Texas Utilities Code - UTIL § 14.053. Powers and Duties of State Office of Administrative Hearings

(a) The State Office of Administrative Hearings shall conduct each hearing in a contested case that is not conducted by one or more commissioners.

(b) The commission may delegate to the State Office of Administrative Hearings the authority to make a final decision and to issue findings of fact, conclusions of law, and other necessary orders in a proceeding in which there is not a contested issue of fact or law.

(c) The commission by rule shall define the procedures by which it delegates final decision-making authority under Subsection (b).

(d) For review purposes an administrative law judge's final decision under Subsection (b) has the same effect as a final decision of the commission unless a commissioner requests formal review of the decision.