1756-1768

PUBLIC UTILITIES CODE
SECTION 1756-1768




1756.  (a) Within 30 days after the commission issues its decision
denying the application for a rehearing, or, if the application was
granted, then within 30 days after the commission issues its decision
on rehearing, or at least 120 days after the application is granted
if no decision on rehearing has been issued, any aggrieved party may
petition for a writ of review in the court of appeal or the Supreme
Court for the purpose of having the lawfulness of the original order
or decision or of the order or decision on rehearing inquired into
and determined. If the writ issues, it shall be made returnable at a
time and place specified by court order and shall direct the
commission to certify its record in the case to the court within the
time specified.
   (b) The petition for review shall be served upon the executive
director and the general counsel of the commission either personally
or by service at the office of the commission.
   (c) For purposes of this section, the issuance of a decision or
the granting of an application shall be construed to have occurred on
the date of issuance, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b)
of Section 1731.
   (d) The venue of a petition filed in the court of appeal pursuant
to this section shall be in the judicial district in which the
petitioner resides. If the petitioner is a business, venue shall be
in the judicial district in which the petitioner has its principal
place of business in California.
   (e) Any party may seek from the Supreme Court, pursuant to
California Rules of Court, an order transferring related actions to a
single appellate district.
   (f) For purposes of this section, review of decisions pertaining
solely to water corporations shall only be by petition for writ of
review in the Supreme Court, except that review of complaint or
enforcement proceedings may be in the court of appeal or the Supreme
Court.
   (g) No order or decision arising out of a commission proceeding
under Section 854 shall be reviewable in the court of appeal pursuant
to subdivision (a) if the application for commission authority to
complete the merger or acquisition was filed on or before December
31, 1998, by two telecommunications-related corporations including at
least one which provides local telecommunications service to over
one million California customers. These orders or decisions shall be
reviewed pursuant to the Public Utilities Code in existence on
December 31, 1998.


1756.2.  In any proceeding reviewing an order or decision of the
commission in the Supreme Court or court of appeal, the commission
may appear and be heard as a party.



1757.  (a) No new or additional evidence shall be introduced upon
review by the court. In a complaint or enforcement proceeding, or in
a ratemaking or licensing decision of specific application that is
addressed to particular parties, the review by the court shall not
extend further than to determine, on the basis of the entire record
which shall be certified by the commission, whether any of the
following occurred:
   (1) The commission acted without, or in excess of, its powers or
jurisdiction.
   (2) The commission has not proceeded in the manner required by
law.
   (3) The decision of the commission is not supported by the
findings.
   (4) The findings in the decision of the commission are not
supported by substantial evidence in light of the whole record.
   (5) The order or decision of the commission was procured by fraud
or was an abuse of discretion.
   (6) The order or decision of the commission violates any right of
the petitioner under the Constitution of the United States or the
California Constitution.
   (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the court
to hold a trial de novo, to take evidence other than as specified by
the California Rules of Court, or to exercise its independent
judgment on the evidence.
   (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the standard of review in
this section shall not apply to ratemaking or licensing decisions of
specific application addressed solely to water corporations.




1757.1.  (a) In any proceeding other than a proceeding subject to
the standard of review under Section 1757, review by the court shall
not extend further than to determine, on the basis of the entire
record which shall be certified by the commission, whether any of the
following occurred:
   (1) The order or decision of the commission was an abuse of
discretion.
   (2) The commission has not proceeded in the manner required by
law.
   (3) The commission acted without, or in excess of, its powers or
jurisdiction.
   (4) The decision of the commission is not supported by the
findings.
   (5) The order or decision was procured by fraud.
   (6) The order or decision of the commission violates any right of
the petitioner under the Constitution of the United States or the
California Constitution.
   (b) In reviewing decisions pertaining solely to water
corporations, the review shall not be extended further than to
determine whether the commission has regularly pursued its authority,
including a determination whether the order or decision under review
violates any right of the petitioner under the Constitution of the
United States or this state.
   (c) No new or additional evidence shall be introduced upon review
by the court. The findings and conclusions of the commission on
findings of fact shall be final and shall not be subject to review
except as provided in this article. The questions of fact shall
include ultimate facts and findings and conclusions of the commission
on reasonableness and discrimination.



1758.  (a) The commission and each party to the action or proceeding
before the commission may appear in the review proceeding.
   Upon the hearing the Supreme Court or court of appeal shall enter
judgment either affirming or setting aside the order or decision of
the commission.
   (b) The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure relating to
writs of review shall, so far as applicable and not in conflict with
this part, apply to proceedings instituted in the Supreme Court or
court of appeal under this article.
   (c) Under this article, the Supreme Court may review decisions of
the court of appeal in the manner provided for other civil actions.
   (d) The Supreme Court shall grant expedited consideration to any
party or commission petition alleging that the court of appeal has
assumed jurisdiction to review a commission decision pertaining
solely to water corporations over which the court of appeal has no
jurisdiction.


1759.  (a) No court of this state, except the Supreme Court and the
court of appeal, to the extent specified in this article, shall have
jurisdiction to review, reverse, correct, or annul any order or
decision of the commission or to suspend or delay the execution or
operation thereof, or to enjoin, restrain, or interfere with the
commission in the performance of its official duties, as provided by
law and the rules of court.
   (b) The writ of mandamus shall lie from the Supreme Court and from
the court of appeal to the commission in all proper cases as
prescribed in Section 1085 of the Code of Civil Procedure.



1760.  Notwithstanding Sections 1757 and 1757.1, in any proceeding
wherein the validity of any order or decision is challenged on the
ground that it violates any right of petitioner under the United
States Constitution or the California Constitution, the Supreme Court
or court of appeal shall exercise independent judgment on the law
and the facts, and the findings or conclusions of the commission
material to the determination of the constitutional question shall
not be final.



