State ex rel. Midwest Gas User's Ass'n v. Public Service Commission

996 S.W.2d 608, 1999 Mo. App. LEXIS 612, 1999 WL 288534
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 11, 1999
DocketNo. WD 55331
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 996 S.W.2d 608 (State ex rel. Midwest Gas User's Ass'n v. Public Service Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. Midwest Gas User's Ass'n v. Public Service Commission, 996 S.W.2d 608, 1999 Mo. App. LEXIS 612, 1999 WL 288534 (Mo. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

RIEDERER, Judge.

This is an appeal taken by Missouri Gas Energy (“MGE”), a division of Southern Union Company, from a judgment of the Circuit Court of Cole County, Missouri, entered in a writ of review proceeding pursuant to § 386.510.1 MGE is a “gas corporation” and a “public utility” under § 386.020. It is subject to the regulation of the Missouri, Public Service Commission (“Commission”), and the rates MGE charges for natural gas service are set from time to time by the Commission. See § 393.140.

Respondents herein are the Midwest Gas Users’ Association (“Midwest”), the Commission, the Office of the Public Counsel, the County of Jackson, and others. Midwest is an unincorporated non-profit [610]*610association consisting of and representing its membership of numerous business concerns and corporations which are substantial users of natural gas at plants in Missouri and elsewhere. The Public Counsel is an attorney, appointed by the director of the department of economic development, vested with the discretion to represent, or refrain from representing, and to protect the interests of the public in any proceeding before or appeal from the Commission. See §§ 386.700 and 710.

This appeal involves seven issues raised by MGE. Because we conclude that discussion of MGE’s last 6 points would have no precedential value, we will affirm as to those points by summary order pursuant to Rule 84.16(b). We are furnishing the parties a memorandum of the reasons for our decision as to those issues. In this opinion, we address only the issue of whether the trial court had subject matter jurisdiction under § 386.520.2 to enter a stay order and an impoundment order.

Factual and Procedural Background

On March 1, 1996, MGE filed proposed tariffs with the Commission requesting a rate increase of approximately $34 million dollars. On March 13, 1996, the Commission suspended the proposed tariffs. On May 3, 1996, Midwest, Jackson County, Missouri, the Public Counsel and other parties were granted intervention in the case. Hearings were held October 21 through 31, 1996, and again on December 12, 1996. On January 22, 1997, the Commission issued a Report and Order granting an annual increase in revenue of approximately $7.5 million, which was later amended to $8,847 million. In its Report and Order, the Commission (1) rejected a stipulation and agreement on class cost of service and related revenue shifts, (2) rejected the proposed tariff sheets filed by MGE, and (3) awarded MGE the increase in revenue outlined above. Midwest timely filed an application for Rehearing or Reconsideration, as did MGE. On February 28, 1997, the Commission issued an order denying both applications for Rehearing or Reconsideration. On April 21, 1997, Midwest timely filed its Petition for Writ of Review with the Circuit Court of Cole County. MGE filed a separate timely Petition for Writ of Review. MGE was an intervenor in the Midwest case.

In its petition, MGE claimed it was entitled to an annual increase of more than $8,847 million and that the Commission’s decision on certain issues would cause MGE to write off retroactively millions of dollars of income previously booked and therefore should be reversed. The circuit court of Cole County issued a judgment on July 18, 1997. MGE filed its notice of appeal in that ease on August 4, 1997.

In the meantime, Midwest, in its separate petition to the circuit court, sought review of (1) the Commission’s rejection of a stipulation on rate design issues of class cost of services and related revenue shifts and the Commission’s failure to provide cross examination and a hearing thereon; (2) the Commission’s decision to spread the authorized increase on an equal percentage basis among the various rate classes; (3) the Commission’s failure to address an issue of eliminating certain language on Tariff Sheet 68 involving gas transportation; and (4) the Commission’s failure to adopt tariff language regarding disputed bills. The “Stipulation and Agreement” referred to above provided that the parties waived their rights to cross-examine witnesses and to present oral arguments if the Commission accepted the specific terms of the Stipulation and Agreement. However, the Stipulation and Agreement also provided that in the event the Commission did not accept the Stipulation and Agreement, the parties believed it would be appropriate to conduct cross-examination and brief the issues to develop a full record on which the Commission could base its decision. On July 18, 1997, the Commission filed its reply brief in the Midwest case and it made the following acknowledgment:

The Commission acknowledges that it likely committed error when it rejected the Stipulation and Agreement present[611]*611ed by the parties on October 30, 1996, and did not provide a hearing on the issues covered by the Agreement. The Commission acknowledges that remand of the cause on this issue is warranted. The Commission will provide a hearing to the parties on the issues raised by the parties in the Stipulation and Agreement, allow for cross-examination of opposing witnesses, and receive briefs on these issues. The Commission will then adopt a decision after its consideration of the complete record on this issue.

On September 4, 1997, Midwest filed a Motion for Immediate Reversal and Stay in the circuit court of Cole County. A hearing was held, and on November 26, 1997, the circuit court issued its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Judgment. The court found that the “rates fixed by the Commission without a hearing on an essential part of the rate design issue are unlawful.” The court added: “Accordingly this Court has no choice but to reverse the Commission’s order as to the rates of MGE and remand the matter to the Commission for further action.” The court further concluded:

The parties are entitled to decisions on the issues that they bring before the Commission. The result of the Commission’s failure to decide issues concerning the complained-of tariff provision is to leave the tariff provision in place in MGE’s tariff book without findings or conclusions. Findings of fact on disputed issues are a legal requirement for the Commission to reach its ultimate determination. Section 386.420.2 RSMo 1994; Century State Bank v. State Banking Board of Mo., 523 S.W.2d 856, 859 (Mo. App.1975); Glasnapp v. State Banking Board, 545 S.W.2d 382, 387 (Mo.App. 1976).... The parties are entitled to a decision which indicates the basis of that decision. By failing or refusing to decide the issue, the Commission permits the tariff to continue, but denies the parties due process and the potential of an appeal or other review as to the basis of the Commission’s decision, (emphasis supplied).

In its order and judgment, the court determined:

1. That the Report and Order of the Commission in Case No. GR96-285 of January 22, 1997 and its subsequent orders of January 31,1997, March 18,1997 and March 20, 1997 be and they are hereby determined to be unlawful and unreasonable and unconstitutional in violation of Relator’s rights of due process and in violation of Missouri law insofar as the rates were approved without a hearing on the rate design issues of class cost of service and revenue shifts as required by law.
2.

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Bluebook (online)
996 S.W.2d 608, 1999 Mo. App. LEXIS 612, 1999 WL 288534, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-midwest-gas-users-assn-v-public-service-commission-moctapp-1999.