(1) Format.

(a) All pleadings, motions, and other documents (including prefiled testimony) filed with the council shall be legibly written or printed. The use of letter size paper (8 1/2 by 11 inches) is mandatory. The writing or printing shall appear on two sides of the page.

(b) The requirements of (a) of this subsection are not mandatory for exhibits but the use of exhibits that comply with (a) of this subsection is encouraged if it does not impair legibility.

(2) Filing.

(a) In each case, the council will specify the number of copies required for motions, related pleadings, and exhibits which must be filed with the council.

(b) Document shall be deemed filed only upon actual receipt by the council manager or designee during office hours.

(c) Faxes.

(i) As used in this rule, "fax" means electronic telefacsimile transmission.

(ii) Except as specified in (c)(iii) of this subsection, receipt of a document in the council's fax machine does not constitute filing.

(iii) For good cause shown, a party may request and the council manager or designee may in his or her sole discretion grant authority to file a document by fax.

(iv) Filing by fax is perfected when a complete legible copy of the document is reproduced on the council manager's fax machine during the council's normal office hours, so long as the council receives the required number of nonfaxed originals on the next successive business day. If a transmission of a document by fax commences after the council's normal office hours, the document shall be filed on the next successive business day.

(v) Any document filed by fax must be accompanied by a cover page or other form identifying the party making the transmission, listing the address, telephone, and fax number of the party, identifying the adjudicative proceeding to which the document relates, and indicating the date faxed and total number of pages included in the transmission.

(vi) The party attempting to file a document by fax bears the risk that the document will not be timely received or legibly printed, regardless of the cause. If a fax is not received in legible form, it will be considered as if it had never been sent.

(d) Email. The filing of documents with the council by electronic mail is not authorized without the express approval of the council manager or designee and under such circumstances as the council manager or designee allows.

(e) Filing a document with the council does not constitute service upon the office of the attorney general or any other party. Likewise, service on the office of the attorney general does not constitute a filing with the council.

(f) Applications. Applications for a site certificate shall be filed in the manner prescribed by the rules governing such applications.

(3) Service.

(a) A copy of each pleading, motion, and document filed with the council shall be simultaneously served upon each party.

(b) Service by parties.

(i) Service of pleadings, motions, and other documents by parties shall be made by delivering one copy to each party (A) in person, (B) by mail, (C) by commercial parcel delivery company or (D) for documents not exceeding twenty-five pages, if authorized by the council manager or designee, by fax, where originals are mailed simultaneously.

(ii) Except as otherwise provided, when any party has appeared by attorney or other authorized representative, service upon such attorney or representative will be deemed valid service upon the party.

(iii) Service of documents shall be deemed complete upon (A) personal delivery, (B) deposit in the United States mail properly addressed with appropriate first-class postage prepaid, (C) acceptance for delivery by a commercial parcel delivery company, properly tendered with fees prepaid, or (D) production by the fax machine of a confirmation of transmission by fax, with simultaneous deposit of the originals in the United States mail, properly addressed with appropriate first-class postage prepaid.

(c) Service by the council. All notices, orders and other documents required to be served by the council may be served by delivery of one copy to each party (i) in person, (ii) by mail, (iii) by commercial parcel delivery company, or (iv) by fax, when originals are mailed simultaneously. Service of documents by the council shall be deemed complete upon (A) personal delivery, (B) deposit in the United States mail properly addressed with appropriate first-class postage prepaid, (C) acceptance for delivery by a commercial parcel delivery company, properly tendered with fees prepaid, or (D) production by the council's fax machine of a confirmation of the transmission by fax, with simultaneous deposit of the originals in the United States mail, properly addressed with appropriate first-class postage prepaid.

(d) Certificate of service. There shall appear on or in a separate document accompanying the original of every pleading when filed with the council in accordance with this subsection, either an acknowledgment of service, or the following certificate:

"I hereby certify that I have this day served the foregoing document upon all parties of record in this proceeding, by authorized method of service pursuant to WAC 463-30-120(3).

(4) Courtesy copies. Parties are encouraged to send courtesy copies of documents to the council and all other parties via electronic mail.