State Ex Rel. Utilities Commission v. Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co.

210 S.E.2d 543, 24 N.C. App. 327, 1975 N.C. App. LEXIS 2385

• Court: Court of Appeals of North Carolina
• Decided: January 2, 1975
• Docket: 7410UC775
• Status: Published

Opinion

BRITT, Judge.

This being a general rate case, it is controlled for the most part by G.S. 62-133 which provides how rates are fixed, and by G.S. 62-79 which provides what the final order of the Commission shall contain. Due to the large number of general rate cases that have found their way to our appellate division in recent years, much has been written on the subject of rate making and the respective functions of the Commission and the courts in that important process.

An extensive discussion of legal principles applicable to establishing rates for telephone companies is set forth in an opinion by Justice Lake in Utilities Commission v. General Telephone Company, 281 N.C. 318, 189 S.E. 2d 705 (1972) which, with minor modification, affirmed a well considered opinion by Judge Parker reported in 12 N.C. App. 598, 184 S.E. 2d 526 (1971). While no useful purpose would be served by stating again all of the principles set forth in the General Telephone Company opinions, we think a restatement of the following principles, gleaned from those opinions and pertinent to this case, would be appropriate:

(1) The Utilities Commission, not the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals, has been given the authority to determine the adequacy of a public utility’s service and the rates to be charged therefor. G.S. 62-31; G.S. 62-32; G.S. 62-130; G.S. 62-131.

(2) The authority of an appellate court to reverse or modify an order of the Utilities Commission, or to remand the matter to the Commission for further proceedings, is limited to that specified in G.S. 62-94, which includes the authority to reverse or modify such order on the ground that it violates a constitutional provision.

(3) Upon appeal, the rates fixed by the Utilities Commission, pursuant to G.S. Chapter 62, are deemed 'prima facie just and reasonable, and all findings of fact supported by competent, material and substantial evidence are conclusive.

(4) A finding of fact or determination of what rates are reasonable by the Utilities Commission may not be reversed or modified by the reviewing court merely because the court would have reached a different finding or determination upon the evidence.

(5) The burden of proof is upon the utility seeking a rate increase to show the proposed rates are just and reasonable. G.S. 62-75; G.S. 62-134 (c).

By its assignments of error, Southern Bell contends the Commission erred in the following respects: (1) in setting the rate of return at 7.55%; (2) in determining Southern Bell’s rate base; and (3) in delaying too long the issuance of its order. We will discuss the assignments in the categories indicated.

Setting The Rate of Return

Southern Bell argues that the Commission did not sufficiently set out the reasons for adopting a rate of 7.55 % ; that the. Commission should have made factual findings as to the cost of capital to Southern Bell, and the cost of, or a reasonable return on, either book or fair value equity to Southern Bell. We reject this argument.

G.S. 62-133 (b)(1) requires the Commission to ascertain the fair value of a public utility’s property “ . . . used and useful in providing the service rendered to the public within this State, considering the reasonable original cost of the property less that portion of the cost which has been consumed by previous use recovered by depreciation expense, the replacement cost of the property, and any other factors relevant to the present fair value of the property. Replacement cost may be determined by trending such reasonable depreciated cost to current cost levels, or by any other reasonable method.” The Commission ascertained fair value to be $549,691,301 and that determination is fully supported by the record. The statute, G.S. 62-133 (b) (4), then provides that the Commission shall “[f]ix such rate of return on the fair value of the property as will enable the public utility by sound management to produce a fair profit for its stockholders, considering changing economic conditions and other factors, as they then exist, to maintain its facilities and services in accordance with the reaesonable requirements of its customers in the territory covered by its franchise, and to compete in the market for capital funds on terms which are reasonable and which are fair to its customers and to its existing investors.”

Two of the key witnesses at the hearing before the Commission were Mr. Dean, an expert witness presented by Southern Bell, and Mr. Kosh, an expert witness presented by the Attorney General. In arriving at their opinions as to a fair rate of return, Mr. Dean used the “comparable earnings” test and Mr. Kosh used what he referred to as the “discounted cash flow” approach. Mr. Dean compared Southern Bell’s financial structure, earnings, etc., with certain other utilities, regulated and unregulated, and certain high grade industrials. Mr. Kosh used a different approach, providing an analysis of the entire Bell System of which Southern Bell is a part, and stressed the favored position of a regulated utility as contrasted with indus-trials in a highly competitive market. Based on his studies, Mr. Kosh concluded that 7.8% was the maximum return that would be reasonable for Southern Bell to have an opportunity to earn on its fair value rate base.

