River Lines, Inc. v. Public Utilities Commission

Three Northern California barge lines engaged in hauling petroleum and other commodities commenced these proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission against the Southern Pacific Company (hereinafter referred to as Southern Pacific) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Southern Pacific Pipe Lines, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as Pipe Lines). The barge lines claimed that Pipe Lines was charging unreasonably low rates for transporting petroleum products from San Francisco Bay Area refining points to Stockton, Sacramento, and Chico.

The commission found that the rates charged by Pipe Lines were not unreasonable and denied the barge lines any relief. By petition for writ of review, the barge lines claim that the commission erred in determining that section 727 of the Public Utilities Code 1 had no application to the instant proceedings 2 and that the commission abused its discretion in failing to establish minimum rates under section 726.

Section 726 provides: . . In any rate proceeding where more than one type or class of carrier, as defined in this part [§§201-2113, known as the Public Utilities Act], or in the Highway Carriers’ Act [§§ 3501-3812], is involved, the commission…