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Public Service Commission warns committee that denied $600,000 request risks document-system failure
Summary
Deputy Chairman Chris Petrie told the committee the PSC's 15-year-old document management system is at risk and that a $600,000 request (denied by the joint appropriations committee) included $400,000 one‑time and $200,000 ongoing; PSC said funding could come from its special-revenue public-utility assessment.
The Wyoming Public Service Commission told the Senate Corporations Committee that a denied budget request to replace its document management system leaves the agency vulnerable to operational failure and loss of timely public access to case records.
Deputy Chairman Chris Petrie said the PSC’s case-management system — installed about 15 years ago and no longer supported by the vendor — underpins the commission’s ability to handle filings, preserve archives and provide public access, especially in large utility rate cases. “It is impossible to overstate how important the system is to the commission, and what catastrophe it would be if the thing was no longer available,” Petrie said.
The request at issue: Petrie said the PSC’s request for $600,000 was denied by the joint appropriations committee. The PSC described that request as $400,000 one-time to replace the document-management system and $200,000 ongoing for maintenance. Petrie said the commission collects special revenue through a public utility assessment on gross retail revenues and that there is headroom in that assessment to cover the requested amounts.
Why it matters: The commission said the system supports daily filings, provides searchable access to historical case files, and enables handling of confidential or proprietary material when needed. PSC staff warned that without replacement the office could be forced back to paper processes and face reduced efficiency, public access problems and higher manual workload.
Committee reaction and next steps: Senators clarified that the request would be funded from special revenue rather than the general fund; members suggested coordinating with House members and considering amendments to address the denial. The PSC representatives closed by offering to answer follow-up questions; the committee adjourned without a final amendment on the record.
Petrie and PSC administrator Marcy Norby urged the committee to revisit the decision or seek alternative funding paths so the commission can maintain public access and regulatory continuity.
