1. The Commission may order an examination of the condition and management of any public utility under its jurisdiction which is a telephone company, electric light, heat and power company or a natural gas company.
2. The Commission and the public utilities shall establish, and revise annually, a list of not less than 20 persons qualified to conduct such examinations.
3. If an examination is ordered:
(a) The public utility shall select a person to conduct the examination from such list; and
(b) The Commission, the public utility and the person selected shall determine the manner, scope and cost of the examination and the content and form of reports issued at the conclusion of the examination.
4. Except where the Commission, after a hearing, determines that an examination of a public utility is in the public interest, the Commission shall not order an examination if a prior examination has been conducted within the preceding 5 years.
5. The costs of an examination are allowable expenses of the public utility for the purpose of rate making.
(Added to NRS by 1977, 1375; A 1985, 2050)