Section 170IAC14-1-5. Hearing on application

   (a) Subject to section 3(b) of this rule, a request for formal public hearing on an application for rate change filed under this rule shall be filed with the secretary of the commission within forty (40) calendar days of the initial filing of the application for rate change, unless the commission extends the period for filing.

  (b) The commission may, upon a request timely filed by any public or municipal corporation, ten (10) individuals, firms, corporations, or associations, or ten (10) complainants of all, or any, of these classes affected by the proposed rate change or by the OUCC, conduct a formal public hearing with respect to any application for rate change.

  (c) The commission may require a formal public hearing on its own motion.

  (d) In the event a formal public hearing is held, under this section, the small utility may elect to designate its application to serve as its prefiled evidence, constituting its case-in-chief; however, the small utility is not precluded from filing additional evidence. (Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission; 170 IAC 14-1-5; filed Jul 11, 1986, 9:47 a.m.: 9 IR 2920; filed Jun 19, 1991, 3:45 p.m.: 14 IR 1947; filed Jan 5, 2000, 3:52 p.m.: 23 IR 1092; readopted filed Jul 11, 2001, 4:30 p.m.: 24 IR 4233; readopted filed Apr 24, 2007, 8:21 a.m.: 20070509-IR-170070147RFA; filed Apr 21, 2008, 3:23 p.m.: 20080521-IR-170070830FRA; readopted filed Jul 29, 2014, 8:39 a.m.: 20140827-IR-170140181RFA)