In the performance of the duties, powers, and responsibilities committed to it by law, the Division of Public Utilities shall act in the public interest in order to provide the Public Service
Commission with objective and comprehensive information,
evidence, and recommendations consistent with the following objectives:
| (1) |
promote the safe, healthy, economic, efficient, and reliable operation of all public utilities and their services, instrumentalities, equipment, and facilities; |
Terms Used In Utah Code 54-4a-6
- Commission: means the Public Service Commission. See Utah Code 54-2-1
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of a judicial proceeding. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
- Public utility: includes every railroad corporation, gas corporation, electrical corporation, distribution electrical cooperative, wholesale electrical cooperative, telephone corporation, telegraph corporation, water corporation, sewerage corporation, heat corporation, and independent energy producer not described in Section 54-2-201 where the service is performed for, or the commodity delivered to, the public generally, or in the case of a gas corporation or electrical corporation where the gas or electricity is sold or furnished to any member or consumers within the state for domestic, commercial, or industrial use. See Utah Code 54-2-1
| (2) |
provide for just, reasonable, and adequate rates, charges, classifications, rules, regulations, practices, and services of public utilities; |
| (3) |
make the regulatory process as simple and understandable as possible so that it is acceptable to the public; feasible, expeditious, and efficient to apply; and designed to minimize controversies over interpretation and application; |
| (4) |
for purposes of guiding the activities of the Division of Public Utilities, the phrase “just, reasonable, and adequate” encompasses, but is not limited to the following criteria:
| (a) |
maintain the financial integrity of public utilities by assuring a sufficient and fair rate of return; |
| (b) |
promote efficient management and operation of public utilities; |
| (c) |
protect the long-range interest of consumers in obtaining continued quality and adequate levels of service at the lowest cost consistent with the other provisions of Subsection (4). |
| (d) |
provide for fair apportionment of the total cost of service among customer categories and individual customers and prevent undue discrimination in rate relationships; |
| (e) |
promote stability in rate levels for customers and revenue requirements for utilities from year to year; and |
| (f) |
protect against wasteful use of public utility services. |
|
Enacted by Chapter 246, 1983 General Session
