Relates to settlement negotiations in major electric, natural gas, water, and steam rate increase proceedings before the public service commission

This bill requires the Department of Public Service to assign a specially trained administrative law judge to oversee settlement negotiations during rate increase cases for major electric, natural gas, water, and steam utilities. The assigned judge will manage the negotiation process to ensure it is consistent, fair, and efficient for all parties, while also having the option to act as a mediator on specific topics if requested. Additionally, the department must create and share public standards to guarantee that the settlement process remains predictable and does not depend on the individual judge assigned. These changes apply to proceedings initiated after the bill takes effect, aiming to bring more structure and transparency to utility rate negotiations.