Press Release

PUC Proposes to Eliminate Requirements to File Additional Paper Copies of Certain Documents

Published on 2/28/2013

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications Transportation and Safety

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today proposed to eliminate requirements to file additional paper copies of certain documents.

Due to the recently completed reorganization of the Commission, advances in technology and the ability of many practitioners to make electronic filings, the Commission has initiated a proposed rulemaking calling for the elimination of the requirement to file additional paper copies of certain documents, beyond a signed original.  The change is designed to save time and resources for both parties appearing before the Commission and PUC staff.

Some examples of the documents which would require only a signed original include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Municipal contracts;

• Applications for transportation of property, household good in use and persons;

• Applications for temporary authority and emergency temporary authority;

• Applications for certification as a water supplier or wastewater collection, treatment or disposal provider; and

• Briefs and reply briefs.

The Commission also proposes to waive various regulations to increase the size limit of eFiled documents from 5 to 10 megabytes and to eliminate the requirement to file paper copies of eFiled documents that are less than 250 pages in length.  If paper copies of eFiled documents that are less than 250 pages in length are filed, they will not be retained in any document folder at the Commission.  However, if a party insists on submitting paper copies of eFiled documents of this length, the paper copies must include the eFiling summary page containing the confirmation number, alerting Commission staff that the document has already been filed. 

These changes are in conjunction with a proposed rulemaking the Commission issued for comment on July 19, 2012, intending to simplify doing business before the Commission and to diminish the burden upon parties appearing before the PUC by reducing the number of copies they must file with the agency.

Interested parties have 30 days to comment.

On Sept. 27, 2008, Commission regulations went into effect to permit consumers, utilities and practitioners to file certain documents electronically without filing paper copies; serve documents electronically on other parties if they agree to such service; and receive electronic service of documents from the Commission.

Electronic filing or eFiling is part of the PUC’s implementation of a case and document management system – InfoMAP (Information Management and Access Project). InfoMAP overhauled the PUC’s case management system, improving the Commission’s docketing, tracking and sharing of information.  It provides a single-entry point to submit and access information, initiate transactions and conduct business therefore permitting electronic filings and giving the public electronic access to information filed with and produced by the PUC.

Since the implementation of InfoMAP, access by external users to information maintained by the PUC has improved significantly with most filings being scanned and published to the website. This results in more documents being available electronically to the public through the website’s search engine.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.  For recent news releases, video and audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov.

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Docket Nos. L-2012-2324073; L-2012-2296005; L-00070187; M-2012-2317481 and M-2008-2072592

Contact:

• Press Secretary
  717-787-5722