The Vermont Department of Public Service is a statutory party and represents the rate payers and the public interest. In general, applicants must start the process by filing a petition and supporting testimony with the Vermont Public Service Board that complies with 30 VSA 248. The Vermont Public Service Board will then schedule a pre-hearing conference to set a hearing schedule. The schedule usually requires pre-filed written testimony by the petitioning applicant and an opportunity for interested parties to do formal written discovery on the applicant as well as conduct depositions. The intervenors and the statutory parties then have an opportunity to also pre-file written testimony and the applicant has a similar opportunity to conduct formal discovery on the intervenors.
Technical hearings follow discovery.
After the hearings, the parties file briefs and reply briefs after which the Vermont Public Service Board issues an order. The process can take months or even as long as a year in complex controversial cases. Parties may appeal the Board's decision to the Vermont Supreme Court.