THEODORE R. McKELDIN, GOVERNOR                     767

concerned shall enter into a bond, with such security and in such
amount as may be approved by the commission, payable to the State
of Maryland and conditioned to insure prompt refund with interest
to each person of all amounts received by the company from him in
excess of the rates finally determined by the commission.

(b)  The temporary increase or reduction shall remain in force for
such time as prescribed by the commission, not exceeding an initial
period of nine months, and an additional period, if the commission
so orders, not to exceed three months. Any temporary reduction or
increase in rates shall be limited so as to equal the amount found by
the commission to be in excess of or below just and reasonable rates
as defined in section 62 of this article.

(c)  If the rates finally determined are in excess of the rates
prescribed in the temporary order, the public service company may
amortize and recover over such period as the commission may fix, by
means of a temporary increase over the rates as finally determined,
the difference between the operating revenue obtained under the
temporary order and the operating revenue that would have been
obtained from the same volume of business from the rates as finally
determined.

(d)  If the rates in the temporary schedule are greater than the
rates as finally determined, the Commission shall order a refund,
charge off or amortization in accordance with the provisions of
section 63 (c) of this article.

65.    (Valuation.)

The commission may investigate and ascertain at any time the
fair value of the property of any public service company used and
useful in rendering service to the public. Such valuation shall not
become final unless the Commission serves upon the company con-
cerned a copy of the order fixing the proposed valuation and the
method by which it is arrived at, and allows a reasonable time in
which to file a protest. The valuation shall become final if no protest
is filed within the time specified. If a timely protest is filed, the
commission shall enter a final order of valuation after hearing. All
final valuations shall be prima facie evidence of value in proceedings
had in pursuance of this article.

Service

66.    (In General.)

The commission may by regulation passed after due notice and
opportunity for interested parties to be heard prescribe standards
of safe, adequate, reasonable and proper service for any class of
public service company, which in its opinion will best promote the
security or convenience of the public, of those employed in furnishing
service, and of those to whom service is rendered; and to these ends,
the commission may enforce the standards set by it, and may by
order require such changes and additions in the service of any public
service company as it may deem necessary, including but not limited
to repairs or improvements in plant, increase in motive power and
change in schedule or manner of operations.

67.    (Specific Powers.)

Without limiting the generality of the preceding section the com-
mission is specifically empowered: (1) to order, as it may deem