In its order the Commission devoted some 18 pages in reviewing and analyzing testimony and pertinent statutes and court decisions relating to its finding of fair value. We find no authority that requires the Commission to make the factual findings that Southern Bell contends it should have made. The statutes list what the Commission shall “ascertain” or “determine,” but the items in question are not so listed. The Commission relied heavily on Mr. Kosh’s testimony and he appears to have followed the principle that to attract capital, a public utility need not charge, and is not entitled to charge, for its services rates which will make its stock or bonds attractive to investors who are willing to risk substantial loss of principal in return for the possibility of abnormally high earnings, since the utility, having a legal monopoly in an essential service, offers its investors a minimal risk of loss of principal. This principle was restated with approval in the General Telephone case, supra.

Southern Bell further argues that the effect of Mr. Kosh’s testimony was to recommend a 7.8% return, therefore, there was no evidence to support the Commission’s finding of 7.55%. We construe Mr. Kosh’s testimony to say that 7.8% was the maximum return that would be reasonable for Southern Bell. Furthermore, it is the prerogative of the Commission to determine the credibility of evidence before it, even though such evidence be uncontradicted by another witness. Utility Commission v. Power Company, 285 N.C. 377, 206 S.E. 2d 269 (1974).

We hold that the assignments of error with respect to fixing the rate of return are without merit.

Determining The Rate Base

Southern Bell contends the Commission erred in understating Southern Bell’s rate base by certain exclusions for materials and supplies and cash working capital; by overstating revenues and understating expenses by improperly allocating AT&T interest expense, by erroneously utilizing an improper annualization adjustment factor, and by disallowing charitable contributions as an expense.

Under this contention, Southern Bell argues that the Commission wrongfully calculated the fair value of its properties by adopting an incorrect figure for materials and supplies, and erroneously calculating the proper amount for the cash component of working capital.

With respect to materials and supplies, Southern Bell’s witness Turner testified that the intrastate portion of Southern Bell’s investment in materials and supplies as of 30 June 1973 was $4,563,388. Witness Carter, of the Commission’s staff, testified that this figure should be adjusted downward by $1,091,058 and the Commission adopted the adjustment. The effect of this adjustment was to reduce by the latter amount the fair value of Southern Bell’s property “used and useful” in providing service to the people of North Carolina. The methodology used by Mr. Turner was the same as that approved by this court, speaking through Judge Parker, in Utilities Commission v. Telephone Company, 15 N.C. App. 41, 189 S.E. 2d 777 (1972), and no useful purpose would be served in restating the methodology here. Suffice it to say, we adhere to our former opinion.

With respect to the amount adopted by the Commission as a cash component of working capital, the Commission admits that it made an error but denies that the error was sufficiently prejudicial to require reversal of the order appealed from. We agree with the Commission.

The error resulted in a $414,111 understatement of working capital, which in turn caused an identical understatement of the fair value of Southern Bell’s property used and useful. Multiplying the $414,111 by the 7.55% rate of return on fair value allowed by the Commission, Southern Bell was deprived of approximately $31,265, which amount should have been added to return on common equity. This represented only .00126% of the $24,746,737 allotted to Southern Bell’s common equity under the approved rates.

In the Supreme Court opinion in the General Telephone case, supra, Justice Lake said (page 370) : “ . . . At best, the result of the complex rate making procedure is an approximation of this objective (fixing a fair rate of return on fair value).” We hold that the admitted error was not sufficiently prejudicial to disturb the order.

We think the Commission properly allocated to Southern Bell certain interest expense incurred by its parent, American Telephone and Telegraph Company. The statute requires that the Commission ascertain the utility’s annual “reasonable operating expenses,” G.S. 62-133 (b) (3), and, clearly, taxes constitute an operating expense item. Since interest is a deduction from taxable income, the Commission must determine a utility’s annual interest payments. This determination was made difficult in the instant case for the reason that Southern Bell files no tax return of its own, but files a consolidated return with AT&T. Therefore, the Commission allocated to Southern Bell a portion of certain interest expense incurred by AT&T, which expense was generated by debt issues by AT&T to obtain funds with which to purchase common stock issues of its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Southern Bell. The tax savings accrues when the interest paid by AT&T on its debt securities is deducted from gross income on the consolidated tax return filed by AT&T and its subsidiaries. For purposes of rate making, the Commission treated the allocated interest expense as a tax deduction and, accordingly, lowered Southern Bell’s tax expense. The result of this procedure was a $3,617,998 adjustment to Southern Bell’s North Carolina intrastate interest expense, and a concomitant $1,785,080 adjustment to Southern Bell’s state and federal income taxes. We hold that the procedure was proper.

Southern Bell argues that the Commission erred in adopting an annualization adjustment factor of 3.61%. As a part of the rate fixing process, the statute requires that the Commission estimate the utility’s revenue under present and proposed rates, and that probable future revenues and expenses shall be based on the plant and equipment in operation as of the end of the test period. G.S. 62-133 (b) (2) and (c). The adjustment factor is referred to also as a growth factor. At the hearing, Southern Bell’s witness Turner testified that this factor should be 2.6% and based his conclusion on the number of main and equivalent stations in service. Commission staff witness Carter opined that this factor should be 3.61 % and based his conclusion on total telephones in service, including extensions. Southern Bell argues that revenue derived from extensions is much less than that derived from main stations. We hold that the factor adopted by the Commission is supported by the evidence.

