Section 202.30  Definitions

Unless otherwise defined, the following terms used in this Part shall have the following meanings:

"Act" means the Public Utilities Act [220 ILCS 5].

"Arbitration" means a process in which an impartial third-party renders a binding decision resolving a complaint brought under the Act.

"Arbitrator" means an attorney employed by the Commission who has been trained in arbitration and who renders a binding decision pursuant to this Part resolving a complaint brought under the Act.

"Documents" means petitions, pleadings, responses, amended and supplemental petitions, written discovery, responses to discovery, verified statements, verified exhibits, depositions, motions, responses, replies, notices, briefs, draft proposed arbitration decisions, and similar writings.

"e-Docket" means a Web based electronic filing system maintained by the Commission that allows electronic filing, management, and access to electronic records that make up case files.

"Electronic" includes electrical, digital, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or any other form of technology that entails capabilities similar to these technologies. [220 ILCS 5/3-122]

"Electronic document" means a document transmitted by electronic means to the Commission with an electronic signature attached.

"Electronic record" means a record generated, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means for use in an information system or for transmission from one information system to another. [5 ILCS 175/5-105]

"Electronic signature" means a signature in electronic form issued by the Commission pursuant to Section 202.1000 and consisting of a user I.D. and password attached to or logically associated with an electronic document.

"E-mail address" means a destination, commonly expressed as a string of characters, to which electronic mail may be sent or delivered. [815 ILCS 511/5]

"Party" means any person who initiates arbitration by filing a petition for arbitration pursuant to this Part. Staff witnesses are not parties, but shall have the specific rights and duties of parties as enumerated in this Part. Intervention by other persons shall be limited as described in Section 202.50.

"Person" means any individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision, agency, instrumentality, public corporation, or any other legal or commercial entity.

"Pleading" means any petition, motion, response or reply filed with the Commission in an arbitration proceeding.

"Staff" or "Commission Staff" means individuals employed by the Commission. For purposes of this Part, an arbitrator employed by the Commission is not considered a member of the Commission Staff.

"Staff witness" means a member of the Commission Staff, excluding counsel, who testifies or enters an appearance in a particular arbitration proceeding before the Commission. Except for Staff witnesses, this definition shall not limit the utilization of Commission Staff as technical advisors to the arbitrator or Commission.