Consolidated Edison Co. v. Public Service Commission

Consolidated Edison Co. v. Public Service Commission, 447 U.S. 530 (1980), was a United States Supreme Court decision addressing the free speech rights of public utility corporations under the First Amendment.[1] In a majority opinion written by Justice Lewis Powell, the Court invalidated an order by the New York Public Service Commission that prohibited utility companies from including inserts on controversial matters of public policy with billing statements.[2]

Consolidated Edison Co. v. Public Service Commission
Argued March 17, 1980
Decided June 20, 1980
Full case nameConsolidated Edison Company of New York, Incorporated v. Public Service Commission of New York
Citations447 U.S. 530 (more)
100 S. Ct. 2326; 65 L. Ed. 2d 319; 1980 U.S. LEXIS 6; 6 Media L. Rep. 1518; 34 P.U.R.4th 208
Case history
Prior402 N.Y.S.2d 551 (N.Y. Sup.Ct. 1978); reversed, 407 N.Y.S.2d 735 (N.Y. Sup.Ct.App.Div. 1978); affirmed, 390 N.E.2d 749 (N.Y. 1979)
SubsequentOn remand, reversed and remanded, 413 N.E.2d 365 (N.Y. 1980)
Holding
The First Amendment, as applied through the Fourteenth, protects the right of utility companies to include inserts on matters of controversial public policy with billing statements.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Warren E. Burger
Associate Justices
William J. Brennan Jr. · Potter Stewart
Byron White · Thurgood Marshall
Harry Blackmun · Lewis F. Powell Jr.
William Rehnquist · John P. Stevens
Case opinions
MajorityPowell, joined by Burger, Brennan, Stewart, White, Marshall
ConcurrenceMarshall
ConcurrenceStevens
DissentBlackmun, joined by Rehnquist (parts I, II)
Laws applied
U.S. Const. amend. I; N.Y. Pub. Serv. Law §§ 4, 5, 65, 66

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Consolidated Edison Co. v. Public Service Commission, 447 U.S. 530, 532 (1980).
  2. ^ Consolidated Edison Co., 447 U.S. at 544.
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