Southern Bell argues that the Commission erred in disallowing as expense certain charitable contributions. The record reveals that in ascertaining Southern Bell’s operating expenses, the Commission disallowed $180,000 in contributions. The Commission reasoned that to include this item as an expense would have the effect of requiring ratepayers to make involuntary contributions through the payment of rates to an organization or organizations of Southern Bell’s choice. We hold that the dis-allowance of the contributions item was a proper exercise of the Commission’s discretion in determining Southern Bell’s reasonable operating expenses.

Delaying Issuance of Order

Southern Bell contends that the order appealed from is invalid for the reason that under G.S. 62-134 the Commission may suspend proposed rates for a maximum of 270 days; that if the rates proposed by Southern Bell in this proceeding had not been suspended by the Commission, they would have gone into effect on 31 July 1973; that the Commission’s order granting part of the requested increase in rates was entered on 30 April 1974, 273 days after 31 July 1973, and it made the new rates effective 15 May 1974. Admitting that the order was not entered within the 270 days, appellees argue that Southern Bell could have put its requested rates into effect for the period from 27 April 1974 to 15 May 1974 but voluntarily chose not to do so.

G.S. 62-134 (b) clearly gave the Commission authority to suspend the proposed rates for a maximum of 270 days. The statute further provided that if the proceeding with respect to the proposed increases had not been concluded, and an order made within the period of suspension, the proposed change of rates would go into effect at the end of such period. But the statute further provided that after hearing, whether completed before or after the proposed rates went into effect, the Commission could make such order with respect thereto as would be proper in a proceeding instituted after the rates had become effective.

We hold that the order appealed from is not invalid for the reason that it was entered, or that the rates provided therein became effective, more than 270 days after the proposed rates were suspended.

* * ■!■■

For the reasons stated, the order appealed from is

Affirmed.

Judge Hedrick concurs. Judge Morris dissents. Judge Morris dissenting.

By G.S. 62-133 (b) (4) the Commission is directed to “[f]ix such rate of return on the fair value of the property as will enable the public utility by sound management to produce a fair profit for its stockholders, considering changing economic conditions and other factors, as they then exist, to maintain its facilities and services in accordance with the reasonable requirements of its customers in the territory covered by its fran chise, and to compete in the market for capital funds on terms which are reasonable and which are fair to its customers and to its existing investors.” (Emphasis supplied.)

In Utilities Commission v. Power Co., 285 N.C. 377, 393, 206 S.E. 2d 269 (1974), Justice Lake, speaking for the Court, said:

“Since the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Bluefield Water Works & Improvement Co. v. Public Service Commission, 262 U.S. 679, 43 S.Ct. 675, 67 L.Ed. 1176, it has been accepted that a ‘fair rate of return’ is one sufficient to enable the utility to attract, on reasonable terms, capital necessary to enable it to render adequate service. This is the test laid down by G.S. 62-133 (b) (4).”

The Commission in its order, speaking of “fair rate of return” said:

“Evidence as to what is a fair and reasonable rate of return is often conflicting and by its very nature lacks complete objectivity. We have carefully considered the criteria laid down in the Bluefield and Hope cases and have applied our informed judgment based upon all of the evidence to reach the necessary conclusions. We have weighed all the factors considered by the witnesses testifying in this proceeding and we have discussed certain points we felt appropriate heretofore in this Order.

The Commission has given serious consideration to all of the relevant evidence presented in this case, concerning the cost of capital, in view of the company’s need for a competitive position in the capital market in order to pursue the programs of expansion which will provide both additional and improved service to the ratepayers. Based on the foregoing and the entire record in this matter, and applying its informed judgment, the Commission finds that fair rate of return of 7.55% is fair and reasonable for this company to earn on its fair value rate base. ...”

If cost of capital must be considered in arriving at a fair rate of return, there must be evidence offered thereon. It is obvious that consideration of these factors generate conflicting opinions. This is particularly true with respect to costs of and return on equity capital. For example, the Company witness Dean testified that in determining the overall cost of capital to Southern Bell, he used cost of equity of 12%%. Mr. Kosh, witness for the Attorney General, however, testified that he found the cost of equity for Southern Bell to be no more than 9.5%.

I am of the opinion that as to cost of capital, it is not sufficient for the Commission to state that it has considered “all of the relevant evidence presented in the case, concerning cost of capital” and has applied to it its “informed judgment.” There should be findings of fact with respect thereto so that the reviewing court can know what elements were considered and what effect the testimony was given.