CLASS D CLASS C CLASS B CLASS A
Rate 0 to 49 50-66 sq. m. 67-88 sq. m. Over 88 sq. m.
gross gross gross.
P.20 first 9 kwh First 15 kwh First 19 kwh First 23 kwh
.10 next 6 kwh Next 15 kwh Next 26 kwh Next 47 kwh
.05 all over All over 30 kwh All over 45 kwh All over 70 kwh
Minimum charge, P1.00 P1.50 P2.00 P2.00
The foregoing revised amended schedules of rates, submitted by petitioner on November 11, 1937, were modified by the respondent commissioner by reducing the minimum charges on schedules A, B, C and D from P2.00, P2, P1.50 and P1 to P2, P1.50, P1 and P0.50, respectively, approving however such revised amended schedules of rates in other respects. Petitioner did not agree and moved for reconsideration, which motion was denied. Hence these proceedings for review of the respondent commissioner’s decision.
Petitioner in its brief makes the following assignments of error:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"I. The respondent judge erred in taking into consideration when he rendered his decision a report of the auditor of the Public Service Commission which was not presented in evidence at the hearing and of which petitioner had no knowledge.
"II. The respondent judge erred in making reference in his decision to a memorandum prepared by the Accounting Division of the Public Service Commission on the average profit obtained by petitioner during the years 1926 to 1936, which memorandum was not presented in evidence at the hearing and of which petitioner had no knowledge.
"III. The respondent judge erred in fixing a minimum charge of P1.50, instead of P2, including 7 kilowatt hours, for residential service, schedule B; a minimum charge of P1, instead of P1.50, including 5 kilowatt hours, for residential service, schedule C; and a minimum share of P0.50, instead of P1, including 2 kilowatt hours, for residential service schedule D, there being no evidence to justify the minimum charges fixed by the respondent judge.
"IV. The respondent judge erred in holding that in the year 1936 petitioner made a net profit of 12.27% on its business operations.
"V. The respondent judge erred in overruling petitioner’s motion for reconsideration of his decision."cralaw virtua1aw library
Petitioner, however, in the oral argument of its counsel, pressed only the third assignment and then only with reference to the reduction to 50 centavos under schedule D.
The report and memorandum referred to in the first and second assignments of error form part of the official records of the Public Service Commission. The commission took notice of them and properly considered them without any need of their being presented as evidence (Manila Yellow Taxicab & Acro Taxicab Co. v. Danon, 58 Phil., 75; Manila Electric Co. v. Balagtas, 58 Phil., 429; Manila Yellow Taxicab Co. v. Araullo, 60 Phil., 833; and Sambrano v. Northern Luzon Transportation Co., 35 Off. Gaz., 2271). Upon the other hand, it should be observed that the investigation was conducted by the Public Service Commission under paragraph (a), section 17, Commonwealth Act No. 146, under which the commission has power "to investigate, upon its own initiative, or upon complaint in writing, any matter concerning any public service as regards matters under its jurisdiction." The first and second assignments of error are overruled.
The third assignment of error refers to the reduction of minimum charges in schedules B, C and D as hereinabove indicated, whereas the fourth assignment of error deals with a question of fact regarding the percentage of net profit made by the petitioner in the year 1936. We have examined the evidence taken in this connection, and we cannot say that the findings of the commission are not reasonably supported by the evidence presented in this case, especially if it is considered that the petitioner’s computation of its profits for 1936 is based on the operation in that year of its electrical department alone. There is a legal presumption that the rates fixed here are reasonable, and we cannot say that the Public Service Commission, in fixing those rates, abused its discretion. (Ynchausti Steamship Co. v. Public Utility Commissioner and Board of Appeal, 42 Phil., 621, 624.) The third and fourth assignments of error are also overruled.
The fifth assignment of error need not be considered.
After the filing of the present petition for review in this court, Dr. Pedro Gil, represented by Attorneys Duran and Lim, the Radio Theater, Inc. and other commercial and industrial entities, represented by Attorney Jacobo Gonzales, moved to intervene for the protection of their rights and interests affected by the action of the Public Service Commission. The petitioner objected, but this court by resolution of May 5, 1938, granted the motion. Dr. Pedro Gil and Radio Theater, Inc., Et. Al. filed separate briefs.
Intervenors Radio Theater, Inc., Et. Al. seek modification of the decision of the Public Service Commission "in such a way that the blocking of electrical consumption in schedules A, B, C and D be abolished, and in lieu thereof a straight residential rate embodying a reduction of 46.25% be determined and fixed and that the electrical bill of commercial and industrial consumers be reduced by 46.25 per cent." The contention of these intervenors appears to be predicated on the report submitted by a representative of the General Auditing Office (Exh. Gil-1, p. xxxvi; brief for Radio Theater, Inc., Et. Al. p. 12). The Public Service Commission has not made any finding or conclusion on the points contained in the report and brought to its attention and for the reasons stated hereinbelow with reference to the intervention of Dr. Pedro Gil, we refrain from making any pronouncement on matters not touched upon by the commission in its decision and not here made the object of any specific assignment of error.
Intervenor Gil objects to the amended schedule of rates as approved by the respondent commission on the ground that the same are "unjust, unreasonable, unjustly discriminatory and unduly preferential" and prays in his brief that the decision of the Public Service Commission be amended by eliminating what he terms the "block charges" contained in the residential service schedules A, B, C and D, adopting in their stead a flat rate of P0.50, P1 and P0.50, respectively. In urging for this amendment, a great deal of information is brought to our attention concerning the organization of the Manila Electric Company, the franchises granted, the merger effected and the alleged clever corporation scheme and financing used to hide inflations and conceal its net gains, and calls attention to the authority of this court under section 35 of Commonwealth Act No. 146 to review and modify the decision of the Public Service Commission or even set it aside, if upon examination of the whole record such action is deemed warranted. We are of the opinion, however, that as to this variety of informative matters most of which are embodied in the report on the audit and examination of the books and accounts of the petitioner (Exh. Gil-1) we should refrain from making any pronouncement. it is true that this report (Exh. Gil-1) is part of the record elevated to us in this case. There are implications of serious character drawn in this report and we note that the commission makes no reference to them in its decision. We feel that we are not in a better position to go farther. Upon the other hand, from intervenor’s own brief it appears that the legislative department has taken a hand in this matter. It would not be fair to the Government, the general public and the petitioner, if we were to grant the prayer of the intervenor under these circumstances. Prudence on our part and fairness to all concerned demand that we make no other pronouncement at this time than to affirm, as we do hereby affirm, the decision of the Public Service Commission, with costs against the petitioner. With the dismissal of the present petition for review, the preliminary injunction issued by this court on February 18, 1938, is dissolved. So ordered.
Avanceña, C.J., Villa-Real, Abad Santos, Imperial, Diaz and Concepcion, JJ., concur.