{
  "id": 8525388,
  "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, ex rel. UTILITIES COMMISSION; DUKE POWER COMPANY (Applicant); NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP; NORTH CAROLINA TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION; PEOPLES ALLIANCE; and PUBLIC STAFF, NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION v. CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF NORTH CAROLINA; GREAT LAKES CARBON CORPORATION; and KUDZU ALLIANCE",
  "name_abbreviation": "State ex rel. Utilities Commission v. Conservation Council of North Carolina",
  "decision_date": "1984-02-07",
  "docket_number": "No. 8210UC854",
  "first_page": "456",
  "last_page": "458",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "66 N.C. App. 456"
    }
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  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.",
    "id": 14983,
    "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals"
  },
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    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
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      "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 62433",
      "category": "laws:leg_statute",
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      "year": 1979,
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      "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 62-133",
      "category": "laws:leg_statute",
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      "year": 1982,
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    {
      "cite": "306 S.E. 2d 113",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
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      "year": 1983,
      "pin_cites": [
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    {
      "cite": "309 N.C. 238",
      "category": "reporters:state",
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    {
      "cite": "307 S.E. 2d 375",
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      "pin_cites": [
        {
          "page": "380"
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    {
      "cite": "64 N.C. App. 266",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        8526639
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          "page": "273"
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:15:19.573584+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "Chief Judge VAUGHN concurs in part and dissents in part.",
      "Judge Braswell concurs."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, ex rel. UTILITIES COMMISSION; DUKE POWER COMPANY (Applicant); NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP; NORTH CAROLINA TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION; PEOPLES ALLIANCE; and PUBLIC STAFF, NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION v. CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF NORTH CAROLINA; GREAT LAKES CARBON CORPORATION; and KUDZU ALLIANCE"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "BECTON, Judge.\nThe opinion in this case was filed on 4 October 1983, and is reported in 64 N.C. App. 266, 307 S.E. 2d 375. In apt time, intervenor-appellants, Great Lakes Carbon Corporation and Kudzu Alliance, filed a petition to rehear. The petition was allowed solely for the purposes of (1) noting that our cite to State ex rel. Utilities Comm\u2019n v. N. C. Textile Mfrs. Ass\u2019n, appearing in 64 N.C. App. at 273, 307 S.E. 2d at 380, is incomplete (added to the citation should be the following: \u201crev\u2019d. on other grounds, 309 N.C. 238, 306 S.E. 2d 113 (1983)\u201d); and (2) clarifying our opinion by substituting the following for all of Part V of the opinion filed heretofore:\nV\nAppellants contend the Commission failed to ascertain Duke\u2019s reasonable operating expenses as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 62-133(b)(3) (1982) when it determined the base fuel cost from a fuel cost previously set in an expedited fuel cost adjustment proceeding pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 62434(e) (Supp. 1979) (repealed 1982). Finding of Fact Number 16 indicates the Commission in the present general rate case established a base fuel cost of 1.3093<i per kWh by taking the 1.4660^ per kWh cost set in a recent G.S. \u00a7 62434(e) proceeding and reducing it by .1567<i per kWh for fuel savings related to operation of McGuire Unit One. From the \u201cEvidence and Conclusions for Finding of Fact No. 16\u201d it appears that a Public Staff witness recommended a base fuel cost of 1.1944<\u00bf per kWh, calculated from the cost set in an earlier G.S. \u00a7 62434(e) proceeding less the fuel savings due to McGuire. The only difference between the Public Staff recommendation and the Commission\u2019s finding is that the Commission used a fuel cost from a more recent G.S. \u00a7 62434(e) proceeding.\nThe G.S. \u00a7 62434(e) proceeding was intended to allow a utility to frequently change its rates based solely on fluctuations in fuel costs. State ex rel. Utilities Comm\u2019n v. Public Staff, 309 N.C. 195, \u2014 S.E. 2d \u2014 (filed 7 September 1983). The reasonableness of a utility\u2019s fuel costs may not be considered in a G.S. \u00a7 62434(e) proceeding. Id. Indeed, \u201c[t]he words of G.S. \u00a7 62434(e) make it clear that only changes in rates based solely upon the increased cost of fuel are to be considered.