199—6.4(476) Proposed resolution of an informal complaint.
	6.4(1)  After the utility’s response is received, staff may request additional information deemed necessary to complete the investigation and resolve the complaint. When all necessary information has been received and the investigation is complete, staff shall, within 30 days, send a letter with a proposed resolution of the complaint to the complainant, the utility, and the consumer advocate. Staff shall notify the complainant, the utility, and consumer advocate when the investigation is complete and the 30-day time period to issue a proposed resolution commences.
	6.4(2)  In the proposed resolution, board staff shall inform the parties of their right to request formal proceedings. If no party files a request for formal proceedings within 14 days pursuant to subrule 6.5(1), the parties shall be deemed to have accepted the proposed resolution, which shall be binding. Once the proposed resolution is accepted, or deemed accepted, the parties shall comply with the terms and conditions of the proposed resolution.
	6.4(3) After the proposed resolution is issued, the complainant, utility, or consumer advocate may request in writing that staff reopen the investigation to consider additional information, changed circumstances, or other relevant information not provided in the initial investigation, regarding the complaint. The request to reopen the investigation shall be made within 14 days of issuance of the proposed resolution. Within five days of receiving the request, staff shall send a response to the request to reopen the investigation, either advising the parties that the investigation will be reopened and a second proposed resolution will be issued or denying the request. If the request to reopen the investigation is denied, the complainant, utility, or consumer advocate has 14 days from the issuance of the denial to request that the board open a formal complaint proceeding pursuant to subrule 6.5(1).
[ARC 4253C, IAB 1/16/19, effective 2/20/19]