Tex. Gov't Code Section 2003.049
Utility Hearings


(a)

The office shall perform contested case hearings for the Public Utility Commission of Texas as prescribed by the Public Utility Regulatory Act of 1995 and other applicable law.

(b)

The office shall conduct hearings relating to contested cases before the commission, other than a hearing conducted by one or more commissioners. The commission by rule may delegate the responsibility to hear any other matter before the commission if consistent with the duties and responsibilities of the office.

(c)

The office may contract with qualified individuals to serve as temporary administrative law judges as necessary.

(d)

To be eligible to preside at a hearing, an administrative law judge, regardless of temporary or permanent status, must be licensed to practice law in this state and have not less than five years of general experience or three years of experience in utility regulatory law.

(e)

At the time the office receives jurisdiction of a proceeding, the commission shall provide to the administrative law judge a list of issues or areas that must be addressed. In addition, the commission may identify and provide to the administrative law judge at any time additional issues or areas that must be addressed.

(f)

The office and the commission shall jointly adopt rules providing for certification to the commission of an issue that involves an ultimate finding of compliance with or satisfaction of a statutory standard the determination of which is committed to the discretion or judgment of the commission by law. The rules must address, at a minimum, the issues that are appropriate for certification and the procedure to be used in certifying the issue. Each agency shall publish the jointly adopted rules.

(g)

Notwithstanding Section 2001.058 (Hearing Conducted by State Office of Administrative Hearings), the commission may change a finding of fact or conclusion of law made by the administrative law judge or vacate or modify an order issued by the administrative law judge only if the commission:

(1)

determines that the administrative law judge:

(A)

did not properly apply or interpret applicable law, commission rules or policies, or prior administrative decisions; or

(B)

issued a finding of fact that is not supported by a preponderance of the evidence; or

(2)

determines that a commission policy or a prior administrative decision on which the administrative law judge relied is incorrect or should be changed.

(h)

The commission shall state in writing the specific reason and legal basis for its determination under Subsection (g).

(i)

An administrative law judge, on the judge’s own motion or on motion of a party and after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, may impose appropriate sanctions as provided by Subsection (j) against a party or its representative for:

(1)

filing a motion or pleading that is groundless and brought:

(A)

in bad faith;

(B)

for the purpose of harassment; or

(C)

for any other improper purpose, such as to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of the proceeding;

(2)

abuse of the discovery process in seeking, making, or resisting discovery; or

(3)

failure to obey an order of the administrative law judge or the commission.

(j)

A sanction imposed under Subsection (i) may include, as appropriate and justified, issuance of an order:

(1)

disallowing further discovery of any kind or of a particular kind by the offending party;

(2)

charging all or any part of the expenses of discovery against the offending party or its representative;

(3)

holding that designated facts be deemed admitted for purposes of the proceeding;

(4)

refusing to allow the offending party to support or oppose a designated claim or defense or prohibiting the party from introducing designated matters in evidence;

(5)

disallowing in whole or in part requests for relief by the offending party and excluding evidence in support of such requests;

(6)

punishing the offending party or its representative for contempt to the same extent as a district court;

(7)

requiring the offending party or its representative to pay, at the time ordered by the administrative law judge, the reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred by other parties because of the sanctionable behavior; and

(8)

striking pleadings or testimony, or both, in whole or in part, or staying further proceedings until the order is obeyed.

(k)

Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 , Sec. 26(1), eff. September 1, 2015.

(l)

Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 , Sec. 26(1), eff. September 1, 2015.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 765, Sec. 1.35, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Renumbered from Government Code Sec. 2003.047 by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 31.01(49), eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 85, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 2000.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 2154), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 2154), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 228 (H.B. 2154), Sec. 26(1), eff. September 1, 2015.

Source: Section 2003.049 — Utility Hearings, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.­2003.­htm#2003.­049 (accessed Jun. 5, 2024).

2003.001
Definitions
2003.021
Office
2003.022
Chief Administrative Law Judge
2003.023
Sunset Provision
2003.024
Interagency Contracts
2003.025
Required Information Regarding Anticipated Hourly Usage
2003.041
Employment of Administrative Law Judges
2003.042
Powers of Administrative Law Judge
2003.043
Temporary Administrative Law Judge
2003.044
Staff
2003.045
Oversight of Administrative Law Judges
2003.046
Central Hearings Panel
2003.047
Hearings for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
2003.049
Utility Hearings
2003.050
Procedural Rules
2003.051
Role of Referring Agency
2003.052
Handling of Complaints
2003.053
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
2003.055
Effective Use of Technology
2003.056
Alternative Dispute Resolution Policy
2003.057
Hearing Translator
2003.101
Tax Hearings
2003.103
Timeliness of Hearings
2003.104
Confidentiality of Tax Hearing Information
2003.108
Pending Case Status Review
2003.109
Rules
2003.0221
Removal of Chief Administrative Law Judge
2003.0225
Conflict of Interest
2003.0226
Information Regarding Requirements for Employment and Standards of Conduct
2003.0411
Senior and Master Administrative Law Judges
2003.0412
Ex Parte Consultations
2003.0421
Sanctions
2003.0451
Training
2003.901
Appeals from Appraisal Review Board Determinations
2003.902
Participating Offices and Remote Hearing Sites
2003.903
Rules
2003.904
Applicability to Real and Personal Property
2003.905
Education and Training of Administrative Law Judges
2003.906
Notice of Appeal to Office
2003.907
Contents of Notice of Appeal
2003.908
Notice to Property Owners
2003.909
Designation of Administrative Law Judge
2003.910
Scope of Appeal
2003.911
Representation of Parties
2003.912
Determination of Administrative Law Judge
2003.913
Payment of Taxes Pending Appeal
2003.914
Effect on Right to Judicial Appeal

Accessed:
Jun. 5, 2024

§ 2003.049’s source at texas​.gov