Section 8-1-29.5-6 - Service complaints; investigation by commission; enforcement remedies; civil penalties; enforcement by attorney general; right to appeal(a) If:(1) ten (10) or more customers of a provider or a certificate holder;(2) the utility consumer counselor; or(3) any class satisfying the standing requirements of IC 8-1-2-54; files a verified complaint with the commission alleging that a service over which the commission has jurisdiction that is provided by a provider or a certificate holder is unsafe, unjustly discriminatory, or inadequate, or that any service cannot be obtained, the commission may investigate the complaint as the commission considers appropriate. The commission shall conduct an investigation under this section on an expedited basis.
(b) If, after notice and an opportunity for hearing, the commission determines from an investigation conducted under subsection (a) that a service over which the commission has jurisdiction that is provided by a provider or a certificate holder is unsafe, unjustly discriminatory, or inadequate, or that any service cannot be obtained, the commission may do any of the following: (1) Issue an order directing the provider or the certificate holder to cease and desist from any action resulting in unsafe, unjustly discriminatory, or inadequate service.(2) Mandate corrective action.(3) Revoke or modify the terms of: (A) an indeterminate permit;(B) a certificate of territorial authority;(C) a certificate of franchise authority issued under IC 8-1-34; or(D) another license or authorization; issued to the provider or the certificate holder by the commission.
(4) Impose a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per offense, if the offense involves any of the following: (A) A willful disregard, as evidenced by a continuing pattern of conduct, by the provider or the certificate holder of its obligation to remedy the offense after the provider or the certificate holder becomes aware of the offense.(B) Repeated errors in bills issued to one (1) or more customer classes, if the errors:(i) represent intentional misconduct or an act of fraud by the provider or the certificate holder or by any officer, accountant, or agent of the provider or the certificate holder; or(ii) demonstrate, by a continuing pattern of conduct, a willful disregard by the provider or the certificate holder of its obligation to remedy the errors after the provider or the certificate holder becomes aware of the errors. Subject to section 7(a)(1) of this chapter, for purposes of this subdivision, a single act, omission, occurrence, or event that results in multiple complaints being filed under subsection (a) constitutes a single offense and is not subject to more than one (1) civil penalty. The commission may not consider each day that a particular act, omission, occurrence, or event continues to be a separate offense.
(c) A matter resolved through voluntary mediation is not subject to any of the remedies allowed under subsection (b).(d) A provider or a certificate holder may not be subject to both: (1) a civil penalty or order of the commission under this section; and(2) a penalty or remedy agreed to in a commission approved settlement agreement; for the same offense. If the commission has approved a settlement agreement under IC 8-1-2.6 that includes penalties or remedies for noncompliance with specific provisions of the settlement agreement, the penalties or remedies provided in this section do not apply to those instances of noncompliance during the life of the settlement agreement.
(e) The attorney general may bring an action in the name of the state to enforce any action taken by the commission under subsection (b), including the collection of an unpaid civil penalty imposed by the commission.(f) The following are subject to appeal by a provider under IC 8-1-3:(1) A determination by the commission under this section that a service is unsafe, unjustly discriminatory, or inadequate, or that a service cannot be obtained.(2) The appropriateness of any action taken by the commission under subsection (b)(1) through (b)(3).(3) The appropriateness of: (A) the imposition of a civil penalty by the commission under subsection (b)(4); or(B) the amount of the penalty imposed. Upon the motion of a provider or a certificate holder, the commission shall stay the effect or enforceability of an order or penalty under this section pending an appeal, subject to the provider or the certificate holder posting a bond that complies with Rule 18 of the Indiana Rules of Appellate Procedure.
As added by P.L. 27-2006, SEC.53.