Subchapter G. BRIEFS

§ 5.501. Content and form of briefs.

 (a)  Briefs must contain the following:

   (1)  A concise statement or counter-statement of the case.

   (2)  Reference to the pages of the record or exhibits where the evidence relied upon by the filing party appears.

   (3)  An argument preceded by a summary. The party with the burden of proof shall, in its main or initial brief, completely address, to the extent possible, every issue raised by the relief sought and the evidence adduced at hearing.

   (4)  A conclusion with requested relief.

 (b)  Briefs must also contain the following, if and as directed by the presiding officer:

   (1)  A statement of the questions involved.

   (2)  Proposed findings of fact with references to transcript pages or exhibits where evidence appears, together with proposed conclusions of law.

   (3)  Proposed ordering paragraphs specifically identifying the relief sought.

 (c)  Exhibits should not be reproduced in the brief, but may, if desired, be reproduced in an appendix to the brief.

 (d)  Briefs of more than 20 pages must contain on their front leaves a table of contents with page references and a table of citations, which may be prepared without pagination.

 (e)  Briefs must be as concise as possible and, except for briefs in rate cases, be limited to 60 pages in length, unless some other limitation is imposed or allowed by the presiding officer. The length of briefs in rate cases will be controlled by the presiding officer.

 (f)  Subsections (a)—(e) supersede 1 Pa. Code §  35.192 (relating to content and form of briefs).

   The provisions of this §  5.501 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § §  501, 504—506, 1301 and 1501.

 (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 and nine copies 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).

   The provisions of this §  5.502 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § §  501, 504—506, 1301 and 1501.

   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. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (319214) to (319215).

   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).

   This section cited in 52 Pa. Code §  1.37 (relating to number of copies).