Title 34 — Public Utilities.

This subtitle shall apply to the transportation of passengers, freight, or property from 1 point to another within the District of Columbia, and any common carrier performing such service; and this subtitle shall be so applicable and be so construed as to be free from conflict wi…

Corporations formed to acquire property or to transact business which would be subject to the provisions of this subtitle, and corporations possessing franchises for any of the purposes contemplated by this subtitle shall be deemed to be subject to the provisions of this subtitle…

For the purpose of this subtitle the term “Commission” or “Public Service Commission” when used herein shall mean the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia or any successor Commission, which shall include any regulatory or other body that possesses or exercises th…

The term “Commissioner” when used in Chapters 1-11 of this title and Chapter 33 of Title 42 shall mean one of the members of such Commission.

The term “common carrier” when used in this subtitle includes express companies and every corporation, street railroad corporation, company, association, joint-stock company or association, partnership, and person, their lessees, trustees, or receivers, appointed by any court wha…

The term “corporation” when used in this subtitle includes a corporation, company, association, and joint-stock company or association.

The term “electric generating facility” when used in this subtitle means all buildings, easements, real estate, mains, pipes, conduits, fixtures, meters, wires, poles, lamps, devices, and materials of any kind operated, owned, used, or to be used by a person for the generation of…

The term “electric plant” when used in this subtitle means the material, equipment, and property owned and used, or to be used, by the electric company for or in connection with the transmission or distribution of electricity in the District of Columbia to a retail electric custo…

The term “electric company” when used in this subtitle includes every corporation, company, association, joint-stock company or association, partnership, or person and doing business in the District of Columbia, their lessees, trustees, or receivers, appointed by any court whatso…

The term “extension or extensions” when used in this subtitle shall include the reasonable extension of the service and facilities of every street railroad, street railroad corporation, gas plant, gas company, electric plant, electrical corporation, telephone corporation, telepho…

The term “gas company” when used in this subtitle includes every corporation, company, association, joint-stock company or association, partnership, or person manufacturing, making, distributing, or selling gas for light, heat, or power, or for any public use whatsoever in the Di…

The term “gas plant” when used in this subtitle means the material, equipment, and property owned and used, or to be used, by the gas company for or in connection with the transmission or distribution of natural gas in the District of Columbia to a retail natural gas customer.

The term “joint rates” when used in this subtitle with reference to street railways shall be taken to mean rates between unrelated lines in effect on March 4, 1913, under then existing law or under contract, or which may thereafter be specifically authorized by law.

The word “person” when used in this subtitle means every individual, corporation, company, association, joint-stock company, association, firm, partnership, or other entity.

The term “pipeline company” when used in this subtitle includes every corporation, company, association, joint-stock company or association, partnership, or person, their lessees, trustees, or receivers, appointed by any court whatsoever, owning, operating, managing, or controlli…

The term “public utility”, “utility” or “utility company” as used in this subtitle shall mean and embrace every street railroad, street railroad corporation, common carrier, gas plant, gas company, electric company, telephone corporation, telephone line, telegraph corporation, te…

The term “service” is used in this subtitle in its broadest and most inclusive sense.

The term “street railroad” when used in this subtitle includes every such railroad, whether wholly or partly in the District of Columbia, by whatsoever power operated, or any extension or extensions, branch or branches thereof, for public use in the conveyance of persons or prope…

The term “street railroad corporation” when used in this subtitle includes every corporation, company, association, joint-stock company or association, partnership, and person doing business in the District of Columbia, their lessees, trustees, or receivers, appointed by any cour…

The term “telegraph corporation” when used in this subtitle includes every corporation, company, association, joint-stock company or association, partnership, and person, their lessees, trustees, or receivers, appointed by any court whatsoever, owning, operating, controlling, or …

The term “telegraph line” when used in this subtitle includes conduits, ducts, poles, wires, cables, crossarms, instruments, machinery, appliances, and all devices, real estate, franchises, easements, apparatus, fixtures, property, and routes used, operated, controlled, or owned …

The term “telephone corporation” when used in this subtitle includes every corporation, company, association, joint-stock company or association, partnership, and persons, their lessees, trustees, or receivers, appointed by any court whatsoever, owning, operating, controlling, or…

The term “telephone line” when used in this subtitle includes conduits, ducts, poles, wires, cables, crossarms, receivers, transmitters, instruments, machines, and appliances, and all devices, real estate, franchises, easements, apparatus, fixtures, property, appurtenances, and r…

Repealed Repealed.

