Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 1981 )

The Attorney General of Texas
November 5, 1981
MARK WHITE
Attorney General
Honorable James E. Nugent Opinion No. MW-385
Supreme Court Bullding
P. 0. BOX 12548
Chairman
Austin. TX. 78711 Railroad Commission of Texas Re: Notice of rate change
5121475-2501 P.O. Box 12967 required by section 43(a) of
Telex 9101874.1M7 Austin, Texas 78711 article 1446~. V.T.C.S.
Telecopier 5121475.0286
Dear Chairman Nugent:
1807 Main St., Suite 1400
Dallas, TX. 75201 You have requested our opinion concerning whether the Railroad
214l742a944 Commission of Texas is empowered to waive the newspaper publication
requirements contained in section 43(a) of the Public Utility
4824 Alberta Ave., Suite 160
Regulatory Act, article 1446~. V.T.C.S.; [hereinafter~Utility Act]
El Paso, TX. 79905 and allow a utility to send notice of proposed rate changes requests
9151533-3484 directly to ratepayers through bill inserts or to otherwise give
actual notice to a utility ratepayer.
,220 Dallas Ave., Suite 202
Houston, TX. 77002
Statutes regulating notice that contain liberal construction
713/85&0%5 nrovisions. see section 89 of the Utility Act. are to be construed in
iavor of theperson or persons to whom notice-is to be given. United
Benefit Fire Insurance Co. V. Metropolitan Plumbing Co., 363 S.W.Zd
806 Broadway. Suite 312
843 (Tex. Civ. App. - El Paso 1962, no writ); Phinney v. Langdeau, 337
Lubbock, TX. 79401
8061747.5238
S.W.2d 393 (Tex. Civ. APP. - Austin 1960, writ ref'd. n.r.e.). If the
statute prescribes the method by which notice must be given. that
method must be followed with reasonable strictness. Rotello V. Brazes
4309 N. Tenth. Suite B County Water Control and Improvement District Number One, 574 S.W.2d
McAllen. TX. 78501
208 (Tex. Civ. App. - Houston [lst Dist.] 1978). rev'd on other
5121682.4547
rounds, 598 S.W.2d 227 (Tex. 1980); Clayton V. Newton, 524 S.W.2d 368
?Tex. Civ. App. - Ft. Worth 1975, no writ); see Johnson Service Co. V.
2w Main Plaza. SUM 400 Climate Control Contractors, Inc., 478 S.W.2d643 (Tex. Civ. App. -
San Antonio. TX. 78205 Austin 1972. no writ). The language contained in section 43(a) of the
51212254191
Utility Act addressing the notice a utility must give when it intends
to change its rates is mandatory, not discretionary: "...notice shall
An Equal OpPotiunitYl be given by publication in conspicuous form and place of a notice to
Affirmative Action Employer the public of such proposed change once in each week for four
successive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in each
county containing territory affected by the proposed change...."
(Emphasis added). Pursuant to the above cited rule of construction
concerning statutory notice provisions, it is our opinion that the
statute does not grant the commission the discretion to provide for a
substitute method of notice. Of course, the cotiission may permit
additional notice by billing inserts.
Mr. James E. Nugent - Page 2 (m-385)
SUMH,ARY
Sectim 43(a) .of the Public utility
Regulatory Act, article 1446~. V.T.C.S.. governing
notice of proposed rate changes is mandatory.
MARK WHITE
Attorney General of Texas
JOHN W. FAINTER, JR.
First Assistant Attorney General
RICHARD E. GRAY III
Executive Assistant Attorney General
Prepared by Martha Terry
Assistant Attorney General
APPROVED:
OPINION COMMITTEE
Susan L. Garrison, Chairman
Jon Bible
Rick Gilpin
Jim Moellinger
Martha Terry
p. 1311