| (a) If the commission forwards a petition to the State
Office of Administrative Hearings pursuant to §24.307(a) and
(b) of this title (relating to Commission's Review of Petition or
Appeal), the State Office of Administrative Hearings shall conduct
an evidentiary hearing on public interest to determine whether the
protested rate adversely affects the public interest.
(b) Prior to the evidentiary hearing on public interest,
discovery shall be limited to matters relevant to the evidentiary
hearing on public interest.
(c) The administrative law judge shall prepare a proposal
for decision and order with proposed findings of fact and conclusions
of law concerning whether the protested rate adversely affects the
public interest, and shall submit this recommendation to the commission.
(d) The seller and buyer may agree to consolidate the
evidentiary hearing on public interest and the evidentiary hearing
on cost of service. If the seller and buyer so agree the administrative
law judge shall hold a consolidated evidentiary hearing.
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