Court Opinion

ID: 9791166
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:06:57.579849+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:34.524548
License: Public Domain

ROONEY, Justice,
specially concurring.
I concur with the result reached by the majority opinion and generally with the views expressed therein. I have some difficulty with the term and concept of “regulated competition” as used in the majority opinion, i. e., as a purpose for Public Service Commission action. Free competition is the cornerstone of our economic system. The Public Service Commission does not have for its purpose the regulation of competition-although such regulation may indirectly result from its proper activities. The Public Service Commission has been given authority under the police power of the state to regulate rates of public utilities and establish and maintain efficient and safe service without discrimination by them. Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. v. Eshleman, 166 Cal. 640, 137 P. 1119 (1913); Tennessee Electric Power Co. v. Tennessee Valley Authority, 306 U.S. 118, 59 S.Ct. 366, 83 L.Ed. 543 (1939); Bilton Machine Tool Co. v. United Illuminating Co., 110 Conn. 417, 148 A. 337 (1930); Colorado Interstate Gas Company v. Federal Power Commission, 324 U.S. 581, 65 S.Ct. 829, 89 L.Ed. 1206 (1945), rehearing denied 325 U.S. 891, 65 S.Ct. 1082, 89 L.Ed. 2004 (1945); State Corporation Commission of Kansas v. Wichita Gas Co., 290 U.S. 561, 54 S.Ct. 321, 78 L.Ed. 500 (1934); People of State of New York ex rel. Woodhaven Gaslight Co. v. Public Service Commission of New York, 269 U.S. 244, 46 S.Ct. 83, 70 L.Ed. 255 (1925). See §§ 37-1-101(a)(vi), 37-1-102, 37-2-112, 37-2-119, 37-2-121, 37-2-122, 37-2-205, 37-2-219, 37-3-101, 37-3-114, 37-6-101, 37-8-106, 37-8-107, 37-8-108, 37-8-201, 37-8-202, 37-8-501, 37-10-102, 37-11-102, W.S.1977. In the exercise of this authority, competition may be regulated indirectly, but such regulation is not the basic purpose for the activities of the Public Service Commission.
The record in this case reflects that the action of the Public Service Commission was conducive to the maintenance of efficient public service. On that basis, I concur.