Idaho § 61-622

§ 61-622.

Finding of commission necessary for increase in rate and approval of a new tariff or schedule - suspension. (1) No public utility shall raise any existing rate, rental, or charge or so alter any existing classification, contract, practice, rule, service, or regulation as to result in an increase in any rate, rental, or charge, under any circumstances whatsoever, except upon a showing before the commission and a finding by the commission that such increase is justified.

(2) Whenever there shall be filed with the commission any tariff or schedule stating a new individual or joint rate, rental, charge, classification, contract, practice, rule, service or regulation that does not increase or result in the increase of any existing rate, rental, or charge, such tariff or schedule shall not become effective except upon a showing to and a finding by the commission that such tariff or schedule is justified.

(3) The commission shall have power and is hereby given authority to suspend the proposed effective date of any new tariff, schedule, rate, rental, charge, classification, contract, practice, rule, service or regulation, either upon complaint or upon its own initiative without complaint, at once, and if it so orders, without answer or other formal pleadings by the interested public utility or utilities. The commission shall provide reasonable notice that it intends to conduct a hearing or other proceeding concerning the propriety of such new tariff, schedule, rate, rental, charge, classification, contract, practice, rule, service or regulation. Pending the subsequent hearing or proceeding and decision thereon, such new tariff, schedule, rate, rental, charge, classification, contract, practice, rule, service or regulation shall not go into effect.

(4) The period of suspension of such new tariff, schedule, rate, rental, charge, classification, contract, practice, rule, service or regulation shall not extend beyond thirty (30) days when such new tariff, schedule, rate, rental, charge, classification, contract, practice, rule, service or regulation would otherwise go into effect, pursuant to section 61-307 , Idaho Code, unless the commission in its discretion extends the period of suspension for an initial period not exceeding five (5) months, nor unless the commission after a showing of good cause on the record grants an additional sixty (60) days. Prior to the expiration of said periods of suspension, the commission may, with the consent in writing signed by the party filing such new tariff or schedule, permanently or further suspend the same.

(5) After such hearing or other proceeding during the suspension period, the commission shall issue its order approving, denying or amending the proposed tariffs, schedules, rates, rentals, charges, classifications, contracts, practices, rules, services or regulations in whole or in part, or others in lieu thereof, it finds to be just and reasonable.