(a) The commission has the power to:

(1) Investigate, upon its own initiative or upon complaint in writing, any matter concerning any public utility as defined in § 65-4-101;

(2) Request the comptroller of the treasury, from time to time, appraise and value the property of any public utility, as defined in § 65-4-101, whenever in the judgment of the commission such appraisal and valuation shall be necessary for the purpose of carrying out any of the provisions of this chapter. The comptroller of the treasury's office is hereby authorized to make such valuation and in that process may have access to and use any books, documents or records in the possession of any department or board of the state or any political subdivision of the state. For purposes of rate regulation the Tennessee public utility commission has the specific authority to have access to books, documents or records in possession of any department or board of the state or any political subdivision of the state;

(3) After hearing, by order in writing, fix just and reasonable standards, classifications, regulations, practices or services to be furnished, imposed, observed and followed thereafter by any public utility;

(4) After hearing, by order in writing, ascertain and fix adequate and serviceable standards for the measurement of quantity, quality, pressure, voltage, or other condition, pertaining to the supply of the product or service rendered by any public utility, and to prescribe reasonable regulations for examination, test and measurement of such product or service;

(5) After hearing, by order in writing, establish reasonable rules and regulations, specifications and standards, to secure accuracy of all meters and appliances for measurements;

(6) Provide for the examination and test of any appliance used for the measuring of any product or service of a public utility, and by its agents or examiners to enter upon any premises occupied by any public utility, for the purpose of making the examination and test provided for in this chapter; and

(7) Fix the fees to be paid by any consumer or user of any product or service of a public utility, who may apply to the commission for such examination or test to be made. Any consumer or user may have any such appliance tested upon the payment of the fees fixed by the commission, which fees shall be repaid to the consumer or user if the appliance be found defective or incorrect to the disadvantage of the consumer or user, and in that event such fees shall be paid by the public utility concerned.

(b)

(1) Not later than December 31, 2004, the commission shall designate an entity to be the 2-1-1 collaborative for the state of Tennessee, such 2-1-1 collaborative being designated in order to be qualified to obtain federal grants relating to 2-1-1 service in Tennessee. The commission may designate an entity to be the 2-1-1 collaborative based on either the petition of an entity seeking such designation, or based on the commission's own motion.

(2)

(A) There is created a statewide 2-1-1 advisory council consisting of up to eighteen (18) members who shall be appointed by the commission. The Tennessee Alliance of Information and Referral Systems and the United Ways of Tennessee shall submit recommendations to the commission for potential appointees to the advisory council. The advisory council shall be representative of the various 2-1-1 service stakeholders, including, but not limited to, governmental entities, call centers, non-profit organizations, foundations and corporate entities. In making recommendations for appointment to the advisory council, the Tennessee Alliance of Information and Referral Systems and the United Ways of Tennessee shall do so with a conscious intent of selecting persons who reflect a diverse mixture with respect to race and gender.

(B) The 2-1-1 advisory council is charged with advising and assisting the commission in establishing statewide standards that will ensure that the citizens of this state are served by an efficient and effective 2-1-1 service. To that end, the commission is empowered to promulgate rules and regulations that further define the role of the advisory council, that adopt standards for 2-1-1 service and as may otherwise be necessary to implement this subdivision (b)(2).