Chapter 196, REGULATION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

141 sections in this chapter.

141 sectionsFiltered byCh 196

Wis. Stat. § 196.218 Universal service fund
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196.218 Universal service fund. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Essential telecommunications services” means the services or functionalities listed in 47 CFR 54.101 (a). (bm) “Local exchange service” means basic local exchange service or business access line and usage serv…
Wis. Stat. § 196.219 Protection of telecommunications consumers
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196.219 Protection of telecommunications consumers. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Consumer” means any person, including a telecommunications provider, that uses the services, products or facilities provided by a telecommunications utility or the local exchange services o…
Wis. Stat. § 196.22 Discrimination forbidden
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196.22 Discrimination forbidden. No public utility may charge, demand, collect or receive more or less compensation for any service performed by it within the state, or for any service in connection therewith, than is specified in the schedules for the service filed under s. 196.…
Wis. Stat. § 196.23 Utility service for victims of misappropriated identifying information
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196.23 Utility service for victims of misappropriated identifying information. (1) If an individual uses personal identifying information of another individual, without the authorization or consent of the other individual, to apply for and receive service from a public utility an…
Wis. Stat. § 196.24 Agents of commission; powers
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196.24 Agents of commission; powers. (1) For the purpose of making any investigation with regard to any public utility the commission may appoint, by an order in writing, an agent whose duties shall be prescribed in the order. (2) In the discharge of his or her duties, an agent a…
Wis. Stat. § 196.25 Questionnaires
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196.25 Questionnaires. (1) If a public utility, other than a public utility that is a telecommunications provider, receives from the commission any questionnaire, the public utility shall respond fully, specifically and correctly to each question. If a public utility is unable to…
Wis. Stat. § 196.26 Complaint by consumers; hearing; notice; order; costs
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196.26 Complaint by consumers; hearing; notice; order; costs. (1) COMPLAINT. In this section, “complaint” means any of the following: (a) A complaint filed with the commission that any rate, toll, charge, or schedule, joint rate, regulation, measurement, act, or practice relating…
Wis. Stat. § 196.28 Summary investigations
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196.28 Summary investigations. (1) If the commission believes that any rate or charge is unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory or that any service is inadequate or cannot be obtained or that an investigation of any matter relating to any public utility should for any reason be …
Wis. Stat. § 196.30 Utilities may complain
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196.30 Utilities may complain. Any public utility may file a complaint with the commission on any matter affecting its own product or service. History: 1983 a. 53. Cross-reference: See also ch. PSC 2 and s. PSC 2.11, Wis. adm. code.
Wis. Stat. § 196.31 Intervenor financing
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196.31 Intervenor financing. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2m), in any proceeding before the commission, the commission shall compensate any participant in the proceeding who is not a public utility, for some or all of the reasonable costs of participation in the proceeding if …
Wis. Stat. § 196.315 Consumer advocate funding
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196.315 Consumer advocate funding. (1) LEGISLATIVE STATEMENT OF INTENT AND PURPOSE. It is in the public interest that there be an independent, nonpartisan consumer advocate for residential, small commercial, and small industrial energy utility customers of this state and that the…
Wis. Stat. § 196.32 Witness fees and mileage
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196.32 Witness fees and mileage. (1) Any witness who appears before the commission or its agent, by order, shall receive for the applicable attendance the fees provided for witnesses in civil cases in courts of record, which shall be audited and paid by the state in the same mann…
Wis. Stat. § 196.33 Depositions
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196.33 Depositions. The commission or any party in any investigation or hearing may cause the depositions of witnesses residing within or without the state to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in circuit courts. Any expense incurred or…
Wis. Stat. § 196.34 Commission records
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196.34 Commission records. The commission shall keep a complete record of its proceedings before the commission or its agent in any formal investigation or hearing. History: 1983 a. 53; 1995 a. 27.
