The Board of Public Utility Commissioners may by order in writing designate its secretary, assistant secretaries, counsel, executive officer, assistant executive officer, any director or assistant director of any division of the board, any engineer, accountant, auditor or rate analyst of the board or any person acting in such capacity as its representative in, and on its behalf to conduct, any hearing in any proceeding now or hereafter pending before said board as a hearing examiner.

A hearing examiner, so designated by said board, shall have all the authority in the conduct of such hearing, including power to administer oaths, which is vested by Title 48 of the Revised Statutes, in a commissioner sitting singly, including authority to report to the board his findings and recommendations as to the order or other disposition to be made.

The board shall adopt rules and regulations relating to hearings conducted by a hearing examiner, the reports to be made and the recommendations to be submitted for action by the board, the taking of exceptions to such reports and recommendations, and proceedings before the board on the question of the adoption, rejection or modification by the board of the report and recommendations made by such hearing examiner.

No one so designated by the board as a hearing examiner shall by reason of such designation be entitled to or be paid or receive, directly or indirectly, additional compensation by reason of the services performed under such designation.

Amended by L.1952, c. 10, p. 49, s. 1; L.1958, c. 61, p. 183, s. 1; L.1967, c. 156, s. 1, eff. July 13, 1967.