Jurisdiction

Pursuant to Pub. Util. Code § 852,¹ no public utility, and no subsidiary, affiliate of, or corporation holding a controlling interest in a public utility, shall purchase or acquire, take or hold, any part of the capital stock of any other public utility organized or existing under the laws of this state, without prior Commission authorization. In addition, § 854 requires Commission authorization before a company may "merge, acquire, or control any public utility organized and doing business in this state." The purpose of these and related sections is to enable the Commission, before any transfer of a public utility is consummated, to review the situation and take such action, as a condition of the transfer, as the public interest may require.²

¹ All code references are to the Public Utilities Code, unless otherwise stated.

² See, San Jose Water Co. 10 CRC 56, 63 (May 10, 1916).