A B C D E F H I M N O P R S T U W
This web page provides information and definitions for common acronyms and terminology that may be encountered when participating in proceedings before the Commission. Please feel free to contact the Clerk of the Commission if you have questions about the contents of this web page. For specific guidance, you should review the applicable statutes, rules, and legal precedent, and seek assistance from a lawyer if you have questions. This web page cannot be cited as an alternative to statutory or regulatory requirements.
Agency Acronyms
AAFM – Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. AAFM facilitates and supports agriculture in Vermont, while protecting the working landscape, human health, animal health, plant health, consumers, and the environment. AAFM is a statutory party (i.e., an automatic party) in certain Commission proceedings when primary agricultural soils occur on the site of a proposed project being reviewed under 30 V.S.A. § 248.
ANR – Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. ANR manages the state’s natural resources and administers Vermont’s environmental regulations. ANR is a statutory party (i.e., an automatic party) in siting cases under 30 V.S.A. § 248.
Commission or PUC – Vermont Public Utility Commission. The Commission is a quasi-judicial agency with supervisory authority over activities related to providing public utility services in Vermont. This includes the provision of energy and telecommunications service, and the siting of new energy facilities. (see About Us pages)
Department or DPS – Vermont Department of Public Service. The Department is responsible for long-term utility planning in Vermont. The Department is a statutory party (i.e., an automatic party) in Commission proceedings and is charged with representing the interest of the people of the state in cases before the Commission. (Note that elsewhere in state government, DPS may refer to the Department of Public Safety, and PSD to the Department of Public Service. However, for historical reasons, documents issued by the Commission use DPS or Department, not PSD.)
DHP – Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, a division of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. The DHP reviews proposed projects for impacts on historic buildings and structures, historic districts, historic landscapes and settings, and known or potential archaeological resources. The DHP is not a statutory party (i.e., not an automatic party) to Commission cases, but it may request to be a party.
EEU – Energy Efficiency Utility. An EEU provides energy efficiency services to residential and business customers in Vermont. EEU services help consumers invest in measures that will reduce energy consumption and save money that would otherwise be spent on energy costs. EEU services are provided throughout most of the state by Efficiency Vermont. The City of Burlington Electric Department delivers EEU services in its service territory. Vermont Gas Systems, Inc., delivers EEU services to its natural gas customers.
EVT – Efficiency Vermont is Vermont’s statewide energy efficiency utility. Beginning in 2010, the Commission appointed Vermont Energy Investment Corporation to serve as Efficiency Vermont.
FCC – Federal Communications Commission. The FCC is a federal government agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.
FERC – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. FERC is a federal government agency that regulates the wholesale electricity market and the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil; reviews proposals to build interstate natural gas pipelines; and licenses hydropower plants.
NRB – Vermont Natural Resources Board. The NRB is the State board responsible for implementing Act 250, Vermont’s land-use law.
VTrans – Vermont Agency of Transportation. VTrans manages the statewide transportation network.
Definitions
A
Adjoining Landowner – someone who owns land that is adjacent to a project site.
- For transmission line projects, an adjoining landowner owns land:
- that will be crossed by the right-of-way for the line
- that will share a boundary with the right-of-way for the line
- that would share a boundary with the right-of-way for the line but for the presence of an intervening river, stream, public highway, or railroad line
- For projects involving a generation facility, substation, or other transmission facility that is not part of a transmission line, an adjoining landowner is someone who owns land:
- that shares a property boundary with the tract of land on which the facility or substation would be located
- that is adjacent to the tract of land on which the project would be located, and the two properties are separated only by a river, stream, railroad line, or public highway
Advance Submission – any requirement for an applicant to notify designated people and entities before a filing is submitted to the Commission. Advance submission requirements vary depending on the type of case. For instance, in Section 248 siting cases, the advance submission provides basic information on the proposed project so that the recipients can contact the applicant directly to try to resolve any issues or concerns they have about the project before an application is filed.
B
Briefs – a written document filed with the Commission to present a party’s legal and factual arguments. Briefs deal with matters such as the parties’ interpretation of the applicable law that is relevant to the case or their views of how the Commission should understand the evidence that has been presented to them.
The Commission may provide an opportunity for parties to file briefs following the evidentiary hearing in a case. Briefs are not evidence. Rather, they are an opportunity for parties to cite relevant facts in the record, point to applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and precedent, and explain their position for the Commission to consider in arriving at the judgment that will be set forth in the Commission’s final order. Briefs can include both proposed findings of fact (statements of fact from the evidentiary record that a party wants the Commission to rely on when making its decision) and conclusions of law. Proposed findings of fact are typically a series of numbered paragraphs addressing a specific topic, with each paragraph ending with references to specific documents and page numbers where the information in that paragraph can be found in the evidentiary record. Conclusions of law are written in arrative form and set forth the outcome of an issue after consideration of the relevant facts and law.
Typically, two rounds of briefs are filed: an initial brief and a reply brief. A reply brief, if needed, is limited to responding to arguments raised by other parties in their initial briefs. It should not be used as an opportunity to raise new issues.
The Commission may solicit briefs from the parties at any point during a case.
C
Capacity – the maximum power output a generation facility can produce under specific conditions. Nameplate or rated capacity means the intended full-load output of a power generation facility. Nameplate capacity is determined by the generator’s manufacturer.
Certificate of Public Good or CPG – When the Commission approves a project, it issues a Certificate of Public Good (CPG). A CPG is accompanied by an order that documents the details of the Commission’s decision to issue the CPG. A CPG may contain conditions that are binding on the holder of the CPG and that are necessary to ensure that the project complies with the law.
