Court Opinion

ID: 8194292
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 23:17:26.278174+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:40:42.831918
License: Public Domain

Rosenberry, J.
It is the contention of the plaintiff that the order of the Commission of February 28, 1922, should be set aside on two grounds: (1st) because the order violated the statutory as well as the constitutional right of the *99company to have the Commission prescribe its rates in accordance with lawful and constitutional principles of valuation and return; and (2d) because the rates prescribed in the order are in fact confiscatory, both as to rate base and return. •
We shall now consider the first proposition made. So far as we are able to discover, the statute has prescribed no rule of valuation, nor in any way limited or even directed the Commission as to the basis to be adopted in making its determination. Sec. 1797m — 5, Stats., provides:
“The commission shall value all the .property of every public utility actually used and useful for the convenience of the public. In making such valuation thé commission may avail itself of any information in possession of the state board of assessment.”
Sec. 1797m — 6 provides for hearing, filing of the report, and we find nothing in that or any other, section indicating any basis upon which the Commission is directed to make its valuation. In the absence of such a statutory provision it is certainly not within the province of the court to lay down rules in an attempt to govern an administrative body in the performance of its duties. When the statute prescribes the manner in which administrative duties are to be performed, it is the duty of the court to enforce the statute. See State v. Pullman Co. 178 Wis. 240, 189 N. W. 543; Eau Claire v. Wisconsin-Minnesota L. & P. Co. 178 Wis. 207, 189 N. W. 476.
The constitutional rights of a utility are not invaded by the pursuit of a wrong method of valuation. In the absence of a method prescribed by the statute the Commission may proceed as it pleases. It is not its method that is to be reviewed but the result reached by the Commission. The statute charges the Commission with the duty of ascertaining and declaring a reasonable rate. If that is done, 'die method by which the Commission arrives at the result is not subject to criticism. If, however, the rate prescribed by the *100Commission is confiscatory, the constitutional rights of the utility are invaded and it is the duty of the court to give relief. However conclusive the finding of the Commission may be in respect to matters wholly within the statute, they cannot in a proper proceeding conclude the court when the final determination is assailed on the ground that it violates a constitutional provision. Ohio Valley W. Co. v. Ben Avon Borough, 253 U. S. 287, 40 Sup. Ct. 527.
We know of no constitutional principles of valuation. It is not so long ago (Smyth v. Ames, 169 U. S. 466, 18 Sup. Ct. 418 (1897); Duluth St. R. Co. v. Railroad Comm. 161 Wis. 245, 152 N. W. 887—1915) that the utilities were before the courts contending with great earnestness that investment cost was the proper method of valuation, and the public authorities were claiming with equal earnestness and candor that cost of reproduction new less depreciation was the proper basis. The situation is now exactly reversed. Both views have been approved in greater or less degree by the courts where constitutional rights of parties are involved. In that situation we do not see how it can be said that there is such a thing as constitutional principles of valuation. The ascertainment of present -fair value “is not a matter of formulas, but there must be a reasonable judgment having its basis on a proper consideration of all relevant facts.” Minnesota Rate Cases, 230 U. S. 352, 434, 33 Sup. Ct. 729.
In this connection we make some observations in regard to the decision in Waukesha G. & E. Co. v. Railroad Comm. 181 Wis. 281, 194 N. W. 846. Plaintiff contends that by that decision an arbitrary method of valuation is prescribed, which is inflexible, and puts the matter of valuation in a “straight-jacket.” If it is properly subject to that interpretation it should be corrected. This court has no intention whatever of departing from the law as established by the supreme court of the United States in regard to valuation. We were- there discussing a situation in which it was claimed that cost of reproduction new less deprecia*101tion was a controlling element in determining the value of the property of a public utility. It is' expressly said that the cost of reproduction new less depreciation must be considered. A court would need to be possessed of the powers of omniscience in order h> prescribe in advance all of the elements and matters which may and should properly be considered in determining the present fair value of the property of a public utility. We there said, and we now repeat after restudy of the recent cases there referred to, that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to deduce from the three cases what weight is to be attached to cost of reproduction new less depreciation, although in two cases the judgments appealed from ¿were reversed because sufficient weight was not given-to that factor. See 37 Harvard Law Review, 289.
It is hardly necessary for us to say that we recognize that the question involved arises under, the Fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States; that the law is as established by the decisions of the federal courts and that we shall apply it as laid down. Nor do we think anything said in the Waukesha Case, fairly interpreted, indicates anything else.
