§ 62-73. Complaints against public utilities. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 62‑73. Complaints against public utilities.

Complaints may be made by the Commission on its own motion or by anyperson having an interest, either direct or as a representative of any personshaving a direct interest in the subject matter of such complaint by petition orcomplaint in writing setting forth any act or thing done or omitted to be doneby any public utility, including any rule, regulation or rate heretoforeestablished or fixed by or for any public utility in violation of any provisionof law or of any order or rule of the Commission, or that any rate, service,classification, rule, regulation or practice is unjust and unreasonable. Upongood cause shown and in compliance with the rules of the Commission, theCommission shall also allow any such person authorized to file a complaint, tointervene in any pending proceeding. The Commission, by rule, may prescribe theform of complaints filed under this section, and may in its discretion ordertwo or more complaints dealing with the same subject matter to be joined in onehearing. Unless the Commission shall determine, upon consideration of thecomplaint or otherwise, and after notice to the complainant and opportunity tobe heard, that no reasonable ground exists for an investigation of such complaint,the Commission shall fix a time and place for hearing, after reasonable noticeto the complainant and the utility complained of, which notice shall be notless than 10 days before the time set for such hearing. (1949, c. 989, s. 1; 1963, c. 1165, s. 1.)