§824h References to State Boards by Commission

Summary

Lets the Commission send a case to a board made up of one or more people from each State that is affected. The board has the same powers and duties as a Commission member would have at a hearing. The Commission sets how the board runs and gives the board its authority. The Commission picks the board members from people named by each State’s commission or, if there is none, by the Governor. Each State gets the same number of members unless it gives up that right. The Commission can reject a State’s nominee and ask for another. Board members are paid expense allowances the Commission provides. The Commission can cancel a referral if it has a good reason. Lets the Commission work with State regulators about rates, costs, accounts, charges, business practices, classifications, and rules for public utilities. The Commission can hold joint hearings with a State and use a State’s help, records, and facilities. The Commission must share useful reports and information with States. When it won’t hurt its work, the Commission can let a State use its expert witnesses (for example, rate or valuation experts) if the State pays the experts’ pay and travel costs; that money is returned to the same fund used to pay the experts.