Stewart v. Utah Public Service Commission

STEWART, Associate Chief Justice:

This case is here on a petition to review an order of the Utah Public Service Commission that increased U.S. West Communications, Inc.’s (USWC) authorized rate of return on equity to 12.2%, ordered central office modernizations and fiber-optic extensions to educational institutions, and adopted an incentive regulation plan that USWC vetoed pursuant to statutory authorization. The petition to review was filed by Justin C. Stewart and other telephone users and ratepayers (collectively “ratepayers”) who challenge (1) the lawfulness of the 12.2% rate of return on…