Press Release

PUC Finalizes Rulemaking to Eliminate Requirements to File Additional Paper Copies of Certain Documents

Published on 8/15/2013

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

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a rulemaking to eliminate requirements to file additional paper copies, beyond a signed original, of certain documents.

“When we look at cost and trying to create efficiency, this is a great initiative. This is about a $250,000 savings on a monthly basis and it also saves us from using about 22 boxes of paper a month.  It’s definitely a win for the Commission in terms of cost and paper reduction, and also for consumers,” said Vice Chairman John F. Coleman.

Due to the recently completed reorganization of the Commission, advances in technology and the ability of many consumers and practitioners to make electronic filings, the Commission has finalized a 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 PUC staff and parties appearing before the Commission.

Some examples of the documents that now 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 will also waive various regulations to increase the size limit of eFiled documents from 5 to 10 megabytes and to eliminate the requirement to file a paper copy of eFiled documents that are less than 250 pages in length. If a paper copy of eFiled documents that are less than 250 pages in length is filed, it will not be retained in any document folder at the Commission. However, if a party insists on submitting s paper copy of eFiled documents of this length, the paper copy must include the eFiling summary page containing the confirmation number, alerting Commission staff that the document has already been e-filed.  The regulations now head to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) for final approval.

These changes are in conjunction with a final rulemaking approved by the Commission on June 13, 2013, and approved by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission on Aug. 1, 2013,  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.

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 and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov.  Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” PAPowerSwitch on Facebook for easy access to information on electric shopping.

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

Contact:

• Denise McCracken
  Senior Communications Specialist
  717-787-5722
  demccracken@pa.gov