Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 815 - Division of Public Utilities and Carriers › Chapter 00 - General Administration › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 1 - Rules of Practice and Procedure (815-RICR-00-00-1) › Section 815-RICR-00-00-1.2 - Definitions

Current through June 14, 2024
A. As used in these rules, except as
				  otherwise required by the context:
1.
				  "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and
				  Carriers.
2. "Applicant" means, in
				  proceedings involving filings for permission or authorization which the
				  Division may give under statutory or other authority delegated to it, the party
				  on whose behalf the filings are made.
3. "Associate administrator(s)" means the
				  Associate Administrator for Motor Carriers for matters involving carriers, and
				  the Associate Administrator for Cable Television for cable television
				  matters.
4. "Administration and
				  operations officer" means the Administration and Operations Officer of the
				  Division.
5. "Clerk" means the
				  Commission clerk, appointed by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to R.I.
				  Gen Laws §
											39-1-9, who also serves as clerk
				  to the Division. For cases involving cable television or carriers, the
				  appropriate Associate Administrator may serve as Clerk.
6. "Commission" means the Public Utilities
				  Commission.
7. "Contested case"
				  means a proceeding in which the legal rights, duties, or privileges of a
				  specific party are required by law to be determined by the Division after an
				  opportunity for hearing.
8.
				  "Division" means the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers described in
				  R.I. Gen. Laws §§
											39-1-2(4) and
				  39-1-3.
9. "Division counsel" means the
				  representative of the Division, including but not limited to its legal counsel,
				  participating in a proceeding before the Division.
10. "Ex parte" means communication outside of
				  a hearing, in a pending proceeding, directly or indirectly, in connection with
				  any issue of law or fact, between any person or party and the Administrator,
				  Administration and Operations Officer, Associate Administrator(s) or Hearing
				  Officer.
11. "Hearing officer"
				  means an individual designated by the Administrator or Administration and
				  Operations Officer to conduct hearings, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §
											39-1-15, whose recommended
				  findings and decision, when approved by the Administrator or Administration and
				  Operations Officer, have the same force and effect as findings and decision by
				  the Administrator.
12. "Informal
				  inquiry" or "Complaint" means an individual contact by a customer of a utility,
				  applicant for service, or other person having business with a utility, asking
				  for information, advice, or assistance from the Division concerning the
				  individual's rights, responsibilities or options as regard the
				  utility.
13. "Interest" means, with
				  respect to an issue or matter, persons or entities which have a similar point
				  of view or who are likely to be affected by the proceeding.
14. "Intervenor" means a party who intervenes
				  in a pending matter or proceeding by statutory right or by order of the
				  Division on petition to intervene granted pursuant to the requirements of
				  §
											1.17   of this Part.
15.
				  "Matter" or "proceeding" means the docket initiated by a filing or submittal or
				  a Division notice or order.
16.
				  "Participant" means any party or any person or entity admitted by the Division
				  to limited participation in a proceeding.
17. "Party" means each person named or
				  admitted or entitled as of right to be admitted as a party to a proceeding
				  before the Division.
18.
				  "Petitioners" means persons seeking relief, not otherwise designated in this
				  section.
19. "Respondents" means
				  persons subject to any statute or other delegated authority administered by the
				  Division to whom an order or notice is issued by the Division instituting a
				  proceeding or investigation on its own initiative.
20. "Rulemaking" means a proceeding for the
				  purpose of promulgating rules and regulations.