Section 45 - Additional personnel; compensation(a) For purposes of the proceedings described in subsection (b) of this section, the Board or Agency may retain the services of legal counsel, official stenographers, and expert witnesses. These persons shall be in addition to its regular personnel. The Board or Agency shall fix the amount of compensation and expenses to be paid to the additional personnel.(b) Proceedings for which additional personnel may be retained are:(1) hearings resulting from a company's request to seek an increase in its rates, tolls, or charges, including hearings resulting from complaints against the proposed increase;(2) hearings resulting from a petition by a company or a person operating a company to issue stock, bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness for which the approval of the Board is required by law; and(3) hearings resulting from a petition for a merger or consolidation for which the approval of the Board is required by law.(c) Persons employed by the State are competent to be designated to act for the same purposes and instead of or in conjunction with additional personnel retained under this section. However, when so acting, they shall not receive compensation in addition to their regular pay.Added 1985, No. 222 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.