Md. 370, 378-79, 519 A.2d 1277, 1281-82 (1987).