§ 12-73. Utilities commission; powers, jurisdiction.

(a)

There is hereby created the Polk County utilities commission consisting of the five (5) members of the board of county commissioners of Polk County, Florida. The Polk County utilities commission shall have exclusive jurisdiction over each utility with respect to its authority, service, and rates, except as otherwise provided in this article.

(b)

In the exercise of its jurisdiction, the commission shall have the power:

(1)

To prescribe fair and reasonable rates and charges, classifications, standards of quality and measurements, and service rules and regulations to be observed by each utility;

(2)

To prescribe uniform systems and classification of accounts for all utilities, which, among other things, shall establish adequate, fair, and reasonable depreciation rates and charges;

(3)

To require the filing by each utility of periodic reports and all other reasonably necessary information;

(4)

To require repairs, improvements, additions, and extensions to the plant and equipment of any utility reasonably necessary to promote the convenience and welfare of the public and secure sufficient service or facilities for those reasonably entitled thereto in the territory, except that no utility shall be required to extend its service outside its territory, or make additions to its plant or equipment to serve outside its territory unless the commission shall first enter an order based upon findings establishing the financial ability of the utility to make such additional investment without impairing its capacity to serve its existing customers and its ability to operate efficiently;

(5)

To employ and fix the compensation for such examiners and technical, legal and clerical employees as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this article;

(6)

To prescribe by resolution all rules and regulations reasonably necessary and appropriate for the administration and enforcement of this article;

(c)

The commission or its duly authorized representatives may, during all reasonable hours, enter upon any premises occupied by a utility and set up and use thereon all necessary apparatus and appliances for the purpose of making investigations, inspections, examinations, and tests and exercising any power conferred by this article. Such utility shall have the right to be notified of and be represented at the making of such investigations, inspections, examinations and tests.

(Ord. No. 82-11, § 2, 6-1-82)