Section 393.230

Title XXV INCORPORATION AND REGULATION OF CERTAIN UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

Chapter 393

Effective - 28 Aug 1967   

  393.230.  Power of commission to ascertain valuation of property of gas, electrical, water and sewer corporations. — 1.  The commission shall have the power to ascertain the value of the property of every gas corporation, electrical corporation, water corporation and sewer corporation in this state and every fact which in its judgment may or does have any bearing on such value.  The commission shall have power to make revaluations from time to time and to ascertain all new construction, extensions and additions to the property of every gas corporation, electrical corporation, water corporation, and sewer corporation.

  2.  For the purpose of ascertaining the matters and things specified in this section, concerning the value of the property of gas corporations, electrical corporations, water corporations and sewer corporations, the commission may cause a hearing or hearings to be held at such time or times and place or places as the commission may designate.  Before any hearing is had the commission shall give the gas corporation, electrical corporation, water corporation or sewer corporation affected thereby at least thirty days' notice, specifying the time and place of such hearing, and such notice shall be sufficient to authorize the commission to inquire into the matters designated in this section, but this provision shall not prevent the commission from making any preliminary examination or investigation into the matters herein referred to, or from inquiring into such matters in any other investigation or hearing.  All gas corporations, electrical corporations, water corporations and sewer corporations affected shall be entitled to be heard and to introduce evidence at such hearing or hearings.  The commission is empowered to resort to any other source of information available.  The evidence introduced at such hearings shall be reduced to writing and certified under the seal of the commission.  The commission shall make and file its findings of fact in writing upon all matters concerning which evidence shall have been introduced before it which in its judgment have bearing on the value of the property of the gas corporation, electrical corporation, water corporation or sewer corporation affected.

  3.  Such findings shall be subject to review by any circuit court of this state in the same manner and within the same time as other orders and decisions of the commission.  The findings of the commission so made and filed, when properly certified under the seal of the commission, shall be admissible in evidence in any action, proceeding or hearing before the commission or any court, in which the commission, the state or an officer, department or institution thereof, or any county, city or municipality or other body politic and the gas corporation, electrical corporation, water corporation or sewer corporation affected may be interested whether arising under the provisions of this chapter or otherwise, and such findings, when so introduced, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as of the date therein stated under conditions then existing, and such facts can only be controverted by showing a subsequent change in conditions bearing upon the facts therein determined.

  4.  The commission may from time to time cause further hearings and investigations to be had for the purpose of making revaluations or ascertaining the value of any betterments, improvements, additions or extensions made by any gas corporation, electrical corporation, water corporation or sewer corporation subsequent to any prior hearing or investigation, and may examine into all matters which may change, modify or affect any finding of fact previously made, and may at such time make findings of fact supplementary to those theretofore made.  Such hearings shall be had upon the same notice and be conducted in the same manner, and the findings so made shall have the same force and effect as is provided herein for such original notice, hearing and findings; provided, that such findings made at such supplemental hearings or investigations shall be considered in connection with and as a part of the original findings except insofar as such supplemental findings shall change or modify the findings made at the original hearing or investigation.

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(RSMo 1939 § 5655, A.L. 1967 p. 578)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 5199; 1919 § 10487