Hyperlawhypertext legal databasebeta New York Telephone Co. v. Public Service Commission 29 N.Y.2d 164

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New York Telephone Co. v. Public Service Commission

29 N.Y.2d 164 Court N.Y. Decision date 1971-07-07 English

Decision Majority — Per Guriam. · Concurring — Bergan, J. (concurring).

Contents

Majority

p. 164
New York Telephone Company, Appellant, v. Public Service Commission of the State of New York et al., Respondents. In the Matter of New York Telephone Company, Appellant, v. Public Service Commission of the State of New York, Respondent, and City of New York, Intervener-Respondent.
Argued June 11, 1971;
decided July 7, 1971.
Lawrence E. Walsh, Thomas P. Griesa, Guy M. Struve, G. Wallace Bates, Edward L. Friedman and Raymond F. Scully
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for appellant.
I. The orders of the Commission were arbitrary and confiscatory. (Bluefield Co. v. Public Serv. Comm., 262 U. S. 679 ; United Rys. v. West, 280 U. S. 234 ; Prendergast v. New York Tel. Co., 262 U. S. 43 .) II. When, through no fault of the Company, rate relief has been delayed until conditions have changed so drastically that the Commission record is out of date, the Commission has a constitutional duty to consider the Company’s current operating results before fixing final rates. (Atchison, T. & S. F. Ry. Co. v. United States, 284 U. S. 248 ; Marine Transp. Lines v. United States, 173 F. Supp. 326 ; Matter of Booth & Flinn Co. v. Perkins, 238 App. Div. 724 ; Matter of Bockland Light & Power Co. v. Maltbie, 148 Misc. 22 , 241 App. Div. 122 ; People ex rel. Consolidated Water Co. v. Maltbie, 275 N. Y. 357 , 303 U. S. 158 ; Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co. v. Federal Power Comm., 236 F. 2d 606 ; West Ohio Gas Co. v. Public Utilities Comm. [No. 2], 294 U. S. 79 ; Matter of Bronx Gas & Elec. Co. v. Maltbie, 271 N. Y. 364 .) III. Section 114 of the Public Service Law required the Commission to take account of the Company’s experience under the interim rates. (Matter of Consolidated Edison Co. of N. Y. v. Maltbie, 299 N. Y. 172 ; Matter of Bronx Gas & Elec. Co. v. Maltbie, 271 N. Y. 364 ; Prendergast v. New York Tel. Co., 262 U. S. 43 ; Matter of Consolidated Edison Co. v. Maltbie, 300 N. Y. 196 , 339 U. S. 973 .) TV. Belief should be granted to the Company under CPLB article 78. (Matter of New York Tel. Co. v. Public Serv. Comm, of State of N. Y., 286 App. Div. 28 , 309 N. Y. 569 ; Matter of New Bochelle Water Co. v. Maltbie, 249 App. Div. 378 ; Matter of Brooklyn Union Gas Co. v. Maltbie, 242 App. Div. 718 , 266 N. Y. 659 ; City of New York v. New York Tel. Co., 115 Misc. 262 , 202 App. Div. 796 , 236 N. Y. 615 .) V. Unless adequate interim relief could be granted under article 78, Special Term, as a court of equity, had the duty under the Constitution to grant interim injunctive relief against confiscation. (Staten Is. Edison Corp. v. Maltbie, 296 N. Y. 374 ; Ohio Val. Co. v. Ben Avon Borough, 253 U. S. 287 ; Smith v. Illinois Bell Tel. Co., 270 U. S. 587 ; Banton v. Belt Line Ry., 268 U. S. 413 ; Pacific Tel. Co. v. Kuykendall, 265 U. S. 196 ; American Trucking Assns. v. United States, 344 U. S. 298 .) VI. The Company established its right to interim relief. (Matter of Bockland Light Power Co. v. Maltbie, 148
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Misc. 22 , 241 App. Div. 122 ; Prendergast v. New York Tel. Co., 262 U. S. 43 ; Matter of Long Is. Light. Co. v. Maltbie, 160 Misc. 165 .)
Charles R. Gibson, George H. Kenny and Joel Yohalem for Public Service Commission, respondent.
I. New York Telephone is seeking to obtain a rate increase prior to an evaluation of the purported justification therefor. (People ex rel. Consolidated Water Co. v. Maltbie, 275 N. Y. 357 , 303 U. S. 158 ; Federal Power Comm. v. Tennessee Gas Co., 371 U. S. 145 ; Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co. v. Federal Power Comm., 236 P. 2d 606 .) II. The Commission’s decision not to reopen the record was reasonable and an appropriate exercise of discretion. (Interstate Commerce Comm. v. Jersey City, 322 U. S. 503 ; United States v. Pierce Auto Lines, 327 U. S. 515 ; Northern Lines Merger Cases, 396 U. S. 491 ; People ex rel. Consolidated Water Co. v. Maltbie, 275 N. Y. 357 ; Alaska S. S. Co. v. Federal Mar. Comm., 356 F. 2d 59 ; Atchison, T. & S. F. Ry. Co. v. United States, 284 U. S. 248 ; West Ohio Gas Co. v. Public Utilities Comm. [No. 2], 294 U. S. 79 .) III. A utility has no constitutional right to obtain a rate increase merely because it asserts that its existing rates are too low or “ confiscatory ”, (United Gas Co. v. Gallery Props., 382 