Alternative Dispute Resolution

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT PROCESS

The Commission's commitment to improving the quality and efficiency of the regulatory process in British Columbia culminated in the issuance of Guidelines setting forth the Negotiated Settlement Process in January 1996. The Commission is continuing to explore different methods of regulation that are alternative or complementary to methods currently used.

While not all applications made to the Commission are suited to this new process, in some circumstances a pre-hearing negotiation process may be used to reach a prior agreement on issues that traditionally would be examined at a public hearing. As a result, the settlement of certain issues can significantly reduce hearing time and costs.

For more information on the Alternative Dispute Process please see the paper entitled Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and the B.C. Utilities Commission Regulatory Process by Kenneth M. Duke, and the Commission's Negotiated Settlement Process: Policy, Procedures and Guidelines.

Updated: September 25, 2001