The commission may retain counsel and, when it examines a public service or utility business in Louisiana about services or rates, it may require the examined person to pay certain commission expenses. The commission must also adopt selection rules, set billing guidelines, allow public access to payment records, and send the rules to specified legislative leaders.
§1180. Expenses incurred to assist in investigations to be paid by carrier or utility A. Whenever the commission makes an examination of the affairs of any person doing a public service or public utilities business in Louisiana concerning matters affecting services or rates charged by such public service or public utilities businesses to Louisiana consumers, all expenses incurred by the commission for services necessary to assist the commission in conducting such examination, including the expenses and fees of engineers, consultants, accountants, or such other support staff and clerical assistants specially employed to make the examination, shall, at the discretion of the commission, be paid by the person so examined. B. Attorneys or special counsel may be retained by the commission to assist the commission for the purpose of evaluating and reviewing matters affecting services and rates charged by public utilities to Louisiana consumers and for representing the Public Service Commission in such cases or the judicial review thereof. C.(1)(a) On or before October 31, 1993, the commission, pursuant to Article IV, Section 21 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, shall adopt uniform rules and procedures to be utilized in the selection of such contract employees. Such procedures shall at the minimum set forth the conditions under which a request for proposals shall or shall not be utilized, the reasons therefor, the procedure to be utilized to request proposals, and what criteria and qualifications shall be required for the selection of such outside contract employees; shall specify uniform guidelines for billing for such services; and shall provide ready public access to the records of the commission showing the amounts and nature of charges paid to such contract employees. (b) The commission shall draw up detailed specifications for needed legal or consulting services and shall issue requests for proposals to persons who meet such specifications. (2) All such contracts shall be a matter of public record, and action on them shall only be undertaken at a duly announced meeting of the commission at which a quorum is present. (3) A copy of the rules and procedures adopted pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted forthwith upon adoption or subsequent amendment to the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the chairmen of the House Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs Committee. Amended by Acts 1954, No. 376, §1; Acts 1976, No. 468, §1; Acts 1985, No. 561, §1, eff. July 12, 1985; Acts 1992, No. 871, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 2003, No. 183, §5; Acts 2007, No. 234, §1. {{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1985, NO. 561, §3.}}