Utility regulatory intervention is an effective way to make your voice heard and encourage support for utility investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Here are some ways to get involved:

1. Learn more about how the Utility Regulatory Process Works.
2. Track the regulatory issues Utah Clean Energy is currently working on.
3. Contact the Public Service Commission to learn how to track regulatory dockets of interest.  You can find the docket you are interested in by using the Search Tool on the Commission's website.  Enter your email where it says, Watch This Docket, and you will be notified of any updates relative to the docket.  Click here for a list of current dockets of interest.
4. How to submit comments to the public service commission.
5. Sign up with Utah Clean Energy to receive regular updates, take action notices, and important news on key issues.
6. Contact the Office of Consumer Services to let them know what is important to you as a consumer. Learn more about how you can be heard by the Committee.
7. Contact the Utah Public Service Commission or the Utah Division of Public Utilities to express what is important to you and/or to request more information on current issues.

How does the Utility Regulatory Process Work?
Utah's large public utilities (gas, electric, water, telecommunications) are regulated and overseen by an independent state agency known as the Utah Public Service Commission (also referred to as "the Commission" or "the PSC").  The Utah Public Service Commission has statutory duties and legislative, adjudicative, and rule-making powers. 

The Commission is headed by three full-time Commissioners, appointed by the Governor -- subject to Senate approval -- to six-year staggered terms with one member designated as Chairman. The Commissioners preside as a quasi-judicial body in formal hearings concerning utility regulation matters, such as applications for rate and service changes. A support staff of technical, legal, and clerical employees assists the Commission in analyzing the record in every case that comes before it, making recommendations for Commission decisions, preparing formal orders, and managing the daily operation of the Commission’s office.  Learn more about the history and duties of the Public Service Commission.

In addition to the Commission, two other state agencies are involved in the utility regulatory arena: 

• The Division of Public Utilities The Division of Public Utilities, makes recommendations to the Utah Public Service Commission for rate-making purposes, applications, hearings and other issues affecting quality of service. The Division also handles and investigates consumer complaints and monitors utility operations to ensure compliance with Public Service Commission rules, regulations and orders. For a more comprehensive review of the Division of Public Utilities duties, please see Title 54_05 of the Utah Code.
   
• The Office of Consumer Services is the consumer advocate for residential, and small business (including agricultural) customers of the state’s electric, gas, and telephone utilities. Its primary role is to help ensure that utility rates and service quality are fair and reasonable for Utah consumers.  To learn more about the duties of the Office of Consumer Services, please see Title 54_10a of the Utah Code.

Regulatory Proceedings

Each Commission proceeding involves a utility and any other interested parties. Proceedings are assigned a Docket number (or a case number).  Commission hearings are open to the public. Following the hearing, the Commission, with the assistance of its technical staff, analyzes the case record, deliberates, and renders its decision in the form of an "Order." Any party in a proceeding can appeal a Commission decision to the Utah Supreme Court.

The Commission or Division may also hold technical conferences or workshops, which are open to the public, designed to explore and learn more about energy-related issues.  These technical conferences are not considered part of the formal docket proceedings, but are valuable venues for providing information and/or raising key issues.
 

How to file comments with the Utah Public Service Commission

1. Remember to reference the Docket Number and Title on your comments and in your subject line.
    
2. Address your comments to the Utah Public Service Commission.
    
3. Thank Rocky Mountain Power and Commission for providing the opportunity to make public comments.
    
4. Provide some brief information about your business or affiliation, why you are interested in this issue, and/or how it affects you.
    
5. Address the Commission’s request for comments on the particular issue.  Discuss the pros or cons of the issue, and what you would like to see the Public Service Commission do,   and how that issue might be structured.
    
6. Submit your comments to the Public Service Commission (on or before the deadline):

• Send an electronic version to psccal@utah.gov

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• Deliver 6 hard copies (one signed original plus 5 copies) of your comments in person or via mail to

Utah Public Service Commission
Heber M. Wells Building
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Phone: 801-530-6716

Current Clean Energy Regulatory Issues