General Procedural Powers

In any contested case, the Commission or the Hearing Officer: (1) May determine that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact. In reaching such determination, the Commission or Hearing Officer may, in its discretion, hear and determine all or any part of a case, without hearing oral testimony; (2) May, on its own initiative or the motion of any party, allow amendments, consolidate cases, join parties, sever aspects of the case for separate hearings, permit additional claims or contentions to be asserted, bifurcate, or otherwise order the course of proceedings to further the just, efficient, and economical disposition of cases consistent with the statutory policies governing the Commission; and (3) Before exercising these general procedural powers, all parties shall be given reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard.