Ex parte communication

Unless required for the disposition of ex parte matters authorized by law, neither the commissioners nor any member of the commission staff designated as a presiding officer shall communicate directly or indirectly with any person or party concerning any issue of fact or law involved in any contested case that has been commenced under these rules, except upon notice and opportunity for all parties to participate. The commission staff member designated as presiding officer and the commissioners may severally communicate will each other ex parte and may have the aid and advice of such members of the commission staff as are designated to assist them in such contested case. This rule shall not be construed to preclude such necessary routine communications as are necessary to permit the commission staff to investigate facts and to audit the applicable records of any party in a contested case at any time before, during and after the hearing thereof. (See Sec. 16-1-27)