U.S. Code » Title 16 » Chapter CHAPTER 46— PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATORY POLICIES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— INTERVENTION AND JUDICIAL REVIEW

16 U.S.C. § 2632

Consumer representation

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(a) Compensation for costs of participation or intervention(1) If no alternative means for assuring representation of electric consumers is adopted in accordance with subsection (b) and if an electric consumer of an electric utility substantially contributed to the approval, in whole or in part, of a position advocated by such consumer in a proceeding concerning such utility, and relating to any standard set forth in subchapter II, such utility shall be liable to compensate such consumer (pursuant to paragraph (2)) for reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs incurred in preparation and advocacy of such position in such proceeding (including fees and costs of obtaining judicial review of any determination made in such proceeding with respect to such position).(2) A consumer entitled to fees and costs under paragraph (1) may collect such fees and costs from an electric utility by bringing a civil action in any State court of competent jurisdiction, unless the State regulatory authority (in the case of a proceeding concerning a State regulated electric utility) or nonregulated electric utility (in the case of a proceeding concerning such nonregulated electric utility) has adopted a reasonable procedure pursuant to which such authority or nonregulated electric utility—(A) determines the amount of such fees and costs, and(B) includes an award of such fees and costs in its order in the proceeding.(3) The procedure adopted by such State regulatory authority or nonregulated utility under paragraph (2) may include a preliminary proceeding to require that—(A) as a condition of receiving compensation under such procedure such consumer demonstrate that, but for the ability to receive such award, participation or intervention in such proceeding may be a significant financial hardship for such consumer, and(B) persons with the same or similar interests have a common legal representative in the proceeding as a condition to receiving compensation.(b) Alternative meansCompensation shall not be required under subsection (a) if the State, the State regulatory authority (in the case of a proceeding concerning a State regulated electric utility), or the nonregulated electric utility (in the case of a proceeding concerning such nonregulated electric utility) has provided an alternative means for providing adequate compensation to persons—(1) who have, or represent, an interest—(A) which would not otherwise be adequately represented in the proceeding, and(B) representation of which is necessary for a fair determination in the proceeding, and(2) who are, or represent an interest which is, unable to effectively participate or intervene in the proceeding because such persons cannot afford to pay reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs of preparing for, and participating or intervening in, such proceeding (including fees and costs of obtaining judicial review of such proceeding).(c) Transcripts

The State regulatory authority or nonregulated electric utility, as the case may be, shall make transcripts of the proceeding available, at cost of reproduction, to parties or intervenors in any ratemaking proceeding, or other regulatory proceeding relating to rates or rate design, before a State regulatory authority or nonregulated electric utility.

(d) Federal agencies

Any claim under this section against any Federal agency shall be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

(e) Rights under other authority

Nothing in this section affects or restricts any rights of any participant or intervenor in any proceeding under any other applicable law or rule of law.

(Pub. L. 95–617, title I, § 122, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3129.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1981–2021 · leading case: Power v. Washington Water Power Co., 662 P.2d 374 (Wash. 1983).
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Power v. Washington Water Power Co., 662 P.2d 374 (Wash. 1983). · cites it 28× “16 U.S.C. § 2632 (a)(1). Where a state provides an "alternative means for assuring representation of electric consumers" ( 16 U.”
Idaho Power Co. v. Idaho Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 639 P.2d 442 (Idaho 1981). · cites it 10× “16 U.S.C. § 2632 (a)(1) establishes the electric utilities' liability to compensate such consumer intervenors for certain fees and costs incurred to prepare and advocate their positions.”
New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 246 Cal. App. 4th 784 (Cal. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “( 16 U.S.C. § 2632 (a)(1); see 16 U.S.C. § 2632 (a)(2).”
Utah State Coalition of Senior Citizens v. Utah Power & Light Co., 776 P.2d 632 (Utah 1989). · cites it 7× “3117, § 122, 16 U.S.C. § 2632 (1982). The PSC denied the *634 petition in July of 1982.”
Marek v. Chesny, 473 U.S. 1 (1985). · cites it 2× “3129 , 16 U. S. C. §§ 2632 (a) and (b). 24. Copyright Act of 1976, 90 Stat.”
Int'l Woodworkers of Am., Afl-Cio & Its Local No. 5-376 v. Champion Int'l Corp., 790 F.2d 1174 (5th Cir. 1986). “§ 1540 (g)(4) (citizen’s action to compel compliance with provisions concerning endangered species); (6) Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. § 2632 (a)(1) (proceeding involving electric utility); (7) Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, 26 U.”
Power v. Washington Water Power Co., 684 P.2d 716 (Wash. 1984). · cites it 6× “[1] Under 16 U.S.C. § 2632 (a) ( see Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), 16 U.”
Kenny A. Ex Rel. Winn v. Perdue, 547 F.3d 1319 (11th Cir. 2008). · cites it 2× “§ 1540 (g)(4); Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. § 2632 (a)(1); Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.”
Rodriguez v. Orange & Rockland Utils., Inc., 123 A.D.2d 613 (N.Y. App. Div. 1986). · cites it 6× “In an action to recover attorney’s fees pursuant to 16 USC § 2632 , the defendant appeals (1) from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Rockland County (Burchell, J.”
Ramos v. Lamm, 539 F. Supp. 730 (D. Colo. 1982). “95-617, § 122 ), 16 U.S.C. § 2632 (a) Railroad Revitalization and Reform Act, 45 U.”
United Tenants of Albany, Inc. v. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., 127 Misc. 2d 957 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1984). · cites it 4× “The statute ( 16 USC § 2632 [b] [1] [A]) requires that the alternative means provide adequate compensation (representation) to persons having an interest “which would not otherwise be adequately represented in the proceeding”.”
Coulter v. Tennessee, 805 F.2d 146 (6th Cir. 1986). “95-617, § 122 ), 16 U.S.C. § 2632 (a) Railroad Revitalization and Reform Act, 45 U.”
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