Court Opinion

ID: 9546014
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:23:38.54684+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:15:53.839972
License: Public Domain

HENRIOD, Justice
(concurring in result).
I concur in the result with the following observation: A strong, forceful argument was made by respondents to the effect that relocation costs are an expense of operation. They urged that: ■
“regulated utilities have no revenues other than the rates paid by their subscribers from which to pay relocation expenses. Under the law., of Utah, utilities are entitled to a fair return on the value of the property devoted to the public service. Relocation costs are an expense item chargeable to operating expenses or are capital expenses and thus increase the rate base on zvhich utilities are entitled to earn.”
Taking this language at face value, it is assumed by this writer that the saving effected by elimination of such costs should be cut back to the utilities’ consumers, not to the stockholders or anyone else, and that a corollary of such contention on the part of respondents would be a reduction in the rate base resulting in lower costs to the consumer, and that in fixing the rate, the Public Service Commission should take into consideration such relocation cost savings in revising the rate downward for the benefit of such consumer. -
CALLISTER, J., being disqualified did not participate herein.