315 - Burden of proof.

     § 315.  Burden of proof.        (a)  Reasonableness of rates.--In any proceeding upon the     motion of the commission, involving any proposed or existing     rate of any public utility, or in any proceedings upon complaint     involving any proposed increase in rates, the burden of proof to     show that the rate involved is just and reasonable shall be upon     the public utility. The commission shall give to the hearing and     decision of any such proceeding preference over all other     proceedings, and decide the same as speedily as possible.        (b)  Compliance with commission determinations and orders.--     In any case involving any alleged violation by a public utility,     contract carrier by motor vehicle, or broker of any lawful     determination or order of the commission, the burden of proof     shall be upon the public utility, contract carrier by motor     vehicle, or broker complained against, to show that the     determination or order of the commission has been complied with.        (c)  Adequacy of services and facilities.--In any proceeding     upon the motion of the commission, involving the service or     facilities of any public utility, the burden of proof to show     that the service and facilities involved are adequate,     efficient, safe, and reasonable shall be upon the public     utility.        (d)  Justification of accounting entries.--The burden of     proof to justify every accounting entry questioned by the     commission shall be upon the public utility making, authorizing,     or requiring such entry, and the commission may suspend any     charge or credit pending submission of such proof by such public     utility.        (e)  Use of future test year.--In discharging its burden of     proof the utility may utilize a future test year. The commission     shall promptly adopt rules and regulations regarding the     information and data to be submitted when and if a future test     period is to be utilized. Whenever a utility utilizes a future     test year in any rate proceeding and such future test year forms     a substantive basis for the final rate determination of the     commission, the utility shall provide, as specified by the     commission in its final order, appropriate data evidencing the     accuracy of the estimates contained in the future test year, and     the commission may after reasonable notice and hearing, in its     discretion, adjust the utility's rates on the basis of such     data.        Cross References.  Section 315 is referred to in section 332     of this title.