After a CPG has been issued by the Commission, any modifications to the authorized project that have the potential for significant impact under any of the relevant review criteria must be approved by the Commission.
CPG Holder – one who possesses a CPG whether through issuance by the Commission or through transfer from the previous holder. The transfer of a CPG must be approved by the Commission. The CPG holder is responsible for complying with all conditions of the CPG regardless of whether the CPG was obtained directly from the Commission or through a subsequent transfer.
Certificate of Service – a list of all recipients (including names and addresses) to whom a particular filing was sent, or “served,” using a method other than ePUC, and a statement by the sender that the document has been sent to everyone on the list. Parties to a case are required to provide copies of any filings to all other parties in the case, and when filing any documents with the Commission or a party using a method other than ePUC, including in paper, must include a certificate of service confirming that they have done so. If a filing is made using ePUC and all parties and participants in the case are ePUC users, no certificate of service is required.
The Commission’s electronic filing system, ePUC, provides “electronic service” automatically to all parties and others who are either required to be or who requested to be notified in a specific case. The electronic filing system generates a notice to each person or entity in the case that a document has been filed and is available for access and downloading through ePUC. One exception to this is discovery; discovery requests served on parties to a case, as well as discovery certificates, must be filed in ePUC, but the discovery responses need not be filed in ePUC unless otherwise directed by the hearing officer or the Commission.
Commission Case – a case in which the procedural steps are conducted directly by the three Commissioners, and not by a hearing officer (see hearing officer case). For a Commission case, the Commissioners will conduct any site visit, public hearing, and the evidentiary hearing. Commission staff assist the Commissioners with the procedural steps and substantive analysis of the case.
Contested Case Proceedings – a case before the Commission that is conducted like a trial. This means that there are formal parties to the case who are required to follow legal rules for developing their cases by conducting discovery and presenting evidence through sworn witnesses and cross-examination in hearings.
Critical Energy Infrastructure Information or CEII – specific engineering, vulnerability, or detailed design information about proposed or existing critical infrastructure (physical or virtual) that meets certain criteria for protection from public disclosure. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has established rules regarding the protection of such information. CEII is exempt from mandatory disclosure under FERC procedures related to the Freedom of Information Act to guard against unprotected disclosure. A party in a case before the Commission must file a motion or other request that specified information in the case be treated as CEII.
D
Decision – Commission decisions are documented in orders and Certificates of Public Good (CPGs). The final order in a contested case proceeding must be based on the evidentiary record, and generally contains findings of fact, conclusions of law, and an evaluation of the applicable review criteria.
Cases before the Commission can be conducted directly by the Commissioners (referred to as “a Commission case”) or by a hearing officer appointed by the Commission.
If the Commissioners do not hear the case directly, a hearing officer directs the case and will issue a proposal for decision (referred to as a PFD or “P for D") that recommends an outcome to the Commissioners. Parties in the case will then have an opportunity to comment to the Commission on the PFD and ask for oral argument before the Commissioners. The Commissioners will consider the hearing officer’s PFD, the parties’ comments on it, and any arguments made at oral argument. The Commission may accept, reject, or modify the proposal for decision. In so doing, the Commission will issue a final order deciding the case. The final order may be accompanied by additional documents. For instance, if the decision is to approve a new infrastructure project, the final order will be accompanied by a Certificate of Public Good.
If the Commissioners hear the case directly, no PFD is circulated for comment. The Commission will issue its final order at the conclusion of the proceedings.
Final Commission orders are subject to reconsideration by filing a motion to alter or amend (also referred to as a motion for reconsideration) under Commission Rule 2.221. A motion to alter or amend must be filed within 28 days after a final order is issued. Any final decision by the Commission may be appealed to the Vermont Supreme Court, except for decisions made by the Commission regarding compensation in condemnations, which are appealed to Vermont Superior Court. Any appeal of a Commission order is governed by the Vermont Rules of Appellate Procedure.
To appeal a final order of the Commission, you must have been a formal party to the case and you must file a notice of appeal with the Clerk of the Commission within 30 days after a final order is issued.
Deposition – an opportunity to ask questions of another party’s witness under oath in advance of the evidentiary hearing and outside the presence of the Commission. Unless the Commission allows otherwise, each oral deposition is limited to no more than seven hours. In certain circumstances, transcripts of depositions can be entered into evidence at the evidentiary hearing. Taking a deposition can help a party understand another party’s position, formulate responsive testimony, and prepare cross-examination.
DigSafe – a not-for-profit, multi-state clearinghouse that facilitates the exchange of information about proposed excavation activities and the location of underground utility lines and other equipment to avoid damage during excavation. DigSafe in Vermont addresses matters related to Vermont’s Underground Utility Damage Prevention System (30 V.S.A. Sections 7001-7008, and Public Utility Commission Rule 3.800).
Discovery - an opportunity for parties in a case to ask other parties about what their witnesses have said in their pre-filed testimony and exhibits. The discovery process helps the parties develop their respective positions in a case and identify issues on which there is agreement or that require resolution by the Commission.
Discovery can be in written form (for example as “interrogatories,” “requests to produce,” or “requests for information”) or in oral form (called “depositions”). For a complete list of the available forms of discovery and rules governing their use, see Commission Rules 2.214(B) and 2.230.
