Opinion ID: 1789106
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Reasonable Doubt as to Commission Jurisdiction

Text: Seminole points out that this Commission is a creature of statute and may exercise only those powers conferred expressly or impliedly by statute. Citing City of Cape Coral v. GAC Utilities, Inc., of Florida, 281 So.2d 493 (Fla.1973) and Radio Telephone Communications, Inc. v. Southeastern Telephone Company, 170 So.2d 577, 582 (Fla.1964), Seminole asserts that any reasonable doubt about the existence of this Commission's jurisdiction must be resolved against the exercise of such jurisdiction. Seminole contends that there is certainly reasonable doubt about the Legislature's intent to grant this Commission authority over the wholesale rate structures of municipal and cooperative electric utilities. Based on the analysis set forth above, I find no reasonable doubt about the existence of the jurisdiction conferred upon this Commission in Section 366.04(2)(b), Florida Statutes. Rather, the provisions of Chapter 366, Florida Statutes, given their plain and ordinary meaning, clearly and unambiguously convey jurisdiction upon us to prescribe a rate structure for all electric utilities, including rural electric cooperatives engaged in the generation and transmission of electricity in the state of Florida.