Sec. 5.1. (a) The commission, the department of state revenue, or the Indiana department of transportation shall immediately notify the counselor of the institution of any proceeding before the commission, the department of state revenue, or the Indiana department of transportation in which the counselor is authorized to appear and shall transmit to the counselor a copy of the petition or complaint filed.

     (b) The commission, the department of state revenue, or the Indiana department of transportation may not proceed to hear a petition, complaint, or proceeding in which the counselor is entitled to appear until the counselor has been given at least ten (10) days notice, unless the counselor waived the notice.

     (c) The consumer counselor may call the counselor’s own witnesses to testify before a proceeding or hearing in which the counselor makes an appearance, and may require the production for examination of books and papers relating to a matter under investigation and in question before the commission, another agency, or a court.

     (d) The consumer counselor has the right, with the consent of the petitioners or complainants, whenever a petition is filed on behalf of the ratepayers, consumers, or the public, to make amendments to the petition or complaint that the counselor considers advisable.

     (e) In all proceedings before the commission, the department of state revenue, or the Indiana department of transportation and in a court in which the consumer counselor shall appear, the consumer counselor shall have charge of the interests of the ratepayers and consumers of the utility, motor carrier, or railroad involved. The counselor may give notice of the hearings to all municipalities, corporations, or organizations and persons that are parties to the proceedings, suit, or action other than the utility, motor carrier, or railroad.

As added by P.L.1-1990, SEC.95.