Wis. Stat. § 196.36 Transcripts and tapes
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196.36 Transcripts and tapes. (1) TRANSCRIPTS. The commission shall receive into evidence a transcribed copy of the evidence and proceedings, or any specific part of the evidence and proceedings, on any investigation or hearing taken by a stenographer if the stenographer certifie…
Wis. Stat. § 196.37 Lawful rates; reasonable service
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196.37 Lawful rates; reasonable service. (1) If, after an investigation under this chapter or ch. 197, the commission finds rates, tolls, charges, schedules or joint rates to be unjust, unreasonable, insufficient or unjustly discriminatory or preferential or otherwise unreasonabl…
Wis. Stat. § 196.371 Rate-making principles for electric generation facilities
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196.371 Rate-making principles for electric generation facilities. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “certificate” means a certificate issued under s. 196.49 (3) or 196.491 (3). (2) APPLICATION. A public utility that proposes to purchase an electric generating facility or that app…
Wis. Stat. § 196.372 Financial assistance for lead-containing customer-side water service lines
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196.372 Financial assistance for lead-containing customer-side water service lines. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Customer-side water service line” means the portion of a water service line owned by a property owner. (b) “Financial assistance” means a grant, loan, or com…
Wis. Stat. § 196.373 Water heater thermostat settings
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196.373 Water heater thermostat settings. (1) In this section: (a) “Periodic customer billing” means a demand for payment of utility services by a public utility to a residential utility consumer on a monthly or other regular basis. (b) “Residential utility consumer” means any in…
Wis. Stat. § 196.374 Energy efficiency and renewable resource programs
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196.374 Energy efficiency and renewable resource programs. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Agricultural producer” means a person engaged in an agricultural activity, as defined in s. 101.10 (1) (a). (b) “Commitment to community program” means an energy efficiency or load m…
Wis. Stat. § 196.375 Adequate service; reasonable rates
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196.375 Adequate service; reasonable rates. Upon complaint by any party affected, setting forth that any grantee of a permit to develop hydraulic power and generate hydroelectric energy for sale or service to the public is not furnishing consumers of this state with adequate serv…
Wis. Stat. § 196.377 Renewable energy sources
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196.377 Renewable energy sources. (1) PROMOTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS. The commission shall encourage public utilities to develop and demonstrate electric generating technologies that utilize renewable sources of energy, including new, innovative or experimental technologie…
Wis. Stat. § 196.378 Renewable resources
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196.378 Renewable resources. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (ag) “Baseline renewable percentage” means the average of an energy provider’s renewable energy percentage for 2001, 2002, and 2003. (am) “Biomass cofired facility” means a renewable facility in which biomass and conv…
Wis. Stat. § 196.39 Change, amendment and rescission of orders; reopening cases
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196.39 Change, amendment and rescission of orders; reopening cases. (1) The commission at any time, upon notice to the public utility and after opportunity to be heard, may rescind, alter or amend any order fixing rates, tolls, charges or schedules, or any other order made by the…
Wis. Stat. § 196.395 Test, conditional, emergency and supplemental orders; order conditions
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196.395 Test, conditional, emergency and supplemental orders; order conditions. (1) The commission may issue an order calling for a test of actual results under requirements prescribed by the order, during which test period the commission may retain jurisdiction of the subject ma…
Wis. Stat. § 196.40 Orders and determinations; time of taking effect
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196.40 Orders and determinations; time of taking effect. Every order or determination of the commission shall take effect the day after the order or determination has been filed and served by personal delivery, mail, electronic mail, or any other method that the commission determ…
Wis. Stat. § 196.41 Court review
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196.41 Court review. Any order or determination of the commission may be reviewed under ch. 227. History: 1983 a. 53. Statutory guidelines set forth in s. 227.52 allow only for an administrative decision to be reviewed, which the courts have defined as a decision that is supporte…
Wis. Stat. § 196.43 Injunction procedure
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196.43 Injunction procedure. (1) No injunction may be issued in any proceeding for review under ch. 227 of an order of the commission, suspending or staying the order except upon application to the circuit court or presiding judge thereof, notice to the commission and any other p…
Wis. Stat. § 196.44 Law enforcement
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196.44 Law enforcement. (1) DUTY OF COMMISSION. The commission shall inquire into the neglect or violation of the laws of this state by public utilities, or by their officers, agents or employees or by persons operating public utilities, and shall enforce all laws relating to pub…
Wis. Stat. § 196.48 Incriminating evidence
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196.48 Incriminating evidence. No person may be excused from testifying or from producing books, accounts and papers in any proceeding based upon or growing out of any violation of chs. 195 to 197, on the ground or for the reason that the testimony or evidence may tend to incrimi…
Wis. Stat. § 196.485 Transmission system requirements
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196.485 Transmission system requirements. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Affiliated interest of a person” means any of the following: 1. Any person owning or holding directly or indirectly 5 percent or more of the voting securities of the person. 2. Any person in any chai…
Wis. Stat. § 196.487 Reliability of electric service
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196.487 Reliability of electric service. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Public utility affiliate” has the meaning given in s. 196.795 (1) (L). (b) “Transmission company” has the meaning given in s. 196.485 (1) (ge). (2) COMMISSION ORDER. If the commission determines that …
Wis. Stat. § 196.49 Authorization from commission before transacting business; extensions and improvements to be approved; enforcement of orders; natural gas
