(1) Definitions.

(a) Person. As defined in RCW 34.05.010(14), a person is any individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental subdivision or unit thereof, or public or private organization or entity of any character.

(b) Party. As defined in RCW 34.05.010(12), a party is a person to whom the agency action is specifically directed. A party is also a person named as a party to the agency proceeding or allowed to intervene or participate as a party in the agency proceeding.

(2) Appearance requirement. The commission will not grant party status to a person who fails to appear at the earliest prehearing conference if one is held, or hearing session if there is no prehearing conference, unless the person is excused from appearing by the presiding officer or shows good cause for failing to timely appear. The commission staff and the public counsel unit of the attorney general's office become parties to an adjudicative proceeding for all purposes upon entering an appearance.

(3) Classification of parties. The commission generally will refer to parties in commission proceedings by their names but may refer to them according to their classification in the proceeding, as follows:

(a) Applicants. Persons applying for any right or authority that the commission has jurisdiction to grant are applicants.

(b) Complainants. Persons who file a formal complaint with the commission are complainants. When the commission commences an adjudicative proceeding on its own complaint, the commission is the complainant.

(c) Petitioners. Persons petitioning for relief other than by complaint are petitioners.

(d) Movants. Persons filing a motion for relief are movants or moving parties.

(e) Respondents. Persons against whom any formal complaint, petition, or motion is filed are respondents.

(f) Intervenors. Persons other than the original parties, commission staff, and public counsel that the commission permits to appear and participate as parties are intervenors.

(g) Protestants. Persons who file a protest to oppose an application are protestants.

(h) Objectors. Persons who file an objection to oppose an application are objectors.