§ 212e. Representation of public; production of records
(a) The Commission shall request the appearance of the Attorney General or shall appoint a member of the Vermont bar to represent the interests of the public or the State in any hearings before the Commission under section 212a, 212c, or 212d of this title regarding either:
(1) the sale of electrical energy by the Department of Public Service; or
(2) any other matter in which, upon petition of a company directly affected, the Commission finds that there is a conflict or a likelihood of a conflict between the Department's role as seller or distributor of electrical energy under this section and the Department's responsibility to represent the interests of the public or the State in that matter. The Department shall upon request provide sufficient funds to the Attorney General or person so appointed to engage necessary engineering or other technical advice.
(b) Any request by the Department of Public Service, or subpoena issued by the Department of Public Service for the production and examination of books, records, and witnesses, or to furnish information under this title, may, upon motion to the Commission by the company affected, be quashed upon a finding by the Commission that the request or subpoena would result in the production of a trade secret or other confidential research, development, or commercial information of the company which would materially disadvantage the company as a competitor to the Department in the sale or distribution of electrical energy. (Added 1987, No. 65, § 4, eff. May 28, 1987.)