1864                                         LAWS OF MARYLAND                                     Ch. 176

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1985.

Approved May 21, 1985.

CHAPTER 177

(Senate Bill 341)

AN ACT concerning

Public Service Commission - Standards for
Common Carrier Rates

FOR the purpose of providing that the Commission shall use an
operating ratio to determine the reasonableness of common
carrier rates.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

Section 69(a) and (b)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1980 Replacement Volume and 1984 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

69.

(a)  "Just and reasonable rates" means rates which are not
in violation of any of the provisions of this article, which
fully consider and are consistent with the public good, and which
will result in an operating income to the public service company,
except COMMON carriers [of inflammables], yielding, after
reasonable deduction for depreciation and other necessary and
proper expenses and reserves, a reasonable return upon the fair
value of the company's property used and useful in rendering
service to the public.

(b)  In the exercise of its power to prescribe just and
reasonable rates FOR COMMON CARRIERS, [and charges for the
transportation carriers of flammables by motor vehicle,] and
classifications, regulations, and practices relating thereto, the
Commission shall give due consideration, among other factors, to
the inherent advantages of transportation by such carriers; to
the need, in the public interest, of adequate and efficient
transportation services by such carriers at the lowest cost
consistent with the furnishing of such service; and to the need