Public Utilities Commission of the State of California - Resolution ALJ-290 - Approves Amendments to Rules of Practice and Procedure

Sep 13, 2026

Resolution ALJ-290 of the Administrative Law Judge Division approves amendments to the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure under Title 20, Division 1, of the California Code of Regulations. The changes are designed to improve usability, readability, and clarity, and are governed by applicable notice-and-comment requirements. Key amendments address construction of rule deviation limits, tendered document format and footnote sizing, service methods, certificate-of-service caption and docket requirements, responsibility for maintaining official service lists, and electronic mail service provisions, including searchable electronic filing feasibility and CEQA-related filing handling.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time11 min

AccessFree to download

Summary

Rule 1.2, Construction

Rule 1.5, Form and Size of Tendered Documents

Rule 1.9, Service Generally

Rule 1.10, Electronic Mail Service

Rule 1.13, Tendering of Document for Filing

Rule 2.4, CEQA Compliance

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Resolution ALJ-290 Administrative Law Judge Division R E S O L U T I O N RESOLUTION ALJ-290 . Amends the Rules of Practice and Procedure (Title 20, Division 1, of the California Code of Regulations) . Summary This resolution approves amendments to the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (Title 20, Division 1, of the California Code of Regulations) as set forth in Attachment A. The amendments update the Rules to improve their usability and readability and to provide greater clarity as specifically discussed below. Notice of these amendments, and comment on them, are governed by Government Code §§ 11346.4 and 11351, and California Code of Regulations, Title 1, §§ 1-120. Notice of these amendments as originally proposed was published in the California Regulatory Notice Register on May 24, 2013. Pursuant to Pub. Util. Code § 311(h), these amendments shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for review and publication in the California Code of Regulations, and for transmittal to the Secretary of State. Rule 1.2, Construction We amend Rule 1.2 to clarify that the Commission’s discretion to deviate from the rules is limited to the extent permitted by statute. Rule 1.5, Form and Size of Tendered Documents For greater ease of reading and resource conservation, we originally proposed to amend Rule 1.4 (1) to require footnote text size to be no smaller than 12 point, (2) to require the use of both sides of paper where practicable, and (3) to require page numbering. In response to comments by three entities raising their concern that this change would take up valuable page space, especially in the shorter, page-restricted filings such as comments on proposed decisions (Rule 14.3), we modify the originally proposed amendment to require footnote text size to be no smaller than 11 point. We are not persuaded by the comments that we should amend Rule 14.3 to increase the page restrictions to account for this or prior increases in font size. Rule 1.9, Service Generally We amend Rule 1.9(d) to clarify that service of a Notice of Availability may be made in lieu of hard copy or e-mail service of a document. We amend Rule 1.9(e) to require the caption for the proceeding and the docket number to be indicated on the certificate of service. In response to comment, we propose to amend form No. 4-Certificate of Service in Rule 18.1 to reflect this new requirement. We amend Rule 1.9(f) to clarify that it is the responsibility of the person or entity on the official service list to ensure that its information on the official service list is accurate and current. One commenter objects that this change would place the person in violation of the rule for the Process Office’s failure to correctly update the official service list. We do not agree with that interpretation. The change merely charges the person with proofreading the official service list and alerting the Process Office to any inadvertent errors, including errors by the Process Office. Rule 1.10, Electronic Mail Service We amend Rule 1.10(d) to delete (1) the explanation of what constitutes failure of e-mail service, as this term is of such common knowledge in California as it cannot reasonably be the subject of dispute; (2) the prerequisite that the receiving person consents to the use of e-mail service, as Rule 1.10(a) provides that a person consents to the use of e-mail service by providing an e-mail address for the official service list; and (3) the provision allowing persons to agree to other arrangements, as this provision is self-evident and self-effecting. We withdraw our originally proposed deletion of the provision excusing re-service on persons listed as “Information Only,” in response to comments pointing out the burden of such a requirement. Rule 1.13, Tendering of Document for Filing We originally proposed to amend Rule 1.13(b)(1)(i) to provide that electronically

FAQs

What does Resolution ALJ-290 approve?

It approves amendments to the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (Title 20, Division 1, of the California Code of Regulations) as set forth in Attachment A.

How does the resolution change Rule 1.5 regarding tendered document formatting?

It adjusts the proposed footnote text size requirement down to no smaller than 11 point, responding to comments about space constraints, and declines related changes to page restrictions.

What is the resolution’s approach to electronic mail service under Rule 1.10?

It deletes certain explanations and prerequisites that are treated as common knowledge or already covered elsewhere, and withdraws a proposed deletion related to excusing re-service for persons listed as “Information Only” to reflect comment concerns.

Sep 13, 2026

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