Opinion ID: 1835478
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: We begin our analysis by emphasizing the scope of this Court's review of PSC orders. Although the Florida Constitution vests this Court with mandatory jurisdiction to hear appeals from PSC orders, see art. V, § 3(b)(2), Fla. Const., our review function is circumscribed by certain well-established principles: Commission orders come to this Court clothed with the statutory presumption that they have been made within the Commission's jurisdiction and powers, and that they are reasonable and just and such as ought to have been made. Moreover, an agency's interpretation of a statute it is charged with enforcing is entitled to great deference. The party challenging an order of the Commission bears the burden of overcoming those presumptions by showing a departure from the essential requirements of law. We will approve the Commission's findings and conclusions if they are based on competent substantial evidence,[ [2] ] and if they are not clearly erroneous. AmeriSteel Corp. v. Clark, 691 So.2d 473, 477 (Fla.1997) (citations omitted) (quoting PW Ventures, Inc. v. Nichols, 533 So.2d 281, 283 (Fla.1988)). Considering the PSC's specialized knowledge and expertise in this area, this deferential standard of review is appropriate. See Gulf Oil Co. v. Bevis, 322 So.2d 30, 32 (Fla.1975), superseded by statute on other grounds as stated in General Dev. Utils., Inc. v. Hawkins, 357 So.2d 408, 409 n. 4 (Fla.1978); see also Public Serv. Comm'n v. Fuller, 551 So.2d 1210, 1212 (Fla.1989).