U. S. 223 ; Hope Natural Gas Co. v. Federal Power Comm., 196 F. 2d 803 , 197 F. 2d 522 ; American T. & T. Co. v. United States, 299 U. S. 232 ; Power Comm. v. East Ohio Gas Co., 338 U. S. 464 .) IV. Judicial review of Commission orders should be confined to review proceedings under CPLR article 78. (Staten Is. Edison Corp. v. Maltbie, 296 N. Y. 374 ; Ohio Val. Co. v. Ben Avon Borough, 253 U. S. 287 ; Permiam Basin Area Rate Cases, 390 U. S. 747 ; Mount St. Mary’s Hosp. of Niagara Falls v. Catherwood, 26 N Y 2d 493 ; Alabama Comm. v. Southern Ry. Co., 341 U. S. 341 ; Baltimore & O. R. R. Co. v. United States, 105 F. Supp. 631 , 345 U. S. 146 ; American Trucking Assns. v. United States, 344 U. S. 298 .) V. The rate of return computations relied upon by the Company have no presumptive validity. VI. The decision not to reopen in no way violates section 114 of the Public Service Law. (Prendergast v. New York Tel. Co., 262 U. S. 43 ; Matter of Bronx Gas and Elec. Co. v. Maltbie, 271 N. Y. 364 .)
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J. Lee Rankin, Corporation Counsel (Francis 1. Howley, Stanley Buchsbaum, Eugene Margolis, Vivian P. McGowan and Nina Goldstein of counsel), for The City of New York, respondent.
I. In the absence of a constitutional requirement for a de novo hearing by a trial court, there is no basis for plenary injunctive relief. Therefore the Appellate Division’s reversal of the Special Term order granting an injunction should be affirmed. Even if the Company is successful on the merits of its article 78 proceeding, injunctive relief under article 78 should be limited to preservation of the status quo pending the results of a remand to the Commission. At most this would allow the Company to continue to collect the interim rate increase of $136 million, subject to refund. (Staten Is. Edison Corp. v. Maltbie, 296 N. Y. 374 ; Ohio Val. Co. v. Ben Avon Borough, 253 U. S. 287 ; Mount St. Mary’s Hosp. of Niagara Falls v. Catherwood, 26 N Y 2d 493 ; Alabama Comm. v. Southern Ry. Co., 341 U. S. 341 ; Preston County Light & Power Co. v. Public Serv. Comm. of W. Va., 297 F. Supp. 759 ; Baltimore & O. R. R. Co. v. United States, 105 F. Supp. 631 ; 345 U. S. 146 ; State Corp. Comm, of Kan. v. Federal Power Comm., 206 F. 2d 690 , 346 U. S. 922 ; Safe Harbor Water Power Corp. v. Federal Power Comm., 179 F. 2d 179 , 339 U. S. 957 ; Pennsylvania Water & Power Co. v. Federal Power Comm., 193 F. 2d 230 , 343 U. S. 414 ; New York, N. H. & H. R. R. Co., First Mtge. 4% Bondholders’ Comm. v. United States, 289 F. Supp. 418 .) II. The Commission’s determination was not arbitrary. III. The Commission properly exercised its discretion in denying the reopening of the record. (Atchison, T. & S. F. Ry. Co. v. United States, 284 U. S. 248 ; United States v. Northern Pacific Ry., 288 U. S. 490 ; Interstate Commerce Comm. v. Jersey City, 322 U. S. 503 ; United States v. Pierce Auto Lines, 327 U. S. 515 .)
Louis J. Lefkowitz, Attorney General (Daniel M. Cohen of . counsel), amicus curiae and in his statutory capacity under section 71 of the Executive Law.
I. The temporary equitable relief, which was granted to the Telephone Company in disregard of the public interest and despite the Company’s failure to fulfill its obligations to furnish adequate telephone service, should be vacated. Review of the Company’s proposed rates should be
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relegated to the article 78 proceeding which this court has before it. (Staten Is. Edison Corp. v. Maltbie, 296 N. Y. 374 ; Mount St. Mary’s Mosp. of Niagara Falls v. Gatherwood, 26 N Y 2d 493 ; Alabama Comm. v. Southern Ry. Co., 341 U. S. 341 ; New York, N. H. & H. R. R. Co., First Mtge. 4% Bondholders’ Gomm. v. United States, 289 F. Supp. 418 ; Baltimore & O. R. R. Co. v. United States, 105 F. Supp. 631 , 345 U. S. 146 ; Prendergast v. New York Tel. Co., 262 U. S. 43 .) II. It is demonstrated by the record in the article 78 proceeding that the rates fixed by the Public Service Commission in its order of September 1, 1970, increasing the Company’s revenues by $120.8 million annually were grossly excessive and should not be further increased. If any aspect of the Commission’s action was arbitrary, as the Company contends, it was arbitrary in respect of granting increases in rates in the face of the undisputed fact that the Company had failed to render adequate service to many of its customers throughout the State. Those failures militate against any further increase in rates until the Company demonstrates that it is furnishing adequate service throughout its franchise area, in all parts of the State in which its franchise authorizes it to operate.

