Educational and Informational Programs: The Public Utilities Section was very active this year, offering its members the following ten educational and informational programs:

As can be seen, the programs covered a wide variety of subjects of interest to section members. We also focused on our obligation as a section to help members satisfy their obligation to provide services to the public. In particular, two of the programs specifically addressed how attorneys could provide pro bono services.

Legislative and Rulemaking: The section sponsored two pieces of legislation this year. The legislation sought improvements in the procedures used to address ex parte communications with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, and proposed a public selection process for selecting future public utility commissioners. While neither piece of legislation was enacted this year, we believe that this work has provided the foundation for future legislation on these topics.

Officers: The section has elected the following persons to serve as its officers in the coming year:

Chair	Michael Bradley
Vice Chair	Michael Krikava
Secretary/Treasurer	Brenda Bjorklund
Statutes and Rules Subcommittee	Neil Hamilton
Speakers and Topics Subcommittee	Ad Hoc Subcommittee of the Council

The following persons serve on the section's Council: James Bertrand, Carol Casebolt, Allan Klein, Jim Johnson, Richard Luis, Jeff Oxley, Kevin Saville, David Seykora, and Scott Wilensky.

Michael J. Bradley,
1998-99 Chair

MSBA Public Utilities Section
1997-98 Annual Report

Educational Programs: The Public Utilities Section was very active this year, offering its members the following ten programs:

July 1997	Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Operational Review Process
September 1997	Public Utility Commissions and Government Intervenors
October 1997	Is There Life After the Practice of Utility Law?
November 1997	Doing Business in Foreign Countries and Energy Transactions
December 1997	1998 Preview: Right of Way Rules, Electric Restructuring, Gas Unbundling
February 1998	Tips on Contested Case Hearings
March 1998	Open Meeting Law/Ex Parte Communications
April 1998	Dispute Resolution
May 1998	Forum with Attorney General Candidates
June 1998	Pro bono Opportunities

As can be seen, the programs covered a wide variety of subjects of interest to section members. We also focused on our obligation as a section to help members satisfy their obligation to provide services to the public. In particular, the June program specifically addressed how attorneys could provide pro bono services.

Legislative and Rulemaking: The section did not sponsor legislation this year. However, it worked with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to address a concern brought to the section by the MPUC. Specifically, the MPUC asked the section to evaluate possible changes to its current ex parte communications rules. The MPUC wished to provide full due process while simultaneously giving its commissioners access to information that would otherwise be unavailable because of the restrictive nature of the current rules.

The section also assisted the MPUC in an extensive survey and comment process through which the MPUC sought information concerning its strengths and weaknesses and ways to improve its operations.

Officers: The section has elected the following persons to serve as its officers in the coming year:

• Chair: Michael Bradley
• Vice Chair: Allan Klein
• Secretary/Treasurer: Doug Peterson
• Statutes and Rules Subcommittee: Neil Hamilton
• Speakers and Topics Subcommittee: Miggie Cramblit

The following persons serve on the section’s council:

James Bertrand
Carol Casebolt
Dennis Ahlers
Richard Luis
Jim Johnson
David McMillan
David Seykora

--Michael J. Bradley,
1997-98 Chair

- Last Updated 4/4/03 -