Vermont PUC Guidance on Remote Workshops and Hearings

puc.vermont.gov

Published February 1st, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The Vermont Public Utility Commission will end the use of live court reporters for hearings and transition to Microsoft Teams for remote proceedings starting February 2026. Video recording will replace transcription services, with unofficial transcripts available via Teams' functionality. This change aims to reduce costs while maintaining public access.

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What changed

Effective February 2026, the Vermont Public Utility Commission (PUC) will cease using live court reporters for its hearings, conferences, and workshops. Proceedings will transition to the Microsoft Teams platform, and all remote and hybrid sessions will be video recorded. While Teams' transcription feature will provide unofficial transcripts, official transcripts will require a third-party service at the requester's expense. This shift is intended to reduce operational costs.

Regulated entities and the public involved in PUC proceedings will need to familiarize themselves with the use of Microsoft Teams for remote participation. Parties should review the PUC's newly developed guidance document on using Teams. While the PUC will continue to use court reporters during a transition period, all parties should prepare for the full implementation of video recording and Teams-based proceedings by February 2026. Access to recordings and unofficial transcripts will be available upon written request.

What to do next

Review the PUC's guidance document on using Microsoft Teams for remote proceedings.
Prepare for participation in hearings and workshops conducted via Microsoft Teams.
Understand the process for requesting video recordings and unofficial transcripts.

Source document (simplified)

Guidance for Participating in Remote Workshops and Hearings

News

Wed, 01/07/2026 - 12:00

Starting in February 2026, the Public Utility Commission ("Commission") will end the use of live court reporters to record and transcribe its hearings, conferences, and workshops. The Commission will also move to holding its remote proceedings on the Microsoft Teams teleconferencing platform, ending its use of the GoToMeeting platform.

Once live court reporter services have ended, the Commission will video record all remote and hybrid (in-person proceedings at the PUC hearing room that incorporate a remote Teams option for attendees) proceedings. Teams' transcription capability will generate an unofficial transcript of each remote and hybrid proceeding. Audio recordings of in-person proceedings such as public hearings will also be made. Audio and video recordings and unofficial transcripts of video recordings will be available to parties and the public upon written request to the Clerk of the Commission at puc.clerk@vermont.gov. Official transcripts of audio or video recordings created by a third-party transcription service will also be available at a requester's expense.

These changes will reduce costs while maintaining public access to accurate recordings of Commission proceedings. To help facilitate these changes, the Commission has developed a guidance document familiarizing parties and the public with the use of Teams in remote Commission proceedings. The Commission may schedule proceedings using Teams and test certain functionalities while also using a court reporter until February.