Arizona Administrative Code
Title 14 - PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS; CORPORATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS; SECURITIES REGULATION
Chapter 2 - CORPORATION COMMISSION - FIXED UTILITIES
Article 7 - RESOURCE PLANNING AND PROCUREMENT
Section R14-2-706 - Independent Monitor Selection and Responsibilities

A. When a load-serving entity contemplates engaging in an RFP process, the load-serving entity shall consult with Staff regarding the identity of companies or consultants that could serve as independent monitor for the RFP process.

B. After consulting with Staff, a load-serving entity shall create a vendor list of three to five candidates to serve as independent monitor and shall file the vendor list with Docket Control to allow interested persons time to review and file objections to the vendor list.

C. An interested person shall file with Docket Control, within 30 days after a vendor list is filed with Docket Control, any objection that the interested person may have to a candidate's inclusion on a vendor list.

D. Within 60 days after a vendor list is filed with Docket Control, Staff shall issue a notice identifying each candidate on the vendor list that Staff has determined to be qualified to serve as independent monitor for the contemplated RFP process. In making its determination, Staff shall consider the experience of the candidates, the professional reputation of the candidates, and any objections filed by interested persons.

E. A load-serving entity that has completed the actions required by subsections (A) and (B) to comply with a particular Commission Decision is deemed to have complied with subsections (A) and (B) and is not required to repeat those actions.

F. A load-serving entity may retain as independent monitor for the contemplated RFP process and for its future RFP processes any of the candidates identified in Staff's notice.

G. A load-serving entity shall file with Docket Control a written notice of its retention of an independent monitor.

H. A load-serving entity is responsible for paying the independent monitor for its services and may charge a reasonable bidder's fee to each bidder in the RFP process to help offset the cost of the independent monitor's services. A load-serving entity may request recovery of the cost of the independent monitor's services, to the extent that the cost is not offset by bidder's fees, in a subsequent rate case. The Commission shall use its discretion in determining whether to allow the cost to be recovered through customer rates.

I. One week prior to the deadline for submitting bids, a load-serving entity shall provide the independent monitor a copy of any bid proposal prepared by the load-serving entity or entity affiliated with the load-serving entity and of any benchmark or reference cost the load-serving entity has developed for use in evaluating bids. The independent monitor shall take steps to secure the load-serving entity's bid proposal and any benchmark or reference cost so that they are inaccessible to any bidder, the load-serving entity, and any entity affiliated with the load-serving entity.

J. Upon Staff's request, the independent monitor shall provide status reports to Staff throughout the RFP process.