(a) The commission is empowered and directed to adopt rules in the following circumstances and in the following manner:

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 65-2-102

  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Commission: means the Tennessee public utility commission. See Tennessee Code 65-2-101
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Rule: means every regulation, or statement of policy, or interpretation of general application and future effect, including the amendment or repeal thereof, adopted by the commission, whether with or without a prior hearing, to implement or make specific the laws enforced or administered by it, or to govern its organization or procedures, but does not include regulations concerning only the internal management of the commission which do not directly affect the rights or procedures available to the public. See Tennessee Code 65-2-101
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(1) The commission shall adopt rules governing the procedure prescribed or authorized by this chapter or by any other statute applicable to the commission; these rules shall include, but shall not be limited to, rules of practice before the commission, together with forms and instructions;
(2) The commission is empowered to adopt rules implementing, interpreting, or making specific the various laws which it enforces or administers; provided, that the commission shall have no power to vary or deviate from those laws, nor to extend its power or jurisdiction to matters not provided for in those laws;
(3) The commission may adopt, amend, or repeal such rules on its own motion, or on the petition of any interested person. The commission shall prescribe by rule the form of such petitions and the procedure for their submission, consideration and disposition; provided, that the commission shall abide by any such rule adopted by it, until it shall have been changed in the manner provided for in this chapter; and
(4) Prior to the adoption of any rule, or to the amendment or repeal of any rule, the commission shall, so far as practicable and in such manner as it deems expedient, publish or otherwise circulate notice of its intended action, and afford interested persons opportunity to submit data or argument in such manner as the commission shall prescribe; provided, that no person shall be entitled to challenge the validity of such a rule, or the amendment or repeal of such a rule, on the grounds that such person failed to receive such notice or was not given an opportunity to be heard.
(b) Rules adopted by the commission shall take effect at such date as the commission shall direct. The commission shall compile and publish all rules adopted by it in such manner and in such form as it deems expedient. The commission shall also furnish copies of such compilations of its rules to all persons requesting same at a price fixed by the commission to cover publication and mailing costs.