North Dakota Century Code Title 49. Public Utilities § 49-05-14. Stay on appeal--Suspending bond--Impounding excess charges

In case the order or decision of the commission is stayed or suspended, the order of the court shall not become effective until a suspending bond first shall have been executed and filed with and approved by the district court, payable to the state of North Dakota, and sufficient in amount and security to ensure the prompt payment, by the party appealing, of all damages caused by the delay in the enforcement of the order or decision of the commission and of all the moneys which any person, corporation, or limited liability company may be compelled to pay, pending the appeal, for transportation, transmission, product, commodity, or service in excess of the charges fixed by the order or decision of the commission, in case said order or decision is sustained.  The district court, in case it stays or suspends the order or decision of the commission in any matter affecting rates, also by order shall direct the public utility affected to pay into court, from time to time, there to be impounded until the final decision of the case, or into some bank or trust company paying interest on deposits, under such conditions as the court may prescribe, all sums of money which it may collect from any corporation, limited liability company, or person in excess of the sum which such corporation, limited liability company, or person would have been compelled to pay if the order or decision of the commission had not been stayed or suspended.  Upon a final determination of an appeal, the court shall make an appropriate order disposing of the impounded funds in accordance with such determination.  In the event the public utility shall fail to comply with the conditions of the stay bond, the commission may sue thereon for the use and benefit of the patrons or others who have suffered damage by reason of the stay.