of the opinion that the tentative valuation is incorrect, it shall make such changes as shall make the same a fair valuation of such property and shall issue an order to make such corrected valuation final. All final valuations by the Commission shall be prima facie evidence of the Prima Facie value of said property in proceedings had in pursuance of this Act. Where a reduction of the fare of a suburban railway company would jeopardize the interest on its bonds the Commission will require a clear case before taking any action since it might tend to "disturb the value of any bonds of any said corporations issued prior to the passage of this Act." Gillette et al. vs. United Railways Company, 1 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 227, 231. There is nothing in the proviso, prohibiting the disturbance of the value of bonds issued prior to the passage of this Act, to restrict it to any particular kind of value or to any ingredient of value. By value is meant every substantial attribute of a bond either as respects principal or interest which makes it a thing of value to its owner. Opinions General Counsel, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 471. Evidence of Ibid. Sec. 443. of Act to Gas and Electricity. SEC. 31. And be it further enacted, That this Act Applicability shall apply to the manufacture and furnishing of gas for light, heat or power, and the furnishing of natural gas for light, heat or power, and the generation, furnishing and transmission of electricity for light, heat or power. Municipalities, even should they exercise lighting functions, are not public service corporations within the scope of the Public Service Commission Law. Opinions General Counsel, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 448; 2 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 492. Gas and Electric Corporations. quate Ser vice. SAFE AND ADEQUATE SERVICE: JUST AND REASONABLE ABLE PREFERENCE. Ibid. Sec. 444. SEC. 312. Every gas corporation and every electrical corporation shall furnish and provide such service, instrumentalities and facilities as shall be reasonably safe and adequate and in all respects just and reasonable. Safe and Ade- All charges made or demanded by any such gas corporation and electrical corporation for gas, electricity or any service rendered or to be rendered, shall be just and reasonable and not more than allowed by law and by order of the Commission; and all Acts or parts of Acts heretofore passed and now existing, prescribing or limitPrice ing the price at which any gas corporation or electrical Reasonable Existing as to Repealed. corporation, or any other corporation subject to this Act, may furnish, sell or dispose of its gas or electricity or other product or utility are hereby repealed, it being the intent of this Act that the powers of the Commission herein created to ascertain the price of such gas or electricty or other product of utility as provided for herein, shall supersede all such Acts or parts of Acts aforesaid. Unreasonable Every unjust or unreasonable charge made or demanded for gas, electricity or other such service, or in connection therewith, or in excess of that allowed by law or by the order of the Commission, is prohibited. Charges Prohibited. Special Rates, No gas corporation or electrical corporation shall and Draw directly or indirectly, by any special rate, rebate, drawback or other device or method, charge, demand, collect or receive from any person or corporation a greater or backs Prohibited. less compensation for gas or electricity, or for any service rendered, or to be rendered or in connection therewith, except as authorized in this Act, than it charges, demands, collects or receives from any other person or corporation for doing a like and contemporaneous service with respect thereto, under the same or substantially similar circumstances or conditions. Preferences and Prejudices Prohibited. No gas corporation or electrical corporation shall make Unreasonable or grant undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any person, corporation or locality, or to any particular description of service in any respect whatsoever, or subject any particular person, corporation or locality or any particular description of service to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage in any respect what soever. of Charges Permitted. Nothing in this chapter shall be taken to prohibit a gas sliding Scale or electrical corporation from establishing a sliding scale for the automatic adjustment of charges for gas, electricity or any service rendered, or to be rendered, and the dividends to be paid to stockholders of such gas corporation or electrical corporation, provided that the sliding scale shall have been filed with the proper Commission; but nothing in this subdivision shall operate to prevent the Commission from fixing proper, just and reasonable rates and charges to be made for service, as authorized in this article. SERVICE. A gas or electric company is under no obligation to supply a new district or a new territory. Opinions General Counsel, 2 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 505. A gas company is not bound to furnish gas to an applicant except under reasonable conditions. Opinions General Counsel, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 473. CHARGES. The Commission has no power to fix a minimum rate, but it has the power to fix a maximum rate. Opinions General Counsel, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 420. A rate of one dollar and a half per thousand cubic feet of gas held not excessive owing to the small earnings of the company. Mount Rainier et al. vs. Hyattsville Gas & Electric Company, 2 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 308. The language of this section is broad enough to repeal any special rate allowed by law to any public service corporation whether allowed by the charter of the corporation (unless done so unconditionally before the adoption of the Constitution of 1851) or by a local law. Willard vs. Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 147; Opinions General Counsel, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 439. But until the Commission does regulate the charge any Act or Acts in force respecting rates should remain unimpaired. Gregg et al. vs. Laird et al., Daily Record, May 2, 1913. Where a gas company has contracted to serve gas to a community at a certain price, the mere filing of a rate with the commission is ineffective to modify this pre-existing contract. Opinions General Counsel, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 473. It is not lawful for a gas company to charge less for gas furnished a hospital than to an ordinary patron. Section 16 of the Act authorizing free transportation in certain cases is not applicable to gas and electric companies. Opinions General Counsel, 2 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 460. A gas company cannot lawfully furnish gas to its employees at rates below those charged to other consumers. Opinions General Counsel, 2 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 486. It is no objection that a gas and electric company by low prices and time extensions in payment of bills is driving small concerns out of the business and creating a monopoly. The public has the benefit of low prices and the Commission will protect the public against any improper burdens. Baltimore Electric Supply Company, et al. vs. Consolidated Gas, etc., Company, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 128. A requirement by a gas company of a deposit by an applicant for gas of 70 cents per foot for installation of each front foot of main in excess of 100 feet, necessitated by such application, is reasonable under the circumstances. Cityco Realty Co. vs. Consolidated Gas, etc., Company, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 208; Approved Evergreen Lawn, etc., Company vs. Consolidated Gas, etc., Company, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 216. DISCRIMINATION. A complaint, alleging that a gas and electric company is making charges which are grossly unfair and discriminatory as between the section of Baltimore County in which the complainant is carrying on a similar business and the sections of the county in which the complainant is not carrying on its business is one of which the Commission has cognizance. Opinions General Counsel, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 420; Patapsco Electric, etc., Company vs. Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power Company, 3 Pub. Serv. Comm. Reps. 132. Ibid. Sec. 445. pervison SEC. 314. The Commission shall have the general General Susupervision of all persons and gas corporations and electrical corporations and corporations 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 fixtures in, over or under the streets, highways and public places of any municipality, for the purpose of furnishing or distributing gas, both natural and artificial, or of furnishing or transmitting electricity for light, heat or power, or maintaining underground conduits or ducts for electrical conductors. Gas. Investigate and ascertain, from time to time, the quality Qualty of of gas supplied by persons and corporations, examine |