The Commission shall, within its jurisdiction: (1) Have general supervision of all gas companies and electrical companies having authority under any general or special law or under any charter or franchise to lay down, erect, or maintain wires, pipes, conduits, ducts, or other fi…

No person shall begin the construction of a gas plant or an electric plant without first having obtained the permission and approval of the Commission.

The Commission shall adopt a rule in accordance with § 8-1771.06.

(a) The Commission shall appoint inspectors of gas meters, whose duty it shall be, when required by the Commission, to inspect, examine, and ascertain the accuracy of gas meters used or intended to be used for measuring and ascertaining the quantity of gas furnished for light, he…

If it be alleged and established in an action brought in any court for the collection of any charge for gas or electricity that a price has been demanded in excess of that fixed by the Commission or by statute no recovery shall be had therein, but the fact that such excessive cha…

The appointment and power to remove the Inspector of Gas and Meters and Assistant Inspectors of Gas and Meters from office is hereby vested in the Commission. All the powers and duties of such inspectors conferred and imposed by statute shall be exercised and performed under the …

The Inspector of Gas and Meters provided for by law prior to March 4, 1913, shall transfer and deliver to the Commission all books, maps, papers, records, apparatus, and the property of whatsoever description in his possession, and said Commission is authorized to take possession…

(a) Every public utility shall, whenever an incident occurs within the District of Columbia that results in the loss of human life, personal injury requiring hospitalization, or service disruption directly or indirectly arising from or connected with its maintenance or operation,…

The Commission shall inquire into any neglect or violation of the laws or regulations in force in the District of Columbia by any public utility doing business therein, or by the officers, agents, or employees thereof, or by any person operating the plant of any public utility, a…

The provisions of this subtitle shall be interpreted and construed liberally in order to accomplish the purposes thereof, and where any specific power or authority is given the Commission by the provisions of this subtitle the enumeration thereof shall not be held to exclude or i…

The Board of Directors of every public utility shall consist of not more than 17 nor less than 7 members, within which limitation the membership may be in any case increased or diminished, as the stockholders or the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

Except as modified or changed by this subtitle and until modified or changed under its provisions, all charters, statutes, laws, ordinances, and regulations in force on March 4, 1913, shall remain and continue to be in full force and effect until altered, amended, or repealed acc…

This subtitle shall not affect actions or proceedings, civil or criminal, or quasi-criminal, pending on March 4, 1913, but the same may be prosecuted or defended as provided by preexisting law or regulation.

Congress reserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal this subtitle.

The power to create liens on corporate property by public utilities in the District of Columbia is hereby declared to be a special privilege, the right of supervision, regulation, restriction, and control of which is hereby vested in the Public Service Commission of the District …

No public utility shall hereafter issue any stocks, stock certificates, bonds, mortgages, or any other evidences of indebtedness payable in more than 1 year from date, or pay any stock, bond or scrip dividend, until it shall have first obtained the certificate of the Commission s…

No public utility shall issue any stocks, certificates of stock, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness for money, property, or services, either directly or indirectly, nor shall it receive any money, property, or services in payment of the same, either directly or indirectly,…

No public utility shall issue any stocks, certificates of stock, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness secured on its property in the District of Columbia for the purpose of any reorganization or consolidation in excess of the total amount of the stocks, certificates of stock…

No public utility shall apply the proceeds of any such stock, certificates of stock, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness to any other purpose or issue the same on any less favorable terms than that specified in the certificate issued by the Commission.

All stocks, certificates of stock, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness issued contrary to the provisions of this subtitle shall be void.

Any public utility, or any agent, director, or officer thereof, who shall, directly or indirectly, issue or cause to be issued any stocks, certificates of stock, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness contrary to the provisions of this subtitle, or who shall apply the proceeds…

All public utilities to which an order of the Commission applies shall make such changes in their schedules on file as may be necessary to make the same conform to said order, and no change shall thereafter be made by any public utility in any such rates, tolls, or charges, or in…

The Commission may, at any time, upon notice to the public utility and after opportunity to be heard as provided in § 34-910, rescind, alter, or amend any order fixing any rate or rates, tolls, charges, or schedules, or any other order made by the Commission, and certified copies…

All rates, tolls, charges, time and condition of payment thereof, schedules, and joint rates fixed by the Commission shall be in force and shall be prima facie reasonable until finally found otherwise in an action brought for that purpose.

(a) If at any time the Commission shall be in doubt of the elements of value to be by them considered in arriving at the true valuation under the provisions of this subtitle, they are authorized and empowered to institute a proceeding in equity in the District of Columbia Court o…

(a) The District of Columbia Court of Appeals shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any appeal from an order or decision of the Commission. Any public utility or any other person or corporation affected by any final order or decision of the Commission, other than an order…