Press Release

PUC Initiates Rulemaking to Permit Electronic Filing

Published on 8/30/2007

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

HARRISBURG –The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today began the process of changing its procedural regulations to allow for electronic filing.

“We have been striving to make this Commission more accessible to the people of the Commonwealth and today marks an important milestone in those efforts,” said Commission Chairman Wendell F. Holland. “This proposed rulemaking is an important step toward improving the ease of access and user-friendliness to the public.”

The Commission voted unanimously to propose amendments to its regulations that will allow for electronic filing. The Commission views the proposed regulations as a transitional step toward replacing paper with electronic filings by allowing filers to submit certain types of documents electronically without also filing paper copies.

Prior to developing the proposed regulations, the Commission staff from several bureaus met with external stakeholders. The Commission also examined electronic filing regulations in place at various other state utility commissions, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state and federal courts.

Electronic filing would begin after the Commission’s Information management and Access Project (InfoMAP) is completed. InfoMAP is designed to allow for more efficient access by consumers, utilities and practitioners to documents filed with and produced by the Commission through the implementation of electronic filing, access and e-commerce initiatives.

Under InfoMAP, documents currently available for review in the Commission’s Secretary’s Bureau will be posted on the Commission’s Web site, providing the public with improved access to information regarding Commission proceedings. It is anticipated that the Commission will be capable of receiving electronic filings and providing electronic access to information by Spring 2008.

The proposed rulemaking makes changes to its regulations governing the rules of administrative practice and procedure. The changes include areas such as:

• Those interested in filing electronically may register on the Commission’s Web site to become a “filing user;”
• The filing user’s user ID and password constitutes the filing user’s signature and is, therefore, a valid personal identification;
• Consumers will be capable of filing formal complaints electronically;
• Filing users will receive a “confirmation of receipt” that informs them that a filing was successful and contains the time and date of receipt and a link to the filed document;
• Filings must be made in PDF format and done so according to instructions on the Commission’s Web site;
• Initially, filings will be limited to five megabytes per filing;
• Electronic payments will be recognized as a payment method in addition to those methods already in use;
• The Commission as well as parties in cases will be able to electronically serve documents on filing users who have agreed to receive electronic service;

The proposed regulations will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Interested parties will then have 60 days to submit written comments – an original and 15 copies to:

           Secretary, PA Public Utility Commission

           P.O. Box 3265

           Harrisburg, PA 17105-3265

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 public meetings, or more information about the PUC, visit our Internet homepage www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. L-0007

Contact:

• Press Secretary
  717-787-5722