Written discovery questions and requests are served via ePUC on parties that are using ePUC in a particular case. Otherwise, they are served by mail or in person (or by any other method the parties may agree on, such as email). Written questions and requests must also always be filed with the Commission. Written discovery is typically in the form of written questions (e.g., What is Ms. Smith’s basis for her belief that . . .) or information requests (e.g., Please provide all the documents Mr. Johnson relied on in coming to the conclusion that . . . ). Responses to written discovery questions and requests do not need to be filed with the Commission unless ordered otherwise by a hearing officer or the Commission.
When a party believes that it is not required to respond to a discovery request, that party may object to the request. At that point, the parties are obligated under Commission Rule 2.230(G) to work in good faith to resolve the dispute. If no such agreement can be reached, parties may ask the Commission to resolve the discovery dispute, provided they submit an affidavit detailing the good-faith efforts to resolve their differences.
Discovery is not automatically part of the evidentiary record, although parties may seek to introduce it as evidence in pre-filed testimony or exhibits. Parties may also introduce a witness’s responses to discovery questions into evidence during the cross-examination of that witness at a hearing.
A discovery certificate that is filed in ePUC is proof that discovery responses were provided to all those entitled to receive them.
E
Exhibits – documents that support a party’s case. They are often filed with a witness’s testimony. Exhibits may be pictures, charts, spreadsheets, reports, letters, or other forms of documentation that support the conclusions contained in the testimony.
To be admitted into the record, an exhibit must be sponsored by a witness competent to answer questions about its origin and contents. An exhibit must also be marked and labeled so that it can be identified and referenced precisely by the parties and the Commission (see Testimony).
Ex Parte Restrictions - Certain types of communication between Commissioners or staff and other persons are referred to as “ex parte” communications. Ex parte restrictions ensure that all parties to a contested case make substantive communications only through public filings that all other parties can see, rather than by contacting Commissioners or staff directly. In a contested case, ex parte communications are prohibited by Vermont state law as follows:
Members or employees of any agency assigned to render a decision or to make findings of fact and conclusions of law in a contested case shall not communicate, directly or indirectly, in connection with any issue of fact, with any person or party, nor, in connection with any issue of law, with any party or his representative, except upon notice and opportunity for all parties to participate. (3 V.S.A. Section 813)
Commission Rule 2.201(E) details additional ex parte restrictions that apply in Commission proceedings.
Ex parte restrictions do not apply in Commission proceedings that are uncontested case proceedings.
F
Filing – any information submitted to the Commission. For example, a filing can be an application or a petition, a motion, testimony and exhibits, or a brief. Commission Rules 2.204 through 2.208 provide information on the requirements for filings made with the Commission.
Participants in Commission cases are required to use ePUC for case filings unless one of the exceptions in Commission Rule 2.110 applies.
- Public comments and consumer complaints may be filed using ePUC, by email to puc.clerk@vermont.gov, or in paper.
All motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and requests for hearing must be filed using ePUC unless the filing is accompanied by a request for a waiver under Commission Rule 2.107 to allow for paper filings. Request for Waiver of Requirement to Use ePUC Form. Anyone filing in paper must follow the Commission’s rules of procedure, including requirements pertaining to service and certificate of service.
Friend-of-the-Court – not a formal party to a case, but someone who petitions the Commission or is requested by the Commission to file a brief in the case because that person has a strong interest in the subject matter. A friend-of-the-court is also referred to as an “amicus” or “amicus curiae.”
H
Hearing - a proceeding before the Commission. A Commission hearing is generally similar to a court trial, but it can be less formal when there are no disagreements among the parties. Commission hearings are recorded by a court reporter, resulting in a written transcript of the proceeding. The main types of hearings held by the Commission are scheduling conferences, status conferences, public hearings, and evidentiary hearings. Hearings may be held in person or remotely, via videoconference.
Scheduling Conference - The Commission holds a scheduling conference, typically near the start of a case, to determine how a case will be managed. In general, the purpose of the scheduling conference is to discuss procedural matters and to set the schedule for the case. Parties are required to work together to try to reach agreement on a proposed schedule and file that proposed schedule no later than three days before the scheduling conference. If the parties are not able to agree on scheduling matters, they must make separate filings. See Commission Rule 2.225 for more information.
After a scheduling conference, an order will be issued to document who was present and what was discussed. The order often contains the schedule for the next steps in the proceeding. The order will include a service list, which is a list of the formal parties in the case and other persons receiving a copy of the order.
Status Conference – At any time after a scheduling conference, the Commission may hold a status conference to discuss procedural matters and set or revise the schedule for the case. After the status conference, the Commission often issues a status conference order.
Public Hearing – Public hearings are held to help the Commission understand the proposed project by hearing what the public thinks of it. Public hearings are required in certain types of proceedings, such as in cases involving requests to renew a cable company's CPG and when a public hearing is requested in a Section 248 siting case (although not for a streamlined Section 248(j) case). The Commission can also conduct a public hearing in any other proceeding. Customarily, the Commission will conduct a public hearing in an investigation into utility rates or rate designs. In addition, the Commission typically conducts a public hearing in cases that attract significant public interest or that have the potential to affect a significant number of customers.
Public hearings may be held in person or remotely, via videoconference. In-person public hearings are held in a neutral location in a utility’s service territory or in the town(s) where a proposed project would be located. The public hearing is an opportunity to speak directly to the Commissioners or the hearing officer assigned to the case.
In a Commission case, the Commissioners conduct the public hearing. In a case that is assigned to a hearing officer, the hearing officer conducts the public hearing. The project applicant may be asked to provide a summary description of the project during an information session hosted by the Department of Public Service immediately before the Commission's public hearing begins.
The public can also submit written comments to the Commission at any time during a case.
