Opinion ID: 2084609
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Fact-finding by the Commission

Text: In affirming a decision of the commission, we defer to the commission's findings of fact. In South County Gas Co., we pointed out that we shall not disturb an order promulgated in the exercise of [the commission's] administrative discretion unless the commission clearly exceeds its statutory authority or acts illegally, arbitrarily, or unreasonably. 551 A.2d at 24 (citing § 39-5-3 and In re Woonsocket Water Dept., 538 A.2d 1011, 1013 (R.I.1988), and holding that the commission's decision to accept the accounting calculation of one expert over another was within the sound discretion of the commission). We have also noted that [t]he factfinding task is expressly reserved for the commission, and the court is not to substitute its judgment for the commission's    [whose] findings are presumed reasonable `until shown to be clearly, palpably and grossly unreasonable.' Providence Gas. Co., 600 A.2d at 714 (quoting New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. v. Public Utilities Commission, 116 R.I. 356, 377, 358 A.2d 1, 15 (1976)). It is our opinion that the company has not met the heavy burden required for this Court to overturn the commission's findings of fact in this case.