1761.  (a) Any stay or suspension of an order or decision of the
commission shall be granted only in accordance with this article and
the rules of court.
   (b) A stay may be issued against any order or decision of the
commission, other than an order or decision increasing or decreasing
rates or changing a rate classification.



1762.  (a) Except as provided in this section, no order staying or
suspending an order or decision of the commission shall be made by
the Supreme Court or court of appeal except upon five days' notice
and after hearing. If the order or decision of the commission is
stayed or suspended, the order suspending it shall contain a specific
finding, based upon evidence submitted to the court and identified
by reference thereto.
   (b) The specific finding made pursuant to subdivision (a) shall
certify that great or irreparable damage would otherwise result to
the petitioner and specify the nature of the damage.
   (c) The Supreme Court or court of appeal may grant a temporary
stay restraining the operation of the commission order or decision,
other than an order or decision authorizing an increase or decrease
in rates or changing a rate classification, at any time before the
required hearing and determination of the application for a stay
when, in the opinion of the court, irreparable loss or damage would
result to petitioner unless the temporary stay is granted. The
temporary stay shall remain in force only until the hearing
determination of the application for a stay upon notice. The hearing
of the application for a stay shall be given precedence and assigned
for hearing at the earliest practicable day after the expiration of
the notice.


1763.  (a) No temporary stay shall be granted by the Supreme Court
or court of appeal unless it clearly appears from specific facts
shown by the verified petition that immediate and irreparable injury,
loss, or damage will result to the applicant before notice can be
served and hearing had on a motion for a stay as provided in this
article.
   (b) Every temporary stay shall be endorsed with the date and hour
of issuance, shall be forthwith filed in the clerk's office and
entered of record, shall define the injury and state why it appears
to be irreparable and why the order was granted without notice, and
shall by its terms expire within a time after entry not to exceed 10
days as the court may fix, unless within the time so fixed the order
is extended for a like period for good cause shown and the reasons
for the extension entered of record.
   (c) In case a temporary stay is granted without notice, the matter
of the issuance of a stay shall be set down for hearing at the
earliest possible time, and when it comes up for hearing the party
obtaining the temporary stay shall proceed with the application for a
stay. If the party does not so proceed, the court shall dissolve the
temporary stay.



1764.  In case the order or decision of the commission is stayed or
a temporary stay granted, the order of the Supreme Court or court of
appeal shall not become effective until a suspending bond is executed
and filed with and approved by the court, payable to the people of
the State of California and sufficient in amount and security to
insure the prompt payment by the party petitioning for the review, of
all damages caused by the delay in the enforcement of the order or
decision of the commission and of all money which any person or
corporation may be compelled to pay pending the review of the
proceedings for transportation, transmission, product, commodity, or
service in excess of the charges fixed by the order or decision of
the commission, in case the order or decision is sustained.



1766.  (a) Under no circumstance shall the Supreme Court or court of
appeal stay or suspend any order or decision by the commission
authorizing an increase or decrease in rates or changing any rate
classification.
   (b) If a commission order or decision authorizing any increase or
decrease in rates, or changing any rate classification, is set aside
by the Supreme Court or court of appeal, the matter shall be referred
back to the commission for further action consistent with the order
of the court. The commission, in taking this further action, shall
not authorize refunds, and any relief ordered by the commission that
shall have the effect of increasing or decreasing rates shall be
prospective only.


1767.  All actions and proceedings under this part and all actions
or proceedings to which the commission or the people of the State of
California are parties in which any question arises under this part,
or under or concerning any order or decision of the commission, shall
be preferred over, and shall be heard and determined in preference
to, all other civil business except election causes, irrespective of
position on the calendar. The same preference shall be granted upon
application of the attorney of the commission in any action or
proceeding in which he is allowed to intervene.



1768.  The following procedures shall apply to judicial review of an
order or decision of the commission interpreting, implementing, or
applying the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Statutes of the 2001-02
First Extraordinary Session that (1) relates to the determination or
implementation of the revenue requirements of the Department of Water
Resources or the establishment or implementation of bond or power
charges necessary to recover those revenue requirements, or (2) in
the sole determination of the department, the expedited review of an
order or decision of the commission is necessary or desirable, for
the maintenance of any credit ratings on any bonds or notes of the
department issued pursuant to Division 27 (commencing with Section
80000) of the Water Code or for the department to meet its
obligations with respect to any bonds or notes pursuant to that
division:
   (a) Within 30 days after the commission issues its order or
decision denying the application for a rehearing, or, if the
application is granted, then within 30 days after the commission
issues its decision on rehearing, any aggrieved party may petition
for a writ of review in the California Supreme Court for the purpose
of determining the lawfulness of the original order or decision or of
the order or decision on rehearing. If the writ issues, it shall be
made returnable at a time and place specified by court order and
shall direct the commission to certify its record in the case to the
court within the time specified. No order of the commission
interpreting, implementing, or applying the provisions of Chapter 4
of the Statutes of the 2001-02 First Extraordinary Session shall be
subject to review in the courts of appeal.
   (b) The petition for review shall be served upon the executive
director and the general counsel of the commission either personally
or by service at the office of the commission.
   (c) For purposes of this section, the issuance of a decision or
the granting of an application shall be construed to have occurred on
the date of issuance, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b)
of Section 1731.
   (d) All actions and proceedings under this section and all actions
or proceedings to which the commission or the people of the State of
California are parties in which any question arises under this
section, or under or concerning any order or decision of the
commission under this section, shall be preferred over, and shall be
heard and determined in preference to, all other civil business
except election causes, irrespective of position on the calendar.
   (e) The provisions of this article apply to actions under this
section to the extent that those provisions are not in conflict with
this section.