As used in this article 6.5, unless the context otherwise requires: “Agricultural consumer” means a public utility customer whose utility service is classified as an agricultural user or an irrigation user pursuant to a utility tariff established by the commission or a public utility customer who is seeking such tariff status. (1.3) “Board” means the […]
There is hereby created, as a division within the department of regulatory agencies, the office of the utility consumer advocate, the head of which is the director, who shall be appointed by the executive director pursuant to section 13 of article XII of the state constitution. The office shall exercise its powers and perform its […]
The director must have at least five years of experience in consumer-related utility issues or in the operation, management, or regulation of utilities as either an attorney, an engineer, an economist, an accountant, a financial analyst, or an administrator or any combination of those roles. The executive director shall not appoint as director a person […]
The director shall represent the public interest and, to the extent consistent therewith, the specific interests of residential consumers, agricultural consumers, and small business consumers by appearing in proceedings before the commission and appeals therefrom in matters that involve proposed changes in a public utility’s rates and charges; in matters involving rule-making that have an […]
If the office intervenes and there are other intervenors in proceedings before the commission, the determination of said commission with regard to the payment of expenses of intervenors, other than the office, and the amounts thereof shall be based on the following considerations: Any reimbursements may be awarded only for expenses related to issues not […]
The director: May employ such attorneys, engineers, economists, accountants, or other employees as may be necessary to carry out the director’s duties; Shall be granted, by the commission, leave to intervene in all cases where such request is made in conformance with rules of the commission; May contract for the services of technically qualified persons […]
At each regular session, the general assembly shall determine the amount to be expended by the office for the direct and indirect costs of administration in performing its duties and responsibilities required by this article 6.5 and shall appropriate the amount to the office from the public utilities commission fixed utility fund and the telecommunications […]
This article 6.5 is repealed, effective September 1, 2028. Before the repeal, this article 6.5 is scheduled for review in accordance with section 24-34-104. Source: L. 84: Entire article added, p. 1047, § 1, effective July 1. L. 88: Entire section amended, p. 1353, § 1, effective April 14. L. 93: Entire section amended, p. […]
