77-3-6 - Investigations and arbitration of billing and services between public utilities and customers.
§ 77-3-6. Investigations and arbitration of billing and services between public utilities and customers.
(1) Any dispute between a municipally-owned or operated public utility and a customer of such public utility with regard to billing and/or services in excess of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($ 2,500.00) shall be subject to investigation, review and arbitration by the commission upon petition filed therefor with the commission by such public utility or customer. However, the commission shall not commence any investigation or proceedings pursuant to such petition if at the time of filing the petition suit has been filed in any court of this state or of the United States with regard to the subject matter of the dispute and in which such public utility and customer are parties. Any such petition shall be immediately dismissed if any such suit is filed after filing of the petition with the commission.
(2) In any arbitration proceedings commenced under the provisions of this section, the commission may, by order entered on its minutes and delivery of a certified copy thereof to the public utility, direct any municipally-owned or operated public utility to provide the commission with copies of all statements, accounts and reports concerning operation of the public utility which the utility is required to provide the governing authorities of the municipality under Section 21-27-17. The commission is further authorized to conduct and shall conduct investigation of and informal hearings in the dispute and may negotiate with the public utility and the customer for the resolution thereof. In every arbitration proceeding under this section the commission shall perform such duties as it deems reasonable and likely to result in settlement of the dispute without commencement of litigation between the public utility and the customer.
(3) Participation in any investigation, proceeding, negotiation, or settlement under the provisions of this section shall be voluntary by the public utility and the customer; however, no suit may be commenced in any court of this state by either the public utility or customer based upon the facts giving rise to the dispute for a period of sixty (60) days after a petition is filed with the commission under this section.
(4) The provisions prescribed herein for the Public Service Commission to investigate, review and arbitrate disputes between a municipally-owned or operated public utility and a customer of such public utility shall not extend to tort actions.
Sources: Laws, 1990, ch. 455, § 1, eff from and after July 1, 1990.