§824h References to State boards by Commission

Summary

The Commission can send any matter it is handling to a special board made up of one or more people from each State affected. That board acts with the same authority and responsibilities as a Commission member holding a hearing. The Commission sets the rules for how the board works, chooses the board members from people nominated by each State’s commission or the Governor, and may reject a nominee and ask for another. Each affected State gets the same number of board members unless it gives up that right. Board members are paid expense allowances, and the Commission can cancel the referral if needed. The Commission may meet or hold joint hearings with State commissions about how rates, costs, accounts, charges, practices, classifications, and rules for public utilities relate. It can use a State commission’s help, records, staff, and facilities. The Commission must share useful reports with States and, when it won’t harm its work, may provide its expert witnesses to a State if the State pays their pay and travel. Those payments are returned to the federal account that paid the costs.