750 CORPORATIONS. [ART. 23

such complaint. When such complaint is made, the commission may,
by its agents, examiners and inspectors, inspect the works, system plant
and methods used by such person or corporation in manufacturing,
transmitting and supplying such gas or electricity, and may examine
or cause to be examined the books and papers of such person or cor-
poration pertaining to the manufacture, sale, transmitting and supply-
ing of such gas and electricity. The form and contents of complaints
made as provided in this section shall be prescribed by the commission.
Such complaints shall be signed by the officers, or by the customers,
purchasers or subscribers making them, who must add to their signa-
ture their places of residence, by street and number, if any.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 37 (p. 382).

451. Before proceeding under a complaint presented as provided in
this sub-title, the commission shall cause notice of such complaint,
and the purpose thereof, to be served upon the person or corporation
affected thereby. Such person or corporation shall have an opportunity
to be heard in respect to the matters complained of at a time and place
to be specified in such notice. If an investigation be instituted upon
motion of the commission the person or corporation affected by the inves-
tigation may be permitted to appear before the commission at a time
and place specified in the notice and answer all charges which may be
preferred by the commission. After a hearing and after such investiga-
tions as may have been made by the commission or its officers, agents.
examiners or inspectors, the commission within lawful limits may, by
order, fix the maximum price, according to law, of gas and electricity
to be charged by such corporation or person, or may order such improve-
ment in the manufacture or supply of such gas, in the manufacture,
transmission or supply of such electricity, or in the methods employed
by such person or corporation as will, in its judgment, justly and law-
fully improve the service. The price so fixed by the commission shall
be the maximum price to be charged by such person or corporation for
gas or electricity in such municipality or county until the commission
shall, upon complaint, as provided in this section, or by the corporation
interested, or upon its application for a new adjustment of rates or
upon an investigation conducted by the commission on its own motion,
again fix the maximum price according to law of such gas or electricity.
In determining the price to be charged for gas or electricity the com-
mission may consider all facts which, in its judgment, have any bear-
ing upon a proper determination of the question, although not set
forth in the complaint and not within the allegations contained therein.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 38 (p. 383).

452. Every gas corporation and electrical corporation and the
officers, agents or employees thereof shall obey, observe and comply
with every order made by the commission under authority of this sub-
title, so long as the same shall be and remain in force. Any such
corporation, or any officer, agent or employee thereof, who, knowingly,