R746-1-501. Discovery

  (1) Parties shall attempt to complete informal discovery through written requests for information and records (data requests).

  (2) If a party considers informal discovery pursuant to Subsection R746-1-501(1) to be insufficient, the party may move the Commission for formal discovery according to Rules 26 through 37 of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, with the following exceptions and modifications:

  (a)(i) If no responsive pleading is required in a proceeding, parties may begin discovery immediately upon the filing and service of an initial pleading.

  (ii) If a responsive pleading is required, discovery shall not begin until ten days after the time limit for filing the responsive pleading.

  (b) Rule 26(a)(4) of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, which restricts discovery, shall not apply. The opinions, conclusions, and data developed by experts engaged by parties shall be freely discoverable unless a protective order is issued by the Commission.

  (c) Discovery requests, regardless of how denominated, discovery responses, and transcripts of depositions shall not be filed with the Commission.

  (d) Any reference in an applicable Rule of Civil Procedure to "the court" shall be considered a reference to the Commission.

  (3) On request from a party or on the presiding officer's own initiative, the presiding officer may include in a scheduling order deadlines for:

  (a) filing a petition for intervention;

  (b) objecting to a discovery request;

  (c) responding to a discovery request;

  (d) serving disclosures of evidence to be presented at hearing;

  (e) completing discovery;

  (f) filing dispositive and evidentiary motions; and

  (g) filing pre-hearing testimony.

  (4) An intervenor shall serve any request for discovery on the other parties to the docket.

  (5) A party that requires a subpoena for discovery purposes shall:

  (a) present the subpoena to the Commission for signature; and

  (b) serve the subpoena pursuant to Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 45(b)(1).