IURC Hearing Procedures

Utilities must follow administrative law requirements in proceedings before the IURC including requests for rate changes and territorial authority.

The utility files a petition with the Commission which is given a Cause Number and assigned to an Administrative Law Judge and staff. A Commissioner may also be assigned.

Hearing Procedures

• A prehearing conference is held to establish a schedule for the submittal of evidence both for and against the utility's petition.
• The utility prefiles its written case-in-chief, which contains evidence in support of its proposal.
• Other parties, including the Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), file their cases-in-chief, which contain evidence in support of their positions. The OUCC is a separate state agency whose responsibility is to represent ratepayers in proceedings before the Commission.
• A hearing may be held in the service territory of the utility to allow customers of the utility to express their opinions concerning the utility's petition.
• The utility may present rebuttal testimony after all other evidence in the case is heard.
• In most cases, parties to the case file proposed Orders with the Administrative Law Judge.
• The Administrative Law Judge submits a proposed Order for review by the Commissioners.
• The Commission issues a decision on the proposed Order, either directing modifications, approving the utility's orginal proposal or rejecting the utility's original proposal. These decisions are made at Commission conferences.