§ 37-2-203 — Separate hearings; hearings to be open; representation by attorney; reports, investigations

(a) When complaint is made of more than one matter or
thing the commission may order separate hearings thereon and may
hear and determine the several matters complained of separately
and at such times as it may prescribe. All hearings conducted by
the commission or commissioner shall be open to the public. In
any hearing, proceeding or investigation conducted by the
commission or commissioner, any party may be heard in person or
by attorney.
(b) Within a time to be fixed by the commission, every
public utility under the jurisdiction of this commission shall
file an annual report with the commission, verified by the oath
of the president, treasurer or general manager or receiver, if
any, of such public utility, or by the person required to file
the same. The verification shall be made by said official
holding office, at the time of the filing of said report, and,
if not made upon the knowledge of the person verifying the same,
shall set forth the source of his information and the grounds of
his beliefs as to any matters not stated to be verified upon his
knowledge. The commission shall prescribe the form of such
reports and the character of the information to be contained
therein, and may from time to time make such changes and such
additions in regard to form and contents thereof as it may deem
proper and each year shall furnish a blank form for such annual
reports to every such public utility. Such report shall also
cover the period, and be filed at the time prescribed by the
commission. The contents of such report and the form thereof
shall conform in the case of interstate public utilities as
nearly as may be to that required of interstate public utilities
under the act of congress entitled "An act to regulate
commerce", approved February fourth, eighteen hundred and
eighty-seven [1887], and the acts amendatory thereof and
supplemental thereto. The originals of said reports subscribed
and sworn to as prescribed by law, shall be filed in the office
of the commission. The commission may require, by order of any
public utility or person, specific answers to questions upon
which the commission may need information. If any public utility
shall fail to make and file its annual report within the time
ordered, or the time extended by the commission, it shall be
subject to the penalty as provided for under W.S. 37-12-204.
(c) The commission shall, within its jurisdiction, have
power, in its discretion, to prescribe uniform methods of
keeping accounts, records and books, to be observed by all
public utilities operating within the state. It may also in its
discretion prescribe by order, forms of accounts, records and
memoranda to be kept by such public utilities. Notice of
alterations by the commission in the required method or form of
keeping a system of accounts shall be given to such public
utility by the commission at least six (6) months before the
same shall take effect. Any other and additional forms of
accounts, records and memoranda kept by such public utility
shall be subject to examination by the commission. The system of
accounts, established by the commission and the forms of
accounts, records and memoranda prescribed by it shall in the
case of interstate public utilities conform as nearly as may be
to those prescribed by the surface transportation board under
the act of congress, entitled "An act to regulate commerce", and
the acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto.
(d) Every public utility shall report to the commission,
under rules and regulations prescribed by the commission and
harmonizing insofar as practicable with those of the surface
transportation board, and of any other department of this state,
every accident occurring upon the property of any public utility
or directly or indirectly arising from or connected with the
maintenance or operation of the plant, equipment, appliances,
apparatus, property or facilities of such public utility
resulting in loss of life or injury to person or property;
provided, that whenever any accident occasions the loss of life
or limb to any person, such public utility shall straightway
advise the commission of the fact by the speediest available
means of communication.
(e) The commission shall investigate the cause of all such
accidents resulting in loss of life or injury to persons or
property, as in the judgment of the commission requires
investigation by it, and the commission shall have power to make
such order with respect thereto, as it may deem just and
reasonable.
(f) Nothing in this act in relation to service regulation
or in relation to reports or the methods of keeping accounts,
records or books shall apply to any common carrier engaged in
interstate commerce; provided, that, the department of
transportation may, upon proper notice, require any common
carrier to furnish to the department of transportation copies of
any reports as it may designate which any common carrier may
have filed with the surface transportation board.