Consolidated Edison Co. v. Public Service Commission
Encyclopedia
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
, as applied through the Fourteenth
. The Court's ruling 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.
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
decision addressing the free speech rights of public utility
Public utility
A public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service . Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and regulation ranging from local community-based groups to state-wide government monopolies...
corporations under the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
, as applied through the Fourteenth
Incorporation (Bill of Rights)
The incorporation of the Bill of Rights is the process by which American courts have applied portions of the U.S. Bill of Rights to the states. Prior to the 1890s, the Bill of Rights was held only to apply to the federal government...
. The Court's ruling invalidated an order by the New York Public Service Commission
Public Utilities Commission
A Utilities commission, Utility Regulatory Commission , Public Utilities Commission or Public Service Commission is a governing body that regulates the rates and services of a public utility...
that prohibited utility companies from including inserts on controversial matters of public policy with billing statements.