§ 5.502. Filing and service of briefs.
(a) Service. Copies shall be served on the parties in accordance with § 1.59(b) and (c) (relating to number of copies to be served).
(b) Number of copies.
(1) Paper filing. An original of a brief shall be filed with the Commission under § 1.4 (relating to filing generally).
(2) Electronic filing.
(i) When the brief, including attachments, is 250 pages or less and does not exceed 5 megabytes, the filing user may file one electronic copy of the brief with the Commission and is not required to file a paper copy.
(ii) When the brief, including attachments, exceeds 250 pages but does not exceed 5 megabytes, the filing user may file one electronic copy of the brief and shall also file an original of the brief in paper form. The original shall be filed no later than 3 business days after the electronic filing is made. The filing date for the brief in paper form for purposes of this section will be determined in accordance with § 1.11(a)(1)—(3) (relating to date of filing).
(3) Voluminous briefs. When the brief, including attachments, exceeds 5 megabytes, in addition to filing the requisite number of hard copies in accordance with subsection (b)(1), a CD-ROM or DVD containing the brief and an index to the brief shall be filed with the Commission.
(c) Filing of briefs in nonrate proceedings.
(1) Initial brief. An initial brief shall be filed by the party with the burden of proof except as provided by agreement or by direction of the presiding officer.
(2) Response brief. A party may file a response brief to the initial brief.
(d) Filing of briefs in rate proceedings.
(1) Main brief. A main brief may be filed by a party except as provided by agreement or by direction of the presiding officer.
(2) Reply brief. A party may file a reply brief to a main brief regardless of whether the party filed a main brief.
(e) Filing of amicus curiae briefs. A person interested in the issues involved in a Commission proceeding, although not a party, may, without applying for leave to do so, file amicus curiae briefs in regard to those issues. Unless otherwise ordered, amicus curiae briefs shall be filed and served in the manner and number required and within the time allowed by this section, absent good cause.
(f) Deadlines. Initial briefs, main briefs, responsive briefs and reply briefs shall be filed and served within the time fixed by the presiding officer. If no specific times are fixed, initial briefs or main briefs shall be filed and served within 20 days after the date of service of notice of the filing of the transcript and responsive briefs or reply briefs shall be filed within 40 days after date of service of the notice of the filing of the transcript.
(g) Late-filed briefs. Briefs not filed and served on or before the dates fixed therefore will not be accepted, except by special permission of the Commission or the presiding officer as permitted under § 1.15 (referring to extensions of time and continuances).
(h) Supersession. Subsections (a)—(f) supersede 1 Pa. Code § § 35.191 and 35.193 (relating to proceedings in which briefs are to be filed; and filing and service of briefs).
Authority The provisions of this § 5.502 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 504—506, 523, 1301, 1501 and 1504.
Source The provisions of this § 5.502 adopted October 12, 1984, effective January 1, 1985, 14 Pa.B. 3819; amended January 24, 1997, effective January 25, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 414; amended April 28, 2006, effective April 29, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 2097; amended September 26, 2008, effective September 27, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 5303; amended January 10, 2014, effective January 11, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 249. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (368441) to (368442).
Notes of Decisions Discretion
There was no abuse of discretion when the administrative law judge accepted and considered a party’s initial brief even though it was filed in violation of the briefing order. Springfield Township v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 676 A.2d 304 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1996).
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 1.37 (relating to number of copies).
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