40-251. Hearings on valuation of property of public service corporations; notice; introduction of evidence; written findings of fact required; admissibility in evidence; effect; exception

A. For the purpose of ascertaining matters concerning the valuation or revaluation of the property of public service corporations, the commission may conduct hearings at times or places it designates. Before any hearing or supplemental or further hearing is had the commission shall give the corporation affected thereby at least thirty days' written notice, specifying the time and place of the hearing, but such notice shall not prevent the commission from making any preliminary examination or investigation into such matters or from inquiring into them in any other investigation or hearing.

B. All corporations affected shall be heard and may introduce evidence at the hearing. The commission may receive evidence from other sources of information. The evidence introduced at the hearing shall be reduced to writing and certified under the seal of the commission. The commission shall make and file its finding of facts in writing upon all matters concerning which evidence is introduced which in its judgment relates to the value of the property.

C. The original or supplemental findings, so made and filed, when properly certified under seal, shall be admissible in evidence in any action, proceeding or hearing before the commission or any court in which the commission, the state, or any officer, department or institution thereof, or any county, city, municipality or other body politic, and the corporation affected, is interested, whether arising under the provisions of this article or otherwise. Such findings, when received in evidence in any action or proceeding arising under this article, shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as of the dates therein stated under conditions then existing, and such facts may only be controverted by showing a subsequent change in conditions bearing upon the facts therein determined.

D. Findings made at supplemental hearings or investigations shall be considered in connection with and as a part of the original findings except insofar as the supplemental findings change or modify the findings made at the original hearing or investigation.

E. For purposes of this section, the commission may establish simplified procedures and may by order or rule dispense with a hearing for a telecommunications corporation or a member-owned nonprofit cooperative corporation.