<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 49-34A-17 - Implementation of proposed practice, proposed rate, or lower rate--Rate design--Accounts of customer payments--Refund of excess--Time limit. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2070693Normal { text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2070693SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2070693CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2070693Normal-000000 { text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2070693DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2070693Normal-000001 { margin-left: 0.70in; text-indent: -0.45in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } p.s2070693Normal-000002 { text-indent: 0.25in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2070693000003 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2070693SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2070693SCL-000004 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2070693Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=49-34A-17"><span class="s2070693SENU">49-34A-17</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2070693SENU">. </span><span class="s2070693CL">Implementation of proposed practice, proposed rate, or lower rate--Rate design--Accounts of customer payments--Refund of excess--Time limit.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2070693Normal-000000"><span class="s2070693DefaultParagraphFont">The public utility may implement the proposed practice, the proposed rate, or a rate lower than the proposed rate if:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2070693Normal-000001"><span class="s2070693DefaultParagraphFont">(1)    The proposed rate or practice has not been suspended or is no longer subject to suspension;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2070693Normal-000001"><span class="s2070693DefaultParagraphFont">(2)    The commission has not issued a final decision; and</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2070693Normal-000001"><span class="s2070693DefaultParagraphFont">(3)    Thirty days has passed from the date of filing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2070693Normal"><span class="s2070693DefaultParagraphFont">If the public utility implements the proposed rate or a rate lower than the proposed rate, the public utility shall use the same rate design that is currently in effect or the rate design that the public utility proposed when the public utility filed for the increased rate. If the public utility uses a rate design different than the rate design currently in effect or the rate design the public utility proposed when the public utility filed for the increased rate, commission approval is needed prior to implementation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2070693Normal-000002"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2070693DefaultParagraphFont">In the case of a proposed increased rate, the commission may, by order, require the public utility to keep an accurate account in detail of all amounts received by reason of the increase, specifying by whom and in whose behalf the amounts are paid. Upon completion of the hearings and decision, the commission may by further order require the public utility to refund, with interest, to customers, the portion of the increased rates found to be unjust, unreasonable, or discriminatory. The refund shall be carried out as provided in §§ </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=49-34A-22"><span class="s2070693DefaultParagraphFont">49-34A-22</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2070693DefaultParagraphFont"> and </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=49-34A-23"><span class="s2070693DefaultParagraphFont">49-34A-23</span></a><span class="s2070693DefaultParagraphFont">. If the commission does not issue a final decision within twelve months from the date the proposed rate or practice was filed, the commission may not require a refund of increased rates charged after the twelve months.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2070693Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2070693000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2070693Normal"><span class="s2070693SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2070693SCL-000004"> SL 1975, ch 283, § 8; SL 1976, ch 296, § 17; SL 1977, ch 392, § 1; SL 2008, ch 242, § 2; SL 2011, ch 209, § 1.</span></p></div></body></html>