The New York Telephone Company (Company) filed for a rate increase in the amount of $175,000,000 annually on March 20, 1969. The Public Service Commission (Commission) suspended this increase for 10 months. On February 24, 1970 it fixed an interim increase of $136,000,000. In an order of July 1,1970 the Commission reduced the increase to $105,000,000. It fixed final rates to increase revenues $120,797,000 annually.

The Commission ordered refunds. On July 1, 1971 the Commission issued an opinion and order granting another temporary rate increase in the amount of $190,000,000. Accordingly, the issue of prospective interim relief in this proceeding probably has become moot. The remaining issue is whether the Company should be compelled to make refunds of part of the interim rates for the period March, 1970-June 30, 1971.

In this case the year 1968 was selected as a test period. Based on the test year a return of 8.89% before attrition was anticipated if the entire increase were allowed. The Commission determined that a 7.875% rate of return would be reasonable. According to the Company’s figures, the actual 1969 and first

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three months’ experience of 1970 under the interim increase yielded a significantly lower return than that deemed reasonable by the Commission and, indeed, lower than that which the Company was earning prior to the application. The Company therefore filed petitions to reopen the hearings before the final order was made and again after it was made. It offered the actual experience for the Commission’s consideration. Both petitions were denied by a vote of three to two.

The majority of the Commission does not deny confiscation, but was of the opinion that the Company could by way of a new rate proceeding secure whatever relief it believes it can justify under the changed conditions. The dissenting Commissioners pointed out that the evidence was clear that there was a present confiscation of the Company property and it was no answer to invite the Company to file new rates which would again be subject to suspension, during which period the Company would be accorded the privilege of continuing its operations under the alleged confiscatory rates.

A suit in equity and an article 78 proceeding to review the Commission’s determination were commenced simultaneously. The Supreme Court decided in favor of the Company and the Appellate Division reversed. The Company argues that the refusal to reopen the hearing was arbitrary and that the limitation to the test year figures result in an unconstitutional confiscation of its property.

Inasmuch as we find that the order of refunds based on only out-of-date evidence and the refusal to reopen the hearing were arbitrary (CPLR 7803, subd. 3) and that, consequently, the proceeding must be remanded to the Commission, we do not pass on any of the substantive questions presented.

The law is well-settled that the Commission may not rely on a reckoning when actual experience is available and establishes that the predictions have been substantially incorrect. (West Ohio Gas Co. v. Public Utilities Comm. [No. 2], 294 U. S. 79 , 82.) In Lindheimer v. Illinois Bell Tel. Co. ( 292 U. S. 151 , 164) the court said, ‘ ‘ Elaborate calculations which are at war with realities are of no avail ’ ’. This principle applies not only in cases where the rate proceeding fixes the rate but especially where the Commission directs refunds. (West Ohio Gas Co. v. Public Utilities Comm. [No. 2], sufra). There the court said

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(p. 82): “ To prefer the forecast to the survey is an arbitrary judgment.” In a recent case, Boston Gas Co. v. Department of Public Utilities ( 269 N. E. 2d 248 [Mass., 1971]) the court held that the Commission must consider evidence of attrition which has actually occurred since the test period. The Massachusetts case rationale is not new. Commissions are bound to take into account drastic changes in economic circumstances. (See Atchison, T. & S. F. Ry. Co. v. United States, 284 U. S. 248 .) This court made this clear in People ex rel. Consolidated Water Co. v. Maltbie ( 275 N. Y. 357 , 367-368, app. dsmd. 303 U. S. 158 ) in this statement: “If the opinion or prophecy of the expert witnesses given in May, 1932, was proven wrong by events occurring during the interval, the Commission could, of course, not base any finding upon the discredited opinion. If the Commission was bound to take judicial notice of such events, its decision must be based upon them rather than upon the discredited prophecy. If proof of such events was necessary, it might be offered by the party who challenged the opinion. In any case the party who attacks the correctness of the decision must show that intervening events have destroyed the force of opinion testimony upon which the decision is based.”

