Press Release

PUC Eliminates Requirements for Utilities and Consumers to File Paper Copies Ceases Internal Distribution of Paper Copies

Published on 9/17/2012

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

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC or Commission) today announced it has eliminated requirements for parties to submit multiple paper copies of documents, beyond a signed original, filed with the PUC.  The PUC has also ceased the internal distribution of paper copies of filed documents.

“The PUC is going paperless,” said Chairman Robert F. Powelson.  “By reducing paper copy filing requirements and making more information electronically accessible, we’re continuing to streamline operations at the PUC.  We’re also keeping paper costs in control for the PUC and all parties filing with us.”

The PUC issued secretarial letters to dispense with a variety of paper copy filing requirements (filings are made by parties before the Commission and, among other things, related to rate increase requests, utility obligations and consumer complaints).  The first secretarial letter removes the obligation of "eFilers" to submit a paper copy of a filing within three business days of PUC "eFiled" documents that are less than 250 pages.  The second secretarial letter waives most, if not all, provisions in the existing regulations that require multiple copies of documents (sometimes as many as nine) to be filed; only one signed original of filings is now required.

As part of this project, the Commission also waived existing regulations to increase the size limit of qualified documents that may be electronically filed, or eFiled, from 5 megabytes to 10 megabytes.  The Commission will continue to monitor whether this document size may need to be further increased.

The PUC also is ending the practice of distributing paper copies of filings throughout the Commission.  Employees are being encouraged to read documents electronically, think twice before printing, use network printers rather than desktop printers when documents need to be printed, and rely on the PUC Bureau of Administration to print lengthy documents. 

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.

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

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 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 to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov

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