Section 196.24. Agents of commission; powers.

 

(1)  For the purpose of making any investigation with regard to any public utility the commission may appoint, by an order in writing, an agent whose duties shall be prescribed in the order.

(2)  In the discharge of his or her duties, an agent appointed under sub. (1) shall have any inquisitional power granted to the commission and the power of a supplemental court commissioner to take depositions under s. 757.675 (2) (b) .

(3)  The commission may conduct any number of investigations contemporaneously through different agents, and may delegate to any agent the authority to take testimony bearing upon any investigation or at any hearing. The decision of the commission shall comply with s. 227.46 and shall be based upon its records and upon the evidence before it, except that, notwithstanding s. 227.46 (4) , a decision maker may hear a case or read or review the record of a case if the record includes a synopsis or summary of the testimony and other evidence presented at the hearing that is prepared by the commission staff. Parties shall have an opportunity to demonstrate to a decision maker that a synopsis or summary prepared under this subsection is not sufficiently complete or accurate to fairly reflect the relevant and material testimony or other evidence presented at a hearing.

1975 c. 414 s. 28 ; 1983 a. 53 ; 1985 a. 182 s. 57 ; 1997 a. 204 ; 2001 a. 61 .