I. Party Status in Commission Proceedings

In accordance with Commission practice, by entering an appearance at a hearing or by other appropriate means, an interested party or protestant gains "party" status. A party to a Commission proceeding has certain rights that non-parties do not have. For example, a party has the right to participate in evidentiary hearings, file comments on a proposed decision, and appeal a final decision. A party also has the ability to consent to waive or reduce a comment period, and to challenge the assignment of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Non-parties do not have these rights, even though they are included on the service list for the proceeding and receive copies of some or all documents.

Non-parties may participate in this proceeding under either the "state service" or "information only" categories. Commission staff members, divisions or branches, Legislators or their staff members, and state agencies or their staff members may participate as under the state service category. They will be allowed to file comments or other documents on issues in this rulemaking, at the direction of the assigned ALJ(s) or Assigned Commissioner.

Those who request to be categorized as "information only" will receive all Commission-generated notices of hearings, rulings proposed decisions and Commission decisions at no charge. However, individuals on the "information only" list will not receive copies of pleadings or other filings in this proceeding, and may not comment on the issues in this proceeding, unless they later apply for party status.