Public comments play an important role by raising new issues or offering perspectives for the Commission to consider in questioning the parties and developing the record during the evidentiary hearing. The Commission values these comments. In some instances, if it were not for public comments, the Commission might remain unaware of an important issue. Public comments do not become part of the evidentiary record in a case because they are not sworn testimony that is subject to cross-examination during an evidentiary hearing. Under Vermont law, the Commission’s decision must be based exclusively on the evidence presented by formal parties during an evidentiary hearing. However, public comments serve a valuable function in bringing up important issues for the Commission to pursue through the formal case proceedings.
Evidentiary Hearing – an opportunity for:
- the Commission to formally admit the parties’ pre-filed testimony and exhibits into the evidentiary record for the case
- the parties to question the witnesses who prepared the testimony and exhibits
- the Commission to question the witnesses about the testimony and exhibits
Evidentiary hearings are very much like a trial, except that most of the testimony is “pre-filed” with the Commission in written form in advance of the hearing. During an evidentiary hearing, witnesses are called to testify under oath and may be cross-examined by parties and the Commission about their pre-filed testimony. In general, unless a party objects, each witness’s pre-filed written testimony is admitted into the evidentiary record under oath, with a statement made by the witness regarding whether there are any corrections or changes that should be made to their testimony as it was originally filed with the Commission. If there is an objection to the testimony, the Commission must resolve the objection before the testimony is admitted. In some instances, the Commission will take the objection “under advisement,” which means the objection will be resolved after the hearing, but the parties can cross-examine the witness on the testimony during the hearing.
The Rules of Evidence, as modified by 3 V.S.A. § 810, apply in evidentiary hearings conducted by the Commission. All exhibits to be entered into the record at the hearing must be “marked” for identification. Exhibits are marked for identification with individual labels that are unique to each document. The Commission has provided guidance on a consistent exhibit-numbering convention. Under this convention, if Jane Doe testifies for the Acme Electric Company, two exhibits attached to Jane Doe’s testimony could be marked as Exh. AEC-JD-1 and Exh. AEC-JD-2.
Often a hearing officer or the Commission will ask the parties in a case to submit a list that includes all pre-filed testimony and exhibits that the parties agree should be admitted into evidence in the case. A hearing officer or the Commission may request that parties provide a proposed schedule of witnesses in advance of the evidentiary hearing. The proposed schedule includes the amount of time each party expects to cross-examine each witness. If the parties agree on a proposed schedule, the applicant or petitioner typically prepares or files it. If the parties do not agree, each of the parties files its own proposed schedule.
All evidentiary hearings are transcribed by a court reporter, and the transcript (the official written record of the evidentiary hearing) is made available to the public.
Hearing Officer – a Commission employee assigned by the Commission Chair to hear a case and to otherwise assist with any matter within the jurisdiction of the Commission
Hearing Officer Case - a case in which the procedural steps are conducted by a hearing officer assigned to the case and not directly by the Commissioners (see Commission Case). In a hearing officer case, the hearing officer will conduct any site visit, public hearing, and the evidentiary hearing.
Host Landowner – the legal owner of the property on which a project is or would be located. The term is generally used when the landowner has agreed to host a project that is proposed for construction and operation by someone other than the landowner.
I
Information Session – a meeting hosted by the Department of Public Service immediately before a public hearing at which the petitioner in the case explains the project to the public and the public can ask questions. Commission personnel do not attend information sessions. Information sessions are not transcribed.
Integrated Resource Plan or IRP – prepared by an electric or gas utility, an IRP outlines a plan for meeting customers’ need for utility service at the lowest societal cost. Such least-cost planning is required of electric and gas utilities pursuant to 30 V.S.A. § 218c.
Intervention, Intervenor, and Motion to Intervene – the procedure by which persons, organizations, or groups with an interest in the case can become formal parties to protect their interests by participating in the proceeding before the Commission. Those who meet the criteria for intervention may be granted party status by the Commission and are known as “intervenors”; intervenors may also sometimes be referred to as “non-petitioners.” Intervention can be sought either “as of right” or by permission of the Commission. A request to intervene is made by filing a “motion to intervene.”
A motion to intervene “as of right” must demonstrate that a person has either (1) an unconditional right to be a party in a case according to statute or Commission rule, or (2) an interest in the matters that must be resolved in the case, and disposition of the case may limit the person's ability to protect that interest because it will not be adequately represented by other existing parties to the case (see Commission Rule 2.209(A)).
A motion to intervene by permission must demonstrate that a person has (1) a conditional right to intervene according to statute or Commission rule, or (2) an interest that shares a question of law or fact in common with the matters that must be resolved in the case. In deciding motions for permissive intervention, the Commission must consider whether granting intervention will unduly delay the proceeding or prejudice the interests of existing parties or of the public (see Commission Rule 2.209(B)).
A person seeking to intervene should read Commission Rule 2.209 before filing a motion to intervene. A motion to intervene must describe the person's circumstances and the reasons the person meets the standards for intervening. Motion to intervene form
The motion to intervene, as well as any other filings in the case, must be filed with the Commission and served on all parties. Existing parties may comment on the intervention motion, after which the Commission will issue an order granting or denying the motion to intervene.
To manage the case efficiently, the Commission may restrict an intervenor’s participation to the specific issues by which the intervenor may be affected, or the Commission may require that parties work cooperatively.
Intervenors are often represented by an attorney. Individuals may, however, represent themselves without the assistance of counsel (a pro se representation). Additionally, the Commission may allow partnerships, corporations, and associations to be represented by an officer or an employee designated in writing by an officer of the corporation or association (see Commission Rule 2.201(B)).
