62-139. Rates varying from schedule prohibited; refunding overcharge; penalty.
(a) No public utility shall directly or indirectly, by any device whatsoever, charge, demand, collect or receive from any person a greater or less compensation for any service rendered or to be rendered by such public utility than that prescribed by the Commission, nor shall any person receive or accept any service from a public utility for a compensation greater or less than that prescribed by the Commission.
(b) Any public utility in the State which shall willfully charge a rate for any public utility service in excess of that prescribed by the Commission, and which shall omit to refund the same within 30 days after written notice and demand of the person overcharged, unless relieved by the Commission for good cause shown, shall be liable to him for double the amount of such overcharge, plus a penalty of ten dollars ($10.00) per day for each day's delay after 30 days from such notice or date of denial or relief by the Commission, whichever is later. Such overcharge and penalty shall be recoverable in any court of competent jurisdiction. (1903, c. 590, ss. 1, 2; Rev., ss. 2642, 2643, 2644; Ex. Sess. 1913, c. 20, ss. 5, 12; C.S., ss. 1082, 1086, 3514; 1933, c. 134, s. 8; c. 307, s. 5; 1941, c. 97; 1963, c. 1165, s. 1; 1989, c. 112, s. 6.)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Article 7 - Rates of Public Utilities.
§ 62-130 - Commission to make rates for public utilities.
§ 62-131 - Rates must be just and reasonable; service efficient.
§ 62-133.1 - Small water and sewer utility rates.
§ 62-133.1A - Fair value determination of government-owned water and wastewater systems.
§ 62-133.1B - Water and Sewer Investment Plan ratemaking mechanism authorized.
§ 62-133.2 - Fuel and fuel-related charge adjustments for electric utilities.
§ 62-133.4 - Gas cost adjustment for natural gas local distribution companies.
§ 62-133.5 - Alternative regulation, tariffing, and deregulation of telecommunications utilities.
§ 62-133.6 - Environmental compliance costs recovery.
§ 62-133.7A - Rate adjustment mechanism for natural gas local distribution company rates.
§ 62-133.8 - Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS).
§ 62-133.9 - Cost recovery for demand-side management and energy efficiency measures.
§ 62-133.11 - Rate adjustment for changes in costs based on third-party rates.
§ 62-133.12A - Customer usage tracking rate adjustment mechanisms for water and wastewater rates.
§ 62-133.12B - Computation of income tax expense for ratemaking purposes; taxable contributions.
§ 62-133.16 - Performance-based regulation authorized.
§ 62-133.20 - Cleanfields renewable energy demonstration parks.
§ 62-134 - Change of rates; notice; suspension and investigation.
§ 62-135 - Temporary rates under bond.
§ 62-137 - Scope of rate case.
§ 62-139 - Rates varying from schedule prohibited; refunding overcharge; penalty.
§ 62-140 - Discrimination prohibited.
§ 62-141 - Long and short hauls.
§ 62-142 - Contracts as to rates.
§ 62-143 - Schedule of rates to be evidence.
§ 62-144 - Free transportation.
§ 62-145 - Rates between points connected by more than one route.
§ 62-146 - Rates and service of motor common carriers of property.
§ 62-146.1 - Rates and service of bus companies.
§ 62-148 - Rates on leased or controlled utility.
§ 62-149 - Unused tickets to be redeemed.
§ 62-150 - Ticket may be refused intoxicated person; penalty for prohibited entry.
§ 62-151 - Passenger refusing to pay fare or violating rules may be ejected.
§ 62-152.1 - Uniform rates; joint rate agreements among carriers.
§ 62-152.2 - Standard transportation practices.
§ 62-153 - Contracts of public utilities with certain companies and for services.
§ 62-154 - Surplus power rates.
§ 62-155 - Electric power rates to promote conservation.
§ 62-156 - Power sales by small power producers to public utilities.
§ 62-157 - Telecommunications relay service.
§ 62-158 - Natural gas expansion.
§ 62-159 - Additional funding for natural gas expansion.