(a) In addition to such staff assistants and investigators as are provided for in Sections 37-1-12.1 and 37-1-12.2, the Attorney General shall assign an Assistant Attorney General and such staff attorneys as may be necessary to the handling of matters and proceedings before the commission, who shall be under the direction of the Attorney General. Such Assistant Attorney General shall be assigned the duty and responsibility, when the Attorney General deems it to be advisable in the public interest, of intervening in proceedings before the commission on behalf of the using and consuming public, including utility users generally and agencies of the state, such appearances including, but not being limited to, rate applications, rate changes and curtailments of service. Such Assistant Attorney General shall also have the authority to institute and originate proceedings before the commission in the name of the state, its agencies and citizens in all matters within the jurisdiction of the commission, and shall have authority to appear before such other state and federal agencies and courts as he deems advisable on behalf of the state and its agencies and citizens in all matters affecting public utility services. He shall have the assistance and cooperation of the commission's staff, when available, and access to the commission's books, records, studies and reports.

(b) In the performance of the duties set forth in this section, the Attorney General shall have the right to employ additional attorneys, expert witnesses and office and clerical help and to incur expenses in connection therewith, and the compensation and expenses therefor shall be paid from the consumer's utility rate hearing fund as provided for in Section 37-1-18.

(c) The commission shall furnish the Attorney General with copies of all applications, petitions and pleadings filed with it by public utilities doing business in this state or by any other persons in matters affecting the duties under this section.