---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 824g"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "824g"
heading: "Ascertainment of cost of property and depreciation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/824g"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Federal Regulation and Development of Power"
  - "Subchapter II — Regulation of Electric Utility Companies Engaged in Interstate Commerce"
---

# §824g. Ascertainment of cost of property and depreciation

- (a) **Investigation of property costs—** The [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) may investigate and ascertain the actual legitimate cost of the property of every public utility, the depreciation therein, and, when found necessary for rate-making purposes, other facts which bear on the determination of such cost or depreciation, and the fair value of such property.
- (b) **Request for inventory and cost statements—** Every public utility upon request shall file with the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) an inventory of all or any part of its property and a statement of the original cost thereof, and shall keep the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) informed regarding the cost of all [additions](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2), betterments, extensions, and new construction.

## Source credit

(June 10, 1920, ch. 285, pt. II, § 208, as added Aug. 26, 1935, ch. 687, title II, § 213, 49 Stat. 853.)