1. The Consumer’s Advocate:

(a) Shall intervene in and represent the public interest in:

(1) All proceedings conducted pursuant to NRS 704.7561 to 704.7595, inclusive; and

(2) All proceedings conducted pursuant to NRS 704.061 to 704.110, inclusive, in which an electric utility has filed a general rate application or an annual deferred energy accounting adjustment application.

(b) May, with respect to all public utilities except railroads and cooperative utilities, and except as otherwise provided in NRS 228.380:

(1) Conduct or contract for studies, surveys, research or expert testimony relating to matters affecting the public interest or the interests of utility customers.

(2) Examine any books, accounts, minutes, records or other papers or property of any public utility subject to the regulatory authority of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada in the same manner and to the same extent as authorized by law for members of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada and its staff.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a), petition for, request, initiate, appear or intervene in any proceeding concerning rates, charges, tariffs, modifications of service or any related matter before the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada or any court, regulatory body, board, commission or agency having jurisdiction over any matter which the Consumer’s Advocate may bring before or has brought before the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada or in which the public interest or the interests of any particular class of utility customers are involved. The Consumer’s Advocate may represent the public interest or the interests of any particular class of utility customers in any such proceeding, and the Consumer’s Advocate is a real party in interest in the proceeding.

2. As used in this section, “electric utility” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 704.187.

(Added to NRS by 1981, 1675; A 1987, 705; 1997, 1969; 2001, 353, 3254; 2007, 2987; 2013, 741)