Upon the second proposition the matters urged here relate principally to the establishment of the rate base. The valuation fixed by the Commission was $157,000. The amount available for return and depreciation for the year ending October 31, 1921 (the period under consideration), was $8,982.61. The Commission held that a fair return was six per cent., a fair allowance for depreciation was two per cent., which on the valuation fixed by the Commission would amount to $12,560 per annum. Sec. 1797m — 46 provides:
“If upon such investigation the rates, tolls, charges, schedules or joint rates, shall be found to be unjust, unreasonable, insufficient or unjustly discriminatory or to be preferential or otherwise in violation of any of the provisions of sections 1797m — 1 to 1797m — 109, inclusive, the *102commission shall have power to fix and order substituted therefor such rate or rates, tolls, charges or schedules as shall be just and reasonable.”
Under this section the Commission cannot lawfully substitute its findings for the existing rates until upon investigation it shall be found that the existing rates are unjust or unreasonable. Whether existing rates are unjust or unreasonable is a question of fact. We see no basis upon which it can be said that a rate which produces a net earning of less than five and eight-tenths per cent, upon the valuation established by the Commission, which is the fact in this case, can be said to be unreasonable or unjust. The power of the Commission to substitute a rate„ found by it to be. just and reasonable under sub. 1 of sec. 1797m — 46 is dependent upon the setting aside of the existing rate on the ground of unreasonableness. In the establishment of a rate the Commission has not, as the legislature has, plenary power, but possesses, only the powers which have been conferred upon it by the legislature. Interstate Comm. Comm. v. C., N. O. & T. P. R. Co. 167 U. S. 479, 17 Sup. Ct. 896; Reeder, Validity of Rate Regulations, p. 62, sec. 37, and cases cited.
The order of February 28, 1922, is based upon no finding by the Commission to the effect that the then existing rate was unreasonable or unjust, although it is stated in the course of the recitals that the conclusion of the Commission is that the rates are too high.. Whether that conclusion is based upon a statement that in the opinion of the Commission the rate exceeds the value of the services rendered or not, we are unable to- determine. The order is “that the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Company withdraw its present schedule of rates in effect for gas service in the city of Chippewa Falls and substitute therefor the following schedule.”
If it be assumed that this necessarily implies a finding on the part of the Commission that the then existing rate was unjust and unreasonable, we find no evidence upon which *103that finding can be based. Whether a lower rate will produce more or less revenue is a matter of judgment and speculation. The Commission is not clothed with powers of management. The power to regulate does not include the function of a financial manager. State ex rel. Southwestern Bell Tel. Co. v. Public Serv. Comm. 262 U. S. 276, 43 Sup. Ct. 544.
The amount available in the Commission’s valuation fo'r depreciation and return being five and eight-tenths per cent., it did not have net earnings sufficient to meet the amount allowable for depreciation and return on the present fair value of its property as fixed by the Commission. The statute expressly provides that the Commission shall in fixing rates provide for depreciation. Sec. 1797m — 15, Stats. The Commission therefore had no power to set aside the existing rate, as it was not in law either unjust or unreasonable, and the plaintiff was clearly within the protection of the Fourteenth amendment, even adopting the Commission’s valuation as the rate base.
If it be argued that in such circumstances the utility might charge a rate wholly disproportionate to the value of the service rendered, in which event there would be no remedy, the answer, it seems to us, is that there are two: (1) the Commission may grant a certificate of convenience and necessity if capital is available for a second utility and thus permit the price to be fixed upon a competitive basis; or (2) the municipality may proceed to acquire the property under the provisions of the public utility act and operate it itself. If it be established that the service costs the consumer more than it is worth, the utility cannot be compelled to furnish it at less than cost including return and depreciation. Brooks-Scanlon Co. v. Railroad Comm. 251 U. S. 396, 40 Sup. Ct. 183. Any attempt to lower a rate which is not sufficient to earn a fair return upon the present fair value of the property can be successfully challenged under the Fourteenth amendment, and the legislature has not em*104powered the Commission to establish a new rate unless and until it shall be found that the existing rate is unjust or unreasonable. The word “unjust” cannot be construed to confer upon the Commission broad, equitable powers to be exercised in the discretion of the Commission on the one hand or powers of management upon the other. We have frequently .called attention to the fact that the Commission is a fact-finding body. The law does not invest it with discretionary powers in the matter of rates. Minneapolis, St. P. & S. S. M. R. Co. v. Railroad Comm. 136 Wis. 146, 164, 116 N. W. 905.
By the Court. — The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and cause remanded with directions to the circuit court to enter an order vacating and setting aside the order of the Commission dated February 28, 1922.