A motion to intervene that is filed in paper must be accompanied by a Notice of Appearance, which lists the name and contact information for the individual or group. It is the filer's responsibility to update this information by contacting the Clerk of the Commission.
Intervention, Statutory Right – By law in certain types of cases, some persons or entities can intervene by simply letting the Commission know in writing that they are intervening in a specific case. This includes intervention requests filed by municipal legislative bodies and planning commissions (30 V.S.A. § 248(a)(4)(H)) and regional planning commissions (30 V.S.A. § 248(a)(4)(G)) in Section 246 and 248 cases. The right of intervention under these statutes extends to adjacent towns and regional planning commissions provided the proposed facility’s nearest component to the boundary of the adjacent town or region is 500 feet or 10 times the height of the facility’s tallest component, whichever is greater.
Intervention Under Net-Metering Rule – For projects reviewed under the net-metering rule (Section 8010 of Title 30), some persons and groups, including the affected town(s) and adjoining landowners, can intervene by filing a “notice of intervention” form.
Intervention Under Infrastructure Siting Rule (Rule 5.400) - For petitions filed under the infrastructure siting rule (for projects reviewed under Section 248 of Title 30), some persons and groups, including the affected town(s) and adjoining landowners, can intervene by filing a “notice of intervention” form.
Investigation – a proceeding initiated by the Commission to investigate: (1) an entity’s activities subject to Commission jurisdiction or (2) a policy area within the Commission’s jurisdiction. Sometimes the Legislature directs the Commission to conduct a collaborative process on a policy area; those collaborative processes are also referred to as investigations.
M
Memorandum of Understanding or MOU – Also referred to as a stipulation, this is a document formalizing agreements among parties to a case. Such agreements often resolve issues in dispute, subject to the Commission’s review and approval.
Meteorological Tower or MET tower – a structure, typically between 160 and 200 feet high, that measures wind speed and wind direction. Requests for Certificates of Public Good for MET towers are reviewed under Section 246 of Title 30.
Motion – a request for the Commission or a hearing officer to decide an issue or grant a request for some kind of relief. For example, a party may move for permission to intervene in a case, or move to admit testimony or exhibits, or move for the Commission to reconsider or amend a decision. Specific types of motions have timelines for responses that are established under the Commission’s procedural rules.
Examples:
Motion to alter or amend – a motion asking the Commission to reconsider its final decision in a case. A motion to alter or amend must be filed within 28 days after a final order is issued.
Motion to intervene – a motion requesting party status in a case
Motion objecting to testimony – a request that certain testimony or exhibits not be admitted into the evidentiary record for legal or factual reasons (sometimes also referred to as a motion in limine)
Motion for reconsideration – another term for a motion to alter or amend
Motion to strike – a request that the Commission require that all or part of another party’s testimony or filings be removed from the Commission’s consideration of a matter
Motion to transfer – a motion requesting the transfer of a Certificate of Public Good to another entity
N
Net-Metering or NM – the process of measuring the difference between the electricity supplied to a customer by a utility and the electricity fed back to the utility by a net-metering system owned by the customer. Net-metering systems can be solar panels, wind turbines, or other renewable energy generators. The owner of the net-metering system uses as much of the power as it needs, and any power that it generates in excess of what it needs is transferred to the grid for use by the utility. The utility pays the net-metering owner for this surplus power, which shows up as a credit on the owner’s electric bill.
Net-metering systems can be owned by a single entity or can be a group system that provides credits to multiple users.
Net-metering applications can request Commission authorization to construct and operate a new net-metering system, or to convert an existing renewable power source to a net-metering billing arrangement.
Non-petitioners – all parties to a case other than the petitioner; non-petitioners include intervenors and statutory parties.
Notice – a requirement that information be provided to other parties in a case or to a list of interested persons or entities. See Advance Submission for requirements to provide notice to specific entities before submitting an application to the Commission. In some cases, there are notice requirements that must be met when an application is filed with the Commission.
Notice of Appearance – a filing that provides the Commission and the parties to a contested case with the identity and contact information for the person legally representing a party in a case. The person listed in the notice of appearance is the only person who may make formal filings with the Commission in that case. Parties or their legal representatives are required to file a notice of appearance under Commission Rule 2.201(A). In the Commission’s electronic filing system, ePUC, this notice of appearance happens automatically when a party files a new case or a motion to intervene or notice of intervention in an existing case. Any other initial filing in an existing case must be accompanied by a separate notice of appearance. Persons or entities who appear pro se simply put their own names and contact information in the notice of appearance. Persons who request a waiver under Commission Rule 2.107 to allow for paper filings must provide a written notice of appearance that conforms with the Commission’s rules of procedure, including certificates of service. If a waiver is requested using the Commission's Request a Waiver of the Requirement to Use ePUC Form, there is no need to file a separate notice of appearance document because the form satisfies the requirement to file a written notice of appearance.
O
Oral Argument – an opportunity for parties to present arguments orally directly to the Commission, often before the Commission makes its final decision in a case. For instance, oral argument can be requested by parties in response to a hearing officer’s Proposal for Decision after it has been distributed for review and comment by the parties.
Order – a written document used to convey Commission decisions. Commission orders may convey final decisions made by the Commission, or procedural decisions related to the case schedule, rulings on motions, or other matters. The Commission’s final decision in a case is announced and explained in a “final order.” If a Commission decision is to approve a project, the final order will be accompanied by a Certificate of Public Good. Hearing officers are empowered to issue procedural orders and to issue "final orders" in consumer complaint cases where the disputed amount is equal to or less than $2,000. In all other cases, the “final order” is signed by the Commissioners.
