New Jersey § 48:2-21

§ 48:2-21.

Schedule of rates. (a) The board may require every public utility to file with it complete schedules

of every classification employed and of every individual or joint rate, toll, fare

or charge made, charged or exacted by it for any product supplied or service rendered

within this State, as specified in the requirement. Fix rates. (b) The board may after hearing, upon notice, by order in writing: 1. Fix just and reasonable individual rates, joint rates, tolls, charges or schedules

thereof, as well as commutation, mileage and other special rates which shall be imposed,

observed and followed thereafter by any public utility, whenever the board shall determine

any existing rate, toll, charge or schedule thereof, commutation, mileage or other

special rate to be unjust, unreasonable, insufficient or unjustly discriminatory or

preferential. In every such proceeding the board shall complete and close the hearing within 6

months and enter its final order within 8 months after the filing of the order of

the board initiating such proceeding, when such proceeding is on the board's own motion;

or after issue is joined through the filing of an answer to a complaint, when such

proceeding is initiated by complaint. 2. Fix just and reasonable joint rates, which shall be charged, enforced, collected

and observed by railroads and street railroads in the carrying of freight. Whenever the railroads or street railroads involved fail to agree upon the apportionment

or division of a joint rate so established, the board may issue a supplemental order

declaring the apportionment or division of the joint rate. Demurrage rates. (c) The board may fix the rates or charges to be made by any corporation subject

to the provisions of this chapter for the detention of a railroad car containing property

transported by railroad to any point in this State or for the use of railroad tracks

occupied by such car, commonly called demurrage or car service, or for both such detention

and use. Such rates and charges shall conform as nearly as possible to the rates and charges

for demurrage or car service prescribed and fixed by the Interstate Commerce Commission

for similar service. Increase in rates; hearings. (d) When any public utility shall increase any existing individual rates, joint

rates, tolls, charges or schedules thereof, as well as commutation, mileage and other

special rates, or change or alter any existing classification, the board, either upon

written complaint or upon its own initiative, shall have power after hearing, upon

notice, by order in writing to determine whether the increase, change or alteration

is just and reasonable. The burden of proof to show that the increase, change or alteration is just and

reasonable shall be upon the public utility making the same. The board, pending such hearing and determination, may order the suspension of the

increase, change or alteration until the board shall have approved the same, not exceeding

4 months. If the hearing and determination shall not have been concluded within such 4 months

the board may during such hearing and determination order a further suspension for

an additional period not exceeding, 4 months. The board shall approve the increase, change or alteration upon being satisfied

that the same is just and reasonable.