Wisconsin § 196.20 - Rules on service; changes in rates.

§ 196.20. Rules on service; changes in rates.

196.20(1) (1) The rate schedules of any public utility shall include all rules applicable to the rendition or discontinuance of the service to which the rates specified in the schedules are applicable. No change may be made by any public utility in its schedules except by filing the change as proposed with the commission. No change in any public utility rule which purports to curtail the obligation or undertaking of service of the public utility shall be effective without the written approval of the commission after hearing, except that the commission, by emergency order, may make the rule, as filed, effective from the date of the order, pending final approval of the rule after hearing. 196.20(2) (2) 196.20(2)(a) (a) A proposed change which constitutes a decrease in rates shall be effective at the time specified in the change as filed but not earlier than 10 days after the date of filing the change with the commission, unless any of the following occurs: 196.20(2)(a)1. 1. During the 10-day period the commission, either upon complaint or upon its own motion, by order, suspends the operation of the proposed change. 196.20(2)(a)2. 2. The commission, upon application of any public utility, directs that a proposed reduction in rates be made effective less than 10 days after filing the proposed reduction. 196.20(2)(b) (b) 196.20(2)(b)1. 1. A suspension under par. (a) 1. shall be effective for a period not exceeding 4 months, during which period the commission shall investigate any matter relative to the reasonableness or lawfulness of any change in schedule as filed. After the investigation the commission, by order, shall approve or disapprove the change, except as provided under subd. 2. The commission shall give the public utility proposing the change an opportunity for hearing prior to issuing any order disapproving a change. If the commission disapproves the change, the change shall be ineffective. 196.20(2)(b)2. 2. If the commission orders a suspension under par. (a) 1. , the commission, after notice to the public utility of its objections to the change and after giving the public utility an opportunity to be heard on the objections, may prescribe a schedule which, revised on the basis of the objections, the commission finds to be lawful and reasonable instead of disapproving the schedule under subd. 1. 196.20(2m) (2m) Except as provided under s.