(a)  The commission shall have the powers of a court of record in the determination and adjudication of all matters over which it is given jurisdiction. It may make orders and render judgments and enforce the same by any suitable process issuable by the superior court. The commission shall have an official seal, which shall have engraved thereon the words: “State of Rhode Island. Public Utilities Commission Seal.”

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 39-1-7

  • Commission: means the public utilities commission. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-1-2
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • seal: shall be construed to include an impression of the seal made with or without the use of wax or wafer on the paper. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-15

(b)  The commission shall have the power to do a complete audit of the books of all public utilities doing business in this state. The audit shall consider the cost of energy acquisition and all other aspects that the commission deems necessary.

History of Section.
P.L. 1912, ch. 795, § 7; G.L. 1923, ch. 253, § 7; G.L. 1938, ch. 122, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 39-1-4; G.L. 1956, § 39-1-7; P.L. 1969, ch. 240, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 102, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 316, § 1.