Court Opinion

ID: 9680856
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 07:39:49.794464+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:30.951260
License: Public Domain

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
On motion for rehearing the parties have submitted briefs regarding the holding of our opinion delivered May 17, 1978 that the cities’ attack upon the Public Utility Commission’s interim order is moot. The court has determined that its original determination on mootness should be modified and the cities’ attack upon the interim order be considered on the merits.
Concern for efficient administrative procedure requires consideration of the *300validity of interim orders only upon appeal from final orders. Lower Colorado River Authority v. Coastal States Gas Producing Company, 551 S.W.2d 340 (Tex.1977). Further, if the interim order should be determined to be invalid, it appears that this court could grant relief by allowing the cities to recover the temporary rates paid under the interim order.
As previously discussed, the cities argue that the Public Utility Commission has no statutory power to enter an interlocutory order in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction. We cannot agree. Section 16 of the Public Utility Regulatory Act provides that the Commission has the power to regulate public utilities within its jurisdiction and “to do all things, whether specifically designated in this Act or implied herein, necessary and convenient to the exercise of this power and jurisdiction.” Tex.Rev. Civ.Stat.Ann. art. 1446c § 16. The setting of temporary rates pending an appeal of a rate order by the issuance of an interim order is patently necessary and convenient to the exercise of the Commission’s appellate jurisdiction. Accordingly, the Commission was empowered to issue such an order.
Alternatively, the cities assert that the interim order is void for failure to comply with Section 16(c) of the Administrative Procedure Act. Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. art. 6252-13a § 16(c). Section 16(c) provides that if an agency finds that imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare requires that immediate effect be given to a final decision or order, it may so order with appropriate recitation of such finding. On its face Section 16(c) applies only to final agency orders and does not apply to the interim order here. Therefore, we conclude that the cities’ attack upon the interim order on this basis fails.
For the limited purpose of correcting our writing relative to the interim order and mootness, the cities’ motion for rehearing is granted; in all other respects, such motion for rehearing is overruled.
GREENHILL, C. J., not sitting.