Delegation of Authority to the Director of the Office of Markets, Tariff and Rates, and to the Director of External Affairs

The Commission is amending its regulations to delegate to the Director of the Office of Markets, Tariffs and Rates the ability to refer to an Administrative Law Judge uncontested interim rate motions for natural gas rate decreases, pending Commission action on settlement agreements. Currently, the Director only has this authority in electric cases. This change is needed to facilitate more efficient processing of natural gas settlements, which will permit customers to receive the benefits of lower rates at an earlier time. The Commission also is revising its regulations to allow the Director of the Office of External Affairs to subdelegate responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act. This will allow for more efficient processing of requests under that Act.