The Public Service Commission (PSC) told the Joint Appropriations Committee it needs a modern docket management system to replace a 2010 platform that the agency says is unsupported and causing intermittent downtime. Executive Director Marcy Norby described the proposed system as a cloud‑based, fully integrated platform with automated workflows, search, ADA compliance and the ability for the public to file comments and complaints directly. Norby said the PSC’s preferred vendor would require a one‑time $400,000 implementation cost and approximately $200,000 a year in ongoing support.

Norby also requested an increase in federal funds for pipeline safety travel ($49,000) tied to a rise in required inspection days under PHMSA rules and a special‑revenue increase for the replacement of an unsupported GIS license. The PSC said several of these federal and special‑revenue changes are adjustments to grant activity rather than new general‑fund asks and that some increases are intended to reduce statewide cost allocation charges borne by ratepayers.

Anthony Rinalis, administrator of the Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA), told the committee the OCA requires reclassification and salary adjustments for two positions — an attorney and a principal economic analyst — to retain and recruit staff with specialized utility litigation and modeling expertise. Rinalis said attorney positions have been difficult to fill and that one attorney vacancy lasted nine months; he warned continued vacancies would impede the OCA’s ability to participate in contested rate cases and other proceedings that affect ratepayers.

Committee members asked for additional details about federal funding trends, the effect of a recent mill levy change on PSC revenue, and historical context for staff position changes. The PSC and state budget staff provided background on prior legislative actions and explained that some changes were enacted in previous sessions and are subject to supplemental and standard budget adjustments.

What’s next: The PSC and OCA will supply supplemental materials and cost histories requested by committee members before markup.