P
Party – refers to any person or entity who has met the requirements to participate directly in a case before the Commission. The Department of Public Service, the Agency of Natural Resources, and in some cases, the Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets have been designated by law as parties to Commission cases. Other persons or entities can request to be a “party” to a case by filing a motion to intervene or, in some types of cases, a notice of intervention.
Parties to a case can provide testimony and participate in evidentiary hearings, and they have a right to appeal an adverse decision. They may be represented by an attorney, or represent themselves (which is referred to as appearing pro se). All parties must follow the Commission’s procedural rules, and are subject to the rules governing discovery and cross-examination. Evidentiary matters in Commission hearings are governed by the provisions of 3 V.S.A. § 810.
Statutory Parties – Statutory parties are automatically parties to a case based on Vermont law. For instance, two state agencies are automatically parties to all Section 248 proceedings: the Department of Public Service and the Agency of Natural Resources.
Petition and Petitioner – the person or entity that files a request for Commission approval is the Petitioner; the request may be referred to as an application or a petition.
Photovoltaics or PV – devices used to produce electricity from sunlight.
Pre-filed Testimony – see Testimony
Pro Se – a person or an entity who participates and represents their interest in a Commission case without retaining an attorney. Representing yourself is referred to as appearing pro se. When individuals appear pro se, they have the rights and responsibilities of attorneys and must follow all applicable rules and procedures. If a pro se representative is unable to comply with obligations under Commission rules and Vermont law, the Commission has the authority to require the party to retain legal counsel.
Proposal for Decision (P for D or PFD) – the hearing officer’s recommended decision in a case. If the PFD is adverse to any party in the case, then it is circulated among all the parties to a case to provide them with the opportunity to comment. The parties may also request the opportunity to present oral argument before the Commissioners after the PFD has been issued. The PFD, any party’s comments, and points made at any oral argument are reviewed by the Commission in making a final decision on a case.
Proposed Findings of Fact – statements of fact from the evidentiary record that a party wants the Commission to rely on when making its decision. Proposed findings of fact are typically a series of numbered paragraphs, with each paragraph ending with references to specific documents and page numbers where the information in that paragraph can be found in the evidentiary record.
Protective Agreements – an agreement executed among two or more parties to a case as to whether and how to afford confidential treatment to information that either is or may be legally entitled to protection from public disclosure. In most cases, a protective agreement is entered into to afford confidential treatment to information exchanged between parties in discovery without first obtaining a ruling from the Commission that legally establishes the confidential nature of the information.
Protective Orders – an order issued by the Commission regarding how confidential material (or material that a party claims should be treated as confidential) is to be treated in the record of a case. A protective order can cover entire documents or portions of documents. The purpose of a protective order is to treat designated information as confidential in light of the fact that Commission proceedings are open to the public and case filings are considered public information. Parties must file a motion or other request for confidential treatment for consideration by the Commission. See Commission Rule 2.226(C) for more information about filing a motion for confidential treatment.
Public Comments – Members of the public can submit comments on a case at any time in a Commission proceeding. In some cases, there is a comment deadline to ensure that the comments are available for the Commission to consider before reaching its decision on the case. Public comments may be filed using ePUC, via email to puc.clerk@vermont.gov, or in paper.
Public comments are useful for raising issues that the Commission and the parties should consider during the case. Public comments received before an evidentiary hearing may be helpful to the Commission members or hearing officer as they ask questions of the parties at an evidentiary hearing, which will result in issues being documented as formal evidence in the case. Public comments themselves are not considered “evidence” in a case because they are not given under oath and are not subject to cross-examination. The Commission is required by statute to base its decisions on the evidentiary record in a case.
Public Hearing - see Hearing
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Rate Case – an investigation into a tariff filing that includes proposed changes to a utility’s rates, or any proceeding examining whether a utility company’s rates are just and reasonable.
Rebuttable Presumption – a presumption that is taken to be true by the decision-making body unless a party disputes the presumption and rebuts it. (For example, a defendant in a criminal case is presumed innocent until proved guilty.) In Commission cases, a presumption is rebutted by presenting evidence or argument as to why the Commission should not rely on that presumption in deciding an issue in the case. If the presumption is successfully rebutted, then the presumption disappears, and the party who initially relied on it must prove the truth of the matter that was previously assumed to be true. A rebuttable presumption can be created by state law or an administrative law rule (such as a Commission rule) or by legal precedent such as a court case or a Commission order.
Here is how a rebuttable presumption works in a Commission case: Say a Commission Rule contains a presumption that generation projects of a specified type and size do not have an adverse effect on aesthetics. Unless facts or arguments are raised that show why the Commission should not rely on that presumption in a particular case (this is called “rebutting the presumption”), there will be a finding in the Commission’s final order that the project at issue will not have an adverse effect on aesthetics. However, if the Commission is persuaded that the presumption of “no adverse aesthetic effect” should not apply in this particular case, the project applicant will be required to produce evidence (e.g., testimony or exhibits) to prove that the project will have no adverse effect on aesthetics.
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or RGGI – a cooperative effort among northeastern and mid-Atlantic states (including Vermont) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by electric power generators. This is accomplished through a multi-state cap-and-trade program with a market-based emissions trading system.
Renewable Energy Certificate or REC – Every unit of electricity produced has certain “attributes” associated with it. The attributes that make electricity renewable can be sold separately from the power itself. These renewable attributes are sold in the form of renewable energy certificates. When a REC is sold independently of the power it is associated with, the power is no longer considered renewable.
