Lumberport-Shinnston Gas Co. v. Public Service Commission of W. Va.

Neely, Chief Justice:

These two consolidated cases present two issues of law: first, whether the Public Service Commission (PSC) is empowered to prohibit Hope Natural Gas Company (Hope) from terminating natural gas sales to Lumber-port-Shinnston Gas Company (Lumberport); and, second, whether the PSC is empowered to limit the bonuses and salaries of Lumberport until the debt owed to Hope Gas has been paid. We hold that the PSC may prohibit Hope from terminating gas supplies to Lumberport and that the PSC may institute certain rules to insure the repayment of the debt to Hope. In that regard we…