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196.49 Authorization from commission before transacting business; extensions and improvements to be approved; enforcement of orders; natural gas. (1) (am) Except as provided in s. 196.50 (1) (am), no public utility not legally engaged in performing a utility service on August 1, …
Wis. Stat. § 196.491 Strategic energy assessment; electric generating facilities and transmission lines; natural gas lines
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196.491 Strategic energy assessment; electric generating facilities and transmission lines; natural gas lines. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (am) “Affiliated interest” has the meaning given in s. 196.52 (1). (b) “Commencement of construction” means site clearing, excavation, …
Wis. Stat. § 196.494 Regional transmission planning
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196.494 Regional transmission planning. (1) In this section: (a) “Electric utility” means a public utility, other than a municipal utility, as defined in s. 196.377 (2) (a) 3., that provides retail electric service to customers in this state. (b) “Transmission facility” means any…
Wis. Stat. § 196.495 Avoidance of duplication in electric facilities
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196.495 Avoidance of duplication in electric facilities. (1) (a) In this section: 1. “Primary voltage extension” means an extension of 500 feet or more. 2. “Secondary voltage extension” means an extension that is less than 500 feet. (b) The length of an extension shall be measure…
Wis. Stat. § 196.496 Distributed generation facilities
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196.496 Distributed generation facilities. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “distributed generation facility” means a facility for the generation of electricity with a capacity of no more than 15 megawatts that is located near the point where the electricity will be used or is in…
Wis. Stat. § 196.497 State policy regarding the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste and transuranic waste
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196.497 State policy regarding the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste and transuranic waste. (1) DEFINITIONS. As used in this section unless the context requires otherwise: (b) “Federal department of energy” means the federal department of energy or any successor …
Wis. Stat. § 196.499 Regulation of telecommunications carriers
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196.499 Regulation of telecommunications carriers. (1) SCOPE. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, a telecommunications carrier is not subject to regulation under this chapter, except for s. 196.025 (6), and except under each of the following provisions: (a) A te…
Wis. Stat. § 196.50 Competing public utilities; indeterminate permits; telecommunications utility certification
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196.50 Competing public utilities; indeterminate permits; telecommunications utility certification. (1) CERTIFICATE OF NECESSITY. (a) Except as provided in par. (am), the commission may not grant any person a license, permit or franchise to own, operate, manage or control any pla…
Wis. Stat. § 196.504 Broadband expansion grant program; Broadband Forward! community certification
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196.504 Broadband expansion grant program; Broadband Forward! community certification. (1) In this section: (ab) “Economic development” has the meaning given in s. 196.796 (1) (c). (ac) “Eligible applicant” means any of the following: 1. An organization operated for profit or not…
Wis. Stat. § 196.5045 Telecommuter Forward! certification
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196.5045 Telecommuter Forward! certification. (1) In this section, “political subdivision” means a city, village, town, or county. (2) A political subdivision may apply to the commission for certification as a Telecommuter Forward! community. The commission shall prescribe the fo…
Wis. Stat. § 196.505 Construction of chapter
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196.505 Construction of chapter. (1) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to deny a foreign corporation the privilege of offering telecommunications services in this state if it has received a certificate of authority under ch. 180 and any other authorization from the commiss…
Wis. Stat. § 196.51 Prior permits and franchises validated
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196.51 Prior permits and franchises validated. Any license, permit or franchise to own, operate, manage or control any plant or equipment for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water or power in any municipality is valid and shall not be affected…
Wis. Stat. § 196.52 Relations with affiliated interests; definition; contracts with affiliates filed and subject to commission control
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196.52 Relations with affiliated interests; definition; contracts with affiliates filed and subject to commission control. (1) In this section, “person” includes but is not limited to trustees, lessees, holders of beneficial equitable interest, voluntary associations, receivers, …
Wis. Stat. § 196.525 Loans to officers or directors and loans to and investments in securities of holding companies; penalty
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196.525 Loans to officers or directors and loans to and investments in securities of holding companies; penalty. (1) Except under rules prescribed by the commission, a public utility may not lend funds or credit to any of its officers or directors by any of the following and a pu…
Wis. Stat. § 196.53 Franchise, foreign corporation not to have
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196.53 Franchise, foreign corporation not to have. No license, permit or franchise to own, operate, manage or control any plant or equipment for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water or power may be granted or transferred to a foreign corporat…
Wis. Stat. § 196.54 Indeterminate permits
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196.54 Indeterminate permits. 196.54(1)(1) Grants to be indeterminate. Every license, permit or franchise granted after July 11, 1907, to any public utility shall have the effect of an indeterminate permit subject to this chapter and ch. 197. 196.54(2)(2) Franchises made indeterm…
Wis. Stat. § 196.58 Municipality to regulate utilities; appeal
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196.58 Municipality to regulate utilities; appeal. (1g) In this section, “municipal regulation” has the meaning given in s. 182.017 (1g) (bm). (1r) The governing body of every municipality may: (a) Determine by municipal regulation the quality and character of each kind of produc…
Wis. Stat. § 196.59 Merchandising by utilities
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196.59 Merchandising by utilities. Each public utility engaged in the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light or power either directly or indirectly to or for the use of the public shall keep separate accounts to show any profit or loss resulting from the …