Respondent – a term that is sometimes used to refer to a party that is the subject of an investigation proceeding initiated by the Commission.
Rules and Rulemaking – regulations developed by the Commission that have the force and effect of law. The process of developing and approving a new rule is a “rulemaking.” Rulemaking is a process that generally begins with developing a recommended, draft rule, followed by formal rulemaking procedures governed by the Vermont Administrative Procedures Act. The law does not consider rulemakings to be “contested cases.”
The Commission has broad rulemaking authority through 30 V.S.A. § 2(c), which authorizes the Commission to initiate rulemaking proceedings on any matter within its jurisdiction. In addition, many specific statutory sections direct or authorize the Commission to implement their provisions “by rule or order.” The Commission has implemented new procedures and requirements using both rules and orders.
Typically, rulemaking proceedings are initiated either by the Commission, or upon request by a state agency, a utility, or a group of individuals. Often when the Commission is asked to open a rulemaking proceeding, a draft proposed rule accompanies the request. If no draft proposed rule has been filed, the Commission will develop one. To facilitate the development of a proposed rule, it is common for a hearing officer to conduct an informal process before the formal rulemaking process begins. This informal process generally includes one or more workshops and one or more opportunities for written comments. It may also include circulating one or more drafts of a proposed rule to interested persons for feedback.
In the formal part of the rulemaking process, the Commission puts its recommended draft rule through a number of prescribed steps, which include filing the draft rule with legislative and inter-agency committees and the Secretary of State. There are more opportunities for public involvement, including public hearings, in the formal rulemaking process. Completion of the formal rulemaking results in a final adopted rule.
Rules of Practice - Set out in Commission Rule 2.000, these rules apply in all Commission proceedings. They describe procedural and administrative requirements such as formats for filings, service and notice requirements, motions, pro se appearances, ex parte communications, scheduling conferences, testimony, discovery, conduct of hearings, and briefs.
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Scheduling Conference – see Hearing
Scheduling Order – an order setting the schedule in a proceeding. Such a schedule is binding on all parties unless and until it is changed by the Commission.
Section 248 – the section in Title 30 that governs utility investments in or construction of generation and transmission projects as well as certain long-term power purchases by Vermont utilities. Section 248 proceedings typically involve siting new generation or transmission facilities (including gas transmission), or expanding or modifying existing facilities. Section 248 also grants the Commission the authority to approve large, long-term power purchases from out of state.
Typical Section 248 siting projects include:
- construction or modification of solar, wind, and biomass power generation projects that are connected to the electric grid
- construction or modification of electrical transmission lines and natural gas pipelines
- construction or modification of substations and natural gas transmission infrastructure, including compressor stations
Before site preparation or construction, a proposed project must be certified by the Commission to be in the public good. When determining whether to grant a Certificate of Public Good (CPG), the Commission considers whether the proposed project meets the statutory criteria from 30 V.S.A. § 248 (see Section 248 criteria). These criteria include site-specific environmental criteria incorporated from Act 250, in addition to other issues such as need, reliability, and economic benefit. The Commission may only issue a CPG if it finds that the proposed project promotes the general good of the State, after considering the relevant statutory criteria.
Section 248 criteria – document
Section 248a – a petition filed pursuant to, or a proceeding conducted under, 30 V.S.A. § 248a. Under Section 248a, applicants may seek approval from the Commission for the construction or installation of wireless telecommunications facilities that are to be interconnected with other telecommunications facilities.
Section 248(j) – a subsection of Section 248 that provides for an expedited review of Section 248 siting petitions (see Section 248) provided that the Commission finds that the project is of limited size and scope, it does not raise a significant issue under the Section 248 criteria, and the public interest is satisfied by the abbreviated procedures. Under the abbreviated procedures for a Section 248(j) proceeding, there is a 30-day comment period, no public hearing is held (unless requested by a party or a member of the public), and no evidentiary hearing is held unless the application raises a significant issue.
As with Section 248 projects, before site preparation or construction may begin for a project proposed under Section 248(j), the project must be certified by the Commission to be in the public good. When determining whether to grant a Certificate of Public Good (CPG), the Commission considers whether the proposed project meets the statutory criteria of 30 V.S.A. § 248 (see Section 248 criteria). These criteria include site-specific environmental criteria incorporated from Act 250, in addition to other issues such as need, reliability, and economic benefit. The Commission may only issue a CPG if it finds that the proposed project promotes the general good of the State, after considering the relevant statutory criteria.
Serve, Service – the act of providing a document to a mandatory recipient in a case. In the Commission’s electronic case management system, ePUC, service is accomplished by a notification that information was filed in a case to all parties in that case who are using ePUC. Persons who have received a waiver under Commission Rule 2.107 to allow for paper filings must serve the information on all applicable entities by first-class mail, personal delivery, or any other means authorized by the person entitled to receive service.
Service List – a list of the names and contact information of the parties who are entitled to receive a copy of all filings made and all orders and notices issued in a Commission case. If you are not a party to a case but would like to receive an email notification from ePUC when documents are filed or issued in that case, you may subscribe to the case in ePUC. How to subscribe to a case in ePUC.
Service Quality and Reliability Plan or SQRP – Most electric utilities, Vermont Gas, Efficiency Vermont, and some cable companies have plans documenting how the utility plans to meet certain service quality and reliability standards or compensate customers affected by the utility in the event of the utility’s poor performance.
Settlement – a stipulation or Memorandum of Understanding among some or all of the parties to a case describing agreements reached.
