Wisconsin Power & Light Co. v. Public Service Commission

267 N.W. 386, 222 Wis. 25, 1936 Wisc. LEXIS 423
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedJune 2, 1936
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 267 N.W. 386 (Wisconsin Power & Light Co. v. Public Service Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wisconsin Power & Light Co. v. Public Service Commission, 267 N.W. 386, 222 Wis. 25, 1936 Wisc. LEXIS 423 (Wis. 1936).

Opinion

Wickhem, J.

The facts in this case are not in dispute. On and after October 20, 1932, plaintiff operated as a public utility for the furnishing of electric light and power in the village of Fall River under an indeterminate permit resulting from a franchise granted subsequent to July 11, 1907, to a predecessor in interest of plaintiff. On this date, the village board of Fall River adopted the following resolution:

“The village board of the village of Fall River, Wisconsin, does resolve as follows: Whereas, the village board is of the opinion that the public interests will be served by the purchase of the electric plant and equipment situated in the village of Fall River and now owned by the Wisconsin Power & Light Company.
“Now, therefore, it is resolved: That the village of Fall River acquire said plant and equipment.
“It is further resolved: That the purchase price of said utility after it shall be determined shall be paid by issuance of public utility mortgage bonds to be issued under the provisions of section 66.06 (9) (b) of the Wisconsin Statutes.”

Notice of the election read as follows:

“Notice of Referendum Election Upon the Acquisition of Public Utility Property.
“Take notice that a referendum election will be held at the general election to be held on the 8th day of November, [27]*271932, at the village of Fall River, Wisconsin, to determine the question as to whether the village of Fall River shall acquire the electric plant and equipment of the Wisconsin Power & Light Company now operating in said village pursuant to a resolution of the village board of said village approved on the 20th day of October, 1932, providing among other things that the purchase price of said utility plant and equipment shall be paid by the issuance of public utility mortgage bonds to be issued under the provisions of section 66.06 (9) (b) of the Wisconsin Statutes.
“The polling places in said village are as follows, and will be open from-a. m. to-p. m. on said day.”

The question submitted to the voters at the election held November 8, 1932, was as follows:

“Shall the electric plant and equipment of the Wisconsin Power & Light Company now operating in the village of Fall River be acquired by the village?”

At the election there were cast one hundred twenty-three votes in favor of the resolution and thirty-four votes against it. Thereupon, notice of the result oí this election was given by the village to the Public Service Commission and the plaintiff company in compliance with the terms of sec. 197.02, whereupon the commission proceeded to determine the just compensation to be paid for the taking of the company’s property. A hearing was had on November 27, 1933, and on February 5 and 6, 1934. On July 23, 1934, the defendant commission made findings and an order fixing the sum pf $9,500 as compensation for the taking of the property described in the order. Thereafter, on September 25, 1934, after a rehearing, the commission made an order modifying in certain respects the order of July 23, 1934. Thereupon plaintiff brought this action in the circuit court for Dane county to vacate and set aside the order. The case involves the validity and effect of the election heretofore described. Plaintiff contends that the resolution of the village board [28]*28and notice of election indicate that the proceedings were under sec. 66.06, Stats., that this section deals with the purchase of property from an existing utility and not with its acquisition as a public utility under ch. 197, Stats.; and that the election was either void for want of a previous agreement or contract with the utility for its purchase or ineffective to' do more than authorize such a contract; and that it did not vest the Public Service Commission with jurisdiction to proceed under the provisions of secs. 197.01 to 197.05, inclusive. These contentions require a consideration of the statutes applicable.

Sec. 197.01 (3), Stats 1931, provides:

“Any municipality shall have the power, subject to the provisions of chapters 196 and 197, to acquire the property of any public utility, wheresoever situated, actually used and useful for the convenience of the public; provided, that in acquiring any property outside of Wisconsin, such property must have been used exclusively by such public utility for furnishing heat, light, water and power to such municipality.”

Sec. 197.02, Stats. 1931, provides:

“Action by municipalities to acquire utility. If the municipality shall have determined to acquire a plant operated under an indeterminate permit provided in section 196.55, by a vote of a majority of the electors, such municipality shall bring an action in the circuit court against the public utility for an adjudication as to the necessity of such taking by the municipality. Unless the parties waive a jury, the question as to the necessity of the taking of such property by the municipality shall be submitted to a jury.”

Sec. 197.03, Stats. 1931, provides:

“Indeterminate permit; notice. If the municipality shall have determined to acquire an existing plant in the manner provided in section 197.02, and the public utility owning such plant shall have consented to the taking over of such plant by the municipality by acceptance of an indeterminate permit as provided herein, or, in case such public utility shall [29]*29not have waived or consented tO' such taking, if the jury shall have found that a necessity exists for the taking of such plant, then the municipality shall give speedy notice of such determination and of' such consent or such finding to the public utility and to the commission.”

Sec. 197.05 (1), Stats. 1931, provides:

“The commission shall thereupon set a time and place for a public hearing upon the matters oí the just compensation to be paid for the property of such public utility, wheresoever situated, actually used and useful for the convenience of the public, and of all other terms and conditions of the purchase, and shall give to the municipality and the public utility interested, not less than thirty days’ notice of the time and place when and where such hearing will be held, and such matters considered and determined, and the municipality shall publish such notice once a week for not less than three successive weeks in at least one newspaper of general circulation printed in the English language and published in the county in which such public utility is located.”

Sec. 66.06 (8), Stats. 1931, provides:

“Acquisition, (a) Any town, village or city may construct, acquire or lease any plant and equipment located within or without the municipality, and including interest in or lease of land, for furnishing water, light, heat, or power, to the municipality, or tO' its inhabitants or for street railway purposes; . . . and the board or council may at any time agree with the owner or owners of any public utility or utilities as to the agreed value thereof, and to contract to purchase or acquire the same hereunder at such value, upon such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon between said board or council and said owner or owners.

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Related

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228 N.W.2d 173 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1975)
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
267 N.W. 386, 222 Wis. 25, 1936 Wisc. LEXIS 423, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wisconsin-power-light-co-v-public-service-commission-wis-1936.