Oil Heat Institute v. Alaska Public

In 1971 appellants, oil heat dealers in the area of Anchorage, Alaska, filed a complaint seeking a determination by the Alaska Public Utilities Commission (hereafter "P.U.C.") that a proposed tariff revision by Alaska Public Service Corporation (hereafter "A.P.S.C.", formerly Anchorage Natural Gas Company) was illegal, unjust, discriminatory and unduly preferential, and that it amounted to an unfair competitive practice. The tariff revision embodied a promotional plan for increasing the number of customers in the Anchorage market area using gas as opposed to fuel oil. Without receiving evidence, the P.U.C. held the complaint to be without merit and dismissed the attempted proceeding. After an appeal to the superior court, which sustained the P.U.C., appellants now appeal to this court.