\u201d Id. at \u2014, \u2014 S.E. 2d at \u2014. In contrast, the N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 62433(b)(3) (1982) requirement that the Commission ascertain \u201creasonable operating expenses\u201d has been interpreted to mean the reasonableness of fuel costs must be considered in general rate cases. Id.\nAnd the difference in the two statutes makes sense. The general rate hearing \u2014 not the expedited fuel adjustment proceeding \u2014 is the proper forum for considering the \u201cmyriad factors\u201d that relate to the fuel component of rates. N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 62433(c) (1982) establishes a 12-month test period for general rate cases. Under G.S. \u00a7 62434(e), only 4 months of data is required. Consequently, our Supreme Court, in a per curiam opinion, recently reversed this Court\u2019s decision in State ex rel. Utilities Comm\u2019n v. N. C. Textile Mfrs. Ass\u2019n, 309 N.C. 238, 306 S.E. 2d 113 (1983), and held that because the reasonableness of rates cannot be determined in an expedited hearing, the Commission cannot \u201cadopt\u201d the 4-month expedited hearing figures in a general rate case. Id. at \u2014, 306 S.E. 2d at 114.\nIt is true that the hearing transcript contains some testimony concerning the reasonableness of costs incurred by Duke for fuel over a 12-month period. However, there is no indication from the Order of the Commission, that the Commission ever ruled upon the \u201creasonableness\u201d of fuel costs. Indeed, the Commission, without giving any reasons, seemed to have ignored the historical data and to have adopted higher costs determined as a result of the expedited fuel adjustment hearing. These factors compel us to remand this matter to the Commission for a determination whether the current record contains sufficient evidence of \u201creasonableness\u201d to provide a basis for new findings on \u201cthe proper level of fuel expenses to be included in [Duke\u2019s] rates and charges.\u201d Id. If the Commission is unable to determine reasonable future fuel costs from actual past costs over a 12-month period, adjusted for abnormalities and considering cost changes occurring up to the time of the hearing, then the Commission may reopen the hearing and take evidence on the reasonableness of Duke\u2019s fuel costs over the 12-month period.\nAs we indicated in the opinion heretofore filed on 4 October 1983, \u201c[ajbsence of proper findings is an error of law and basis for remand under G.S. \u00a7 62-94(b)(4) because it frustrates appellate review.\u201d Except as herein modified, we adhere to the opinion heretofore filed, noting Chief Judge Vaughn\u2019s continuing dissent.\nAffirmed in part and remanded in part.\nChief Judge VAUGHN concurs in part and dissents in part.\nJudge Braswell concurs.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "BECTON, Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Kennedy, Covington, Lobdell & Hickman, by Clarence W. Walker and Stephen K. Rhyne, and Steve C. Griffith, Jr., George W. Ferguson, Jr., and William L. Porter for applicant-appellee Duke Power Company.",
      "Daniel V. Besse for intervenor-appellant Conservation Council of North Carolina.",
      "Byrd, Byrd, Ervin, Blanton, Whisnant & McMahon, P.A., by Robert B. Byrd and Sam J. Ervin, IV, for intervenor-appellant Great Lakes Carbon Corporation.",
      "Edelstein and Payne, by M. Travis Payne, for intervenor-ap-pellant Kudzu Alliance."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, ex rel. UTILITIES COMMISSION; DUKE POWER COMPANY (Applicant); NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP; NORTH CAROLINA TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION; PEOPLES ALLIANCE; and PUBLIC STAFF, NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION v. CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF NORTH CAROLINA; GREAT LAKES CARBON CORPORATION; and KUDZU ALLIANCE\nNo. 8210UC854\n(Filed 7 February 1984)\nElectricity \u00a7 3; Utilities Commission \u00a7 38\u2014 general rate case \u2014 use of fuel costs set in expedited proceeding\nThe Utilities Commission erred in determining the base fuel cost of an electric utility in a general rate case by using the fuel cost previously set in an expedited fuel cost adjustment proceeding under G.S. 62434(e) without determining the reasonable level of fuel costs for the test period.\nChief Judge Vaughn concurs in part and dissents in part.\nOn rehearing.\nKennedy, Covington, Lobdell & Hickman, by Clarence W. Walker and Stephen K. Rhyne, and Steve C. Griffith, Jr., George W. Ferguson, Jr., and William L. Porter for applicant-appellee Duke Power Company.\nDaniel V. Besse for intervenor-appellant Conservation Council of North Carolina.\nByrd, Byrd, Ervin, Blanton, Whisnant & McMahon, P.A., by Robert B. Byrd and Sam J. Ervin, IV, for intervenor-appellant Great Lakes Carbon Corporation.\nEdelstein and Payne, by M. Travis Payne, for intervenor-ap-pellant Kudzu Alliance."
  },
  "file_name": "0456-01",
  "first_page_order": 488,
  "last_page_order": 490
}