18 CFR § 385.704 - Rights of participants before initial decision (Rule 704).

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t18/s385.704"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "18 CFR § 385.704 - Rights of participants before initial decision (Rule 704)."
title_number: 18
title_name: "Conservation of Power and Water Resources"
section_number: "385.704"
section_name: "Rights of participants before initial decision (Rule 704)."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY"
subchapter_number: "X"
subchapter_name: "PROCEDURAL RULES"
part_number: "385"
part_name: "RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 551-557; 15 U.S.C. 717-717w, 3301-3432; 16 U.S.C. 791a-825v, 2601-2645; 28 U.S.C. 2461; 31 U.S.C 3701, 9701; 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352, 16441, 16451-16463; 49 U.S.C. 60502; 49 App. U.S.C. 1-85 (1988); 28 U.S.C. 2461 note (1990); 28 U.S.C. 2461 note (2015)."
regulatory_source: "Order 225, 47 FR 19022, May 3, 1982, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "385"
---


# 385.704 Rights of participants before initial decision (Rule 704).

After testimony is taken in a proceeding, or phase of a proceeding, the presiding officer will afford every participant an opportunity to:

(a) Submit written initial briefs in accordance with Rule 706, except that the presiding officer may provide an opportunity for oral argument in lieu of, or in addition to, initial briefs; and

(b) Submit written reply briefs in accordance with Rule 706, except that the presiding officer may:

(1) Provide an opportunity for oral reply argument in lieu of, or in addition to, reply briefs; or

(2) For good cause, deny opportunity for reply or limit the issues which may be addressed in any reply.