§ 158-4. Audit of service providers.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    Whenever the council makes an examination of the affairs of any person doing a public service or public utility business in this city, or applying for admission to engage in such business, for the purpose of fixing and regulating the rates charged, or to be charged, or services to be rendered by such public service or public utility business, all expenses incurred by the council in conducting such examination, including the expenses and fees of engineers, consultants, accountants, special attorneys or clerical assistants specially employed to make the examination, shall be paid by the person so examined.

    (b)

    The council shall employ only such engineers, consultants, accountants, special attorneys or clerical assistants as are actually necessary to conduct the examination, whose compensation shall be fixed according to the time actually devoted to the work of conducting the examination and making their reports thereof, whether as witnesses before the council in open hearing, or by written report, under oath, as required by law. The compensation shall always be reasonable and commensurate with the value of the services performed.

    (c)

    Upon the completion of the examination or while the same is in progress, the council shall certify to the person being examined the amount of expenses incurred, as provided herein, whereupon such person shall pay the amount so certified to the person thus employed.

    (d)

    If the person being examined deems the amount of the expenses so certified to be unreasonable or contrary to the provisions hereof, such person may, within 15 days after the receipt of the certificate, take a rule against the council to test the reasonableness and legality of the amount of expenses certified to by the council.

(M.C.S., Ord. No. 2881, § 4, 6-18-64)