2. Background

The Commission opened this rulemaking in 2003 to examine the Commission's rules and policies with respect to utility construction contracting processes. Briefly, the Commission's original rulemaking expressed concerns with utility contracting procedures as they might affect safety, project quality, and costs. D.04-12-056 directed specified energy utilities to pay prevailing wages to construction contract workers in certain circumstances and addressed several other related issues. It also prohibited specified energy utilities from using "reverse auctions" to solicit construction contract bids. The rulemaking remains open at this time.