Responsibilities of the
Department of Public Service

The Department of Public Service (DPS) is charged by law with supervising and directing the execution of all laws related to regulated utility companies, including electric, natural gas, telephone, cable, and private water companies.

In utility rate cases before the Public Service Board (PSB), DPS is charged with representing the "interests of the consuming public." In applications for siting of electric generation and transmission facilities under Title 30, Section 248 of the Vermont Statutes, DPS is charged with representing "the interests of the people of the state…."

Among DPS's other duties are energy and telecommunications planning; supervision and evaluation of utility service quality; review of transactions by utilities, such as mergers, acquisitions, and major contracts; and review of and recommendations to the PSB concerning proposed amendments to utilities' tariffs, including both rates and terms of service.

DPS is headed by a Commissioner who is appointed by the Governor. The Department is organized into eight divisions:

1. Consumer Affairs & Public Information assists consumers to reach informal resolution of complaints against regulated utilities, advocates for consumer protection policies and provides public information to assist make consumers more effective advocates for themselves in utility-related matters.
   
2. Energy Efficiency works to develop policies and programs that increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in Vermont.
   
3. Engineering is composed of engineers specializing in gas and electric energy production and distribution, and nuclear power, with a focus on safe, reliable and efficient operations.
   
4. Finance & Economics reviews and makes recommendations regarding tariff filinigs and special contracts by utilities, and presents financial testimony before the Public Service Board and other jurisdictions. The division also prepares cost and other financial reports, handles sales of electricity for which DPS is authorized by law and collects the utility Gross Revenue Tax that funds the operation of the Public Service Board and DPS.
   
5. Planning develops and revises the states plans for energy and telecommunications, analyzes utility proposals for the purchase of energy resources and the building of facilities and transmisison lines, reviews proposed utility special contracts and integrated resource plans, and supports litigation with technical support and expert witness testimony.
   
6. Public Advocacy represents the public interest in administrative litigation before the Public Service Board and in other forums such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Federal Communications Commission and the courts.
   
7. Telecommunications makes recommendations concerning telecommunications companies' tariff filings, provides technical expertise on telecommunications and cable matters, and provides expert testimony on telecommunications and cable cases before the Public Service Board.

The directors of Public Advocacy, Planning, and Energy Efficiency are specified in Vermont law (30 V.S.A. §1).

DOCKET 7032
CASE SCHEDULE

02.09.05
Public hearing

02.18.05
Deadline for intervention requests

03.10.05
Site visit

03.18.05
Last date for filing discovery requests on petitioners

03.28.05
Last date for petitioners’ prefiled direct testimony and exhibits

04.11.05
All parties other than petitioners prefile direct testimony and exhibits

05.02.05
Last day to serve discovery on April 11 prefiled testimony and exhibits

05.12.05
Last day for discovery responses

05.23.05
All parties prefile rebuttal testimony and exhibits

06.03.05
Last day to serve discovery on rebuttal prefiled testimony and exhibits

06.13.05
Last day for responses to rebuttal discovery

06.27.05
All parties prefile surrebuttal testimony and exhibits

07.06.05
Technical hearing

07.07.05
Technical hearing

07.08.05
Technical hearing

07.18.05 (week of)
Technical hearings

08.08.05
Briefs due

08.22.05
Reply briefs due

10.19.05
Proposal for decision issued

11.04.05
Comments due on proposal for decision

12.07.05
Oral argument on proposal for decision

BOARD SCHEDULING ORDER (PDF)

SCHEDULE CHANGE MEMO OF 04.14.05 (PDF)