Court Opinion

ID: 9852766
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:36:23.15994+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:34.254527
License: Public Domain

Harrison and Cochran, JJ.,
concurring.
The Commission’s rate of return allowance for Appalachian is less than was suggested by its expert witness, Parcell, by the Attorney General of Virginia, and by Commissioner Shannon. We question whether the rate will be sufficient to enable the company to attract the necessary capital to carry out its obligation to render service to the public, an obligation mandated by the Constitution and the statutes of Virginia. However, we recognize the fact that no one can say with precision what is a correct rate of return, and that this determination lies in an area within which the Commission’s judgment must be exercised. The Commission is given extensive powers in the control and regulation of public service corporations, and it is charged with the responsibility of finding the facts and making a judgment. Although we would have found differently, the Court is not at liberty to substitute its judgment for that of the Commission in matters peculiarly within the Commission’s province. For this reason we concur in the opinion of the majority.