Site Visit – The Commissioners or a hearing officer may conduct a site visit, depending on the nature and requirements of the case. The purpose of the site visit is to provide the Commission with a better sense of possible impacts of the proposed project. The site visit will typically include walking through some or all of the areas to be affected by the proposed project to view existing conditions, with an opportunity for the project proponent to describe what the project would include and how the existing conditions would be altered by the proposed project.
The site visit may also include identification of relevant landscape features, discussion of how such landscape features have affected or potentially might affect the project design and location, identification of and visits to potential alternative locations for the proposed project, and any other relevant matters for which a first-hand viewing of the site may assist in understanding the issues before the Commission.
Observations and facts from the site visit are not a part of the evidentiary record and are not considered formal “findings” on which the Commission will base its final decision in a case, unless the Commission or one of the parties to a case requests to have observations or facts from the site visit entered into the evidentiary record at the evidentiary hearing.
Standard-Offer Program – the program authorized under 30 V.S.A. Secs. 8001-8009, in particular Section 8005a. The purpose of the Standard-Offer Program is to support the State’s renewable energy goals by encouraging the development of small- and medium-sized renewable energy plants distributed across Vermont’s electric grid. The Standard-Offer Program is implemented through Commission orders, particularly those issued under Dockets 7533, 7873, 7874, and 8817, and Cases 17-3935-INV, 18-2820-INV, 19-4466-INV, 20-2935-INV, and 21-4085-INV.
Statutory Parties – persons or entities that are automatically parties to a case by a designation under Vermont law. For example, two state agencies are automatically parties to all Section 248 proceedings: the Department of Public Service and the Agency of Natural Resources.
Stipulation – a document formalizing agreements among two or more parties to a case. A stipulation may be referred to as a Memorandum of Understanding or “MOU.”
Subscriber – A person may “subscribe” to receive notification of the filing of any document filed by parties or issued by the Commission in a specific Commission case. The subscriber will receive an e-mail notification when something new is filed in the case. In order to be a subscriber in a Commission case, you must create an ePUC account. How to subscribe to a case in ePUC.
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Tariff or Tariff Filing – a collection of rules defining the relationship between a utility and its customers. A tariff defines a utility’s rates and terms of service. These terms are intended to ensure that utilities apply non-discriminatory practices to all customers. A utility’s tariff filings include explanations of the various factors that contribute to a customer’s utility rates, such as fixed costs, consumption rates, demand rates, and seasonal rates.
Testimony, Pre-filed Testimony - information provided by a witness that is sworn to be true and that either supports or criticizes the position of a party in a Commission case. The applicant’s pre-filed testimony and exhibits explain why the Commission should grant the relief requested and why all relevant statutory criteria are met. The application must address all the relevant criteria in order to be considered complete, including the applicant’s arguments for why any of the review criteria may not be applicable to the application.
The other parties to a case may file testimony that provides information supporting their position on whether the application complies with the applicable legal criteria and would serve the general good of the State of Vermont. The other parties to the case are provided the opportunity to file written testimony and exhibits after an opportunity to ask the petitioner about its filing during a process called discovery, and before the evidentiary hearing.
Testimony must be prepared by witnesses who are qualified to provide truthful, accurate, and relevant information and to answer questions about it. The need for specialized, expert testimony depends on the complexity of the case. For example, if a case involves a proposed project that would have an impact on a wetland, an environmental expert may be required to address that impact.
Exhibits are documents that support the testimony, such as site plans, photographs, reports, charts, spreadsheets, letters, or other forms of documentation that support the conclusions contained in the testimony.
Commission Rules 2.204(E) and 2.213(C) include further requirements on the format for pre-filed testimony (e.g., must be double-spaced, preferably with line numbers indicated in the left-hand margin).
For complex cases, there may be several rounds of testimony to respond to what other parties have submitted, referred to as “rebuttal” and “surrebuttal” testimony. The scope of pre-filed testimony is narrowed with each round of testimony, such that it may address only the testimony filed in the previous round. While rebuttal and surrebuttal testimony is normally submitted in the same manner as pre-filed testimony, there are occasions when such testimony is provided live during the evidentiary hearings.
Any objections to the admissibility of pre-filed testimony or exhibits typically must be filed with the Commission in writing at least 14 days before the date of the evidentiary hearing at which the testimony or exhibit will be offered into the evidentiary record (see Commission Rule 2.216(D)). Assuming the testimony is entered into the record at the evidentiary hearing, the witness is then subject to cross-examination on the testimony. Intervenors are also allowed to cross-examine the witnesses of the other parties. The parties’ testimony and exhibits, if admitted, become part of the evidentiary record upon which the Commission may rely in its final order.
Transcript – a written record of what is said in court proceedings. Commission hearings are transcribed by a court reporter. The transcript of a Commission hearing is made available to the public free of charge. Transcripts are accessible through ePUC as pdf files.
Transmission and Distribution or T&D –Transmission and distribution collectively make up the regional power grid. “Transmission and distribution” is often used as an adjective, as in T&D infrastructure, or T&D plan.
For electricity, transmission generally refers to power conveyance from a generating site, such as a power plant, to an electrical substation. Distribution generally refers to local wiring between substations and customers.
For natural gas, transmission refers to gas supplied from interstate supply locations to delivery ports called “gate stations.” Distribution refers to pipelines that convey gas from the gate station to individual customers.
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Uncontested Case Proceeding – any proceeding before the Commission other than one in which notice and an opportunity for a hearing is required by law
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Workshop – an informal Commission proceeding convened to bring stakeholders and interested members of the public together to discuss a particular topic or a proposed rule or program. Workshops are one way for the Commission to get input and facilitate discussion of issues in uncontested case proceedings.