(1) Definition. A collaborative is a commission-sanctioned negotiation in which interested persons work with each other and representatives of commission staff to achieve consensus on one or more issues within the commission's jurisdiction that the commission assigns or the collaborative participants identify.

(2) Establishment. The commission may establish a collaborative on its own initiative or in response to a petition. A petition seeking to establish a collaborative must state the issues on which the petitioner seeks consensus, identify potential participants, and explain why a collaborative would be beneficial to resolve the issues. The commission, in its discretion, may approve the petition and establish a collaborative or may deny the petition.

(3) Participation. Any person whose interests may be substantially affected by the result of the collaborative may participate in the collaborative. Once the commission establishes a collaborative, the participants may not change the participants or redefine the issues they will address without commission approval.

(4) Communication with commission. Collaborative participants must agree on the form and substance of any communication they have with the commission concerning the collaborative. The participants may communicate with the commission through commission staff if staff is not a participant and is serving as a neutral third party in the collaborative, and staff should establish if this will be its role at the outset of the collaborative. Otherwise, the participants should address their communications to the commission secretary.

(5) Conclusion. The participants must inform the commission when they: (a) Have reached consensus on the issues to be addressed in the collaborative; (b) have reached partial consensus on those issues and believe further negotiation would not be fruitful; or (c) have reached an impasse and believe that further negotiations would not be fruitful. The participants should propose any commission action they recommend as a result of the collaborative.