Indiana Bell Telephone Co. v. Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission

ON EMERGENCY PETITION TO TRANSFER

BOEHM, Justice.

This ease deals with the jurisdiction of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission under Indiana Code § 8-l-2-83(a). This section uses language that contrasts sharply with its counterparts in some other states. It provides that “no public utility, as defined in section 1 of this chapter, shall sell, assign, transfer, lease or encumber its franchise, works, or system ... without approval of the commission.” Based on the language of section 83(a), the history of that section and similar legislation, and this Court’s and the Commission’s existing…