(a) If upon such investigation the rates, tolls, charges, schedules, or joint rates shall be found to be unjust, unreasonable, insufficient, or unjustly discriminatory, or to be preferential or otherwise in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the Commission shall have power to determine and by order fix and order to be substituted therefor such rate or rates, charges, or schedules as shall be just and reasonable. If upon such investigation, it shall be found that any regulation, time schedule, act, or service, complained of is unjust, unreasonable, unsafe, inadequate, preferential, unjustly discriminatory, or otherwise in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, or if it be found that reasonable service is not supplied, the Commission shall have power to determine and substitute therefor such other regulations, time schedule, service, or acts and to make such orders respecting any such changes in such regulations, time schedules, service, or acts as shall be just and reasonable. The Commission shall have power to fix, determine and require such extensions, expansions, or increases in facilities or service as the Commission finds are in the furtherance of the public convenience and necessity, and the terms and conditions upon which the same shall be made: provided, that no hearing shall be had and no order shall be made with respect thereto without notice to the public utility affected thereby, as provided in section 22 of this title.
(b) In exercising its authority to prescribe just and reasonable rates, the Commission shall provide a return of not less than six (6) nor more than eight (8) percent on the net investment in the property prudently acquired for and devoted to the public use, unless the Commission makes a special finding that a different return is imperative, so as to be fair to the consumer interest, and to be fair to the investor interest by providing a return commensurate with returns in other enterprises having corresponding risks, and which will assure confidence in the financial integrity of the enterprise, so as to maintain its credit and to attract capital.
(c) In addition to the powers granted in subsection (a), the Commission shall have the power to investigate and resolve all customer disputes over billing and complaints about service, including complaints filed pursuant to the Virgin Islands Ratepayers’ Bill of Rights established in section 1a of this title, filed against any public utility, including the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority. Ratepayers must first attempt to resolve the dispute directly with the public utility. A ratepayer may present a dispute to the Public Services Commission for resolution only after the public utility and the ratepayer have failed to resolve the dispute in a manner satisfactory to the ratepayer.
(d) In addition to the powers granted in subsection (a), the Commission shall regulate all Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers operating in the Virgin Islands for the purpose of collecting 9-8-8 funds and ensuring proper oversight of surcharges imposed on customers’ bills.(1) The Commission shall require all VoIP providers to submit quarterly reports detailing the revenue collected from the 9-8-8 surcharge, including the identification of customer primary locations to ensure that residents with long-distance or non-local numbers are not evading local surcharges.(2) The Commission shall assess a fee of $1 per line for the 9-8-8 surcharge, replacing any previously established fees.(3) VoIP service providers failing to comply with these reporting requirements shall be subject to penalties as established by the PSC regulations.
(1) The Commission shall require all VoIP providers to submit quarterly reports detailing the revenue collected from the 9-8-8 surcharge, including the identification of customer primary locations to ensure that residents with long-distance or non-local numbers are not evading local surcharges.
(2) The Commission shall assess a fee of $1 per line for the 9-8-8 surcharge, replacing any previously established fees.
(3) VoIP service providers failing to comply with these reporting requirements shall be subject to penalties as established by the PSC regulations.