Where there is a great disparity between the predicted rate of return found necessary by the Commission and the return actually earned, a suitable adjustment should be made to reflect the attrition trend or the erosion that has taken place. In Matter of Bronx Gas & Elec. Co. v. Maltbie ( 27 N. Y. 364 , 375) the court said: “ ‘ Experience ’—how much better this is than expert testimony, whether dealing in history or prophecy.”

Turning to the suggestion made by the Commission that the Company is restricted to the initiation of a new rate proceeding, it is only necessary to point to the comment made by Justice Cardozo in West Ohio Gas Co. v. Public Utilities Comm. (No. 2) (supra, p. 83): “ Present confiscation is not atoned for by merely holding out the hope of a better life to come ”.

The limited reopening of the Commission hearing for the purpose of receiving and testing the facts regarding the three-month 1970 results would only require minimal investigation. The speculation of the Appellate Division that the limited period might lead to possible distortion has been disproven by the full

Concurrence

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1970 results, and the results of the first five months of 1971. These results are representative of the immediate past and will be of the future.

There is no danger of irreparable harm to the subscribers as the excess of the interim rates over that authorized by the Commission after remand would be refunded with 7% interest. Thus, the Company’s customers would suffer no injury if the stay is granted and if the Commission should ultimately prevail.

The Company’s offer to show facts which would establish and conclusively prove that circumstances had drastically changed since the 1968 test period must be accepted, as to “ shut one’s eyes to them altogether, to exclude them from the reckoning is * * * arbitrary action ”. (West Ohio Gas Co. v. Public Utilities Comm. [No. 2], supra, pp. 81-82.)

The 7.875% rate of return purportedly granted by the Commission after a nine-month delay from the date the hearings were closed is based on a stale experience and predictions established to be grossly incorrect, as the realities of climbing inflation and of the necessary enormous plant expansion with concurrent increase in expenses for a large number of additional new personnel who require training, has driven up costs far beyond the 1968 experience. The inquiry is to ascertain the real return, not a so-called return.

An attempt to give prediction first place and experience the second is barred whether the attempt is made by the utility or the officers of government prescribing rates. In either case, the subscribers, and, in this State, the City of New York as well as the Company, must be given a full hearing. Under the unusual circumstances of this known experience in this case, to compel the Company to accept the substantially inaccurate determination of the Commission is to deny it due process.

Accordingly the order of the Appellate Division should be modified by reversing so much thereof as confirmed the determination of the Commission and dismissed the article 78 proceeding and the matter should be remanded to the Commission to reopen the hearing, and the payment of refunds is stayed pending the determination of the Commission.

In a letter addressed to the court, attorneys for petitioner Telephone Company concede that by order of July 1, 1971 the Commission granted the Company a

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temporary rate increase of $190 million greatly exceeding the $175 million originally sought in this proceeding. Since the order answers the main problem posed on appeal as to the rate collected after July 1, 1971, the residual issue is the validity of the order fixing rates between March, 1970 to June 30,1971.

As to these the refusal of the Commission to reopen the proceeding to consider actual 1970 operating experience of the Company in arriving at a proper rate is arbitrary. The reopening of a rate proceeding lies heavily in the discretion of the administrative agency; but here there has been a sufficient demonstration of unpredictable and rapidly spiraling costs in 1970 to require a consideration of the proof tendered.

The weight to be given this proposed proof, of course, lies with the Commission in determining a proper rate applicable to the March, 1970^June, 1971 period. This determination, in turn, will be decisive of the need, if any, for the Company to make refunds resulting from application of the now displaced permanent rate.

Judges Burke, Scileppi, Breitel, Jasen and Gibson concur in Per Curiam opinion; Judge Bergan concurs in result in a separate opinion in which Chief Judge Fuld concurs; Judges Scileppi and Gibson also concur in opinion by Judge Bergan.

Order modified, without costs, in accordance with the opinion herein and, as so modified, affirmed.

Cases cited

Statutes and regulations cited