Court Opinion

ID: 9571786
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:35:11.510739+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:30:56.409265
License: Public Domain

THOMAS, Justice,
dissenting.
I must dissent in part from the decision reached by the majority of the court in this case. I am in accord that the case must be dismissed as to Lower Valley Power & Light, Inc., Chemical Bank and Washington Public Power Supply System because it is moot. With respect to Pacific Power & Light Company, however, I would hold that the Public Service Commission had no authority to enter the order which it entered, and I would remand the case with directions that it be dismissed.
The remarkable thing in connection with the disposition of this case by this court is that the majority opinion and the concurring opinion refer to and discuss the correct legal propositions, but they apply them in an erroneous manner. In Justice Rose’s special concurring opinion he very ably articulates the proposition that the Public *813Service Commission has only that power and authority granted to it by the Wyoming Constitution and statutes, and that the statutory powers must be strictly construed. There is no need to again cite the authorities which encompass those holdings. At page 808 of the majority slip opinion the court aptly says:
“It is recognized that the foregoing statutes and rule do not require PSC approval for PP & L’s part ownership of the terminated projects.”
The document which initiated Pacific Power & Light Company’s involvement in this proceeding was a notice and order setting hearing which was entered on April 22, 1982, and that document did not reflect the justification for the investigation by the Public Service Commission. It is clear, however, that the commission did proceed pursuant to § 37-2-117, W.S.1977, which provides:
“Whenever the commission shall believe that an investigation of any act or omission to act, accomplished or proposed, or an investigation of any rate, service, facility or service regulation of any public utility should be made in order to secure compliance with the provisions of this act and orders of the commission, it may of its own motion summarily investigate the same.” (Emphasis added.)
While I might rely simply upon the concession in the majority opinion to the effect that no investigation was needed to secure compliance with the provisions of the act or the orders of the commission, I will point out that this record and the arguments of counsel for the commission are devoid of any reference to any statute or order of the commission with which compliance by Pacific Power & Light Company needed to be secured. I am prepared to concede that the commission might investigate in order to determine if such a situation existed, but once it determined that there was no justification for the investigation I cannot perceive any authority which would permit the Public Service Commission to enter the order that it did in this instance.
I recognize that it is popular to ride on the judicial steam roller which has flattened Washington Public Power Supply System. While I might be in sympathy with the result which the Public Service Commission and this court reaches, I find I have no empathy for what I believe to be an abuse of the commission’s authority which this court has sustained.
I understand that the Public Service Commission has told Pacific Power & Light Company that if Pacific Power & Light Company should wish to include its investment costs in these abandoned nuclear power plants in any future rate to be applied to Wyoming consumers that the Public Service Commission of Wyoming will not permit that. Purely and simply that is an advisory order from the Public Service Commission, and our statutory scheme does not justify such an approach. This court has said that it does not render advisory opinions, and we dismiss cases in which an advisory opinion is sought. Aetna Casualty and Surety Company v. Langdon, Wyo., 624 P.2d 240 (1981); Kwallek v. State, Wyo., 596 P.2d 1372 (1979); Police Protective Association of Casper v. City of Casper, Wyo., 575 P.2d 1146 (1978); State v. Rosachi, Wyo., 549 P.2d 318 (1976); Knudson v. Hilzer, Wyo., 551 P.2d 680 (1976); and Tobin v. Pursel, Wyo., 539 P.2d 361 (1975). In part the fact that this court does eschew advisory opinions is premised upon the proposition that there is no way in which the judgment which is rendered may be carried into effect. Perhaps the result is to make the case moot as discussed on page 802 of the majority slip opinion. The point, however, is that the Public Service Commission, without statutory authority, does not have any business entering an order such as this; and yet, by affirming what the Public Service Commission has done, this court has, in effect, and contrary to a longstanding jurisprudential discipline, joined in an advisory opinion. No matter how much the parties want an answer to this question we should not so casually abandon that rule of jurisprudence.
*814As indicated, I would reverse the order of the Public Service Commission because this court has the duty to hold unlawful and set aside agency action which is in excess of statutory authority. Section 16-3-114(c)(ii), W.S.1977 (Oct. 1982 Rev.).