(1) The purpose of the prehearing conference is to simplify the issues to be determined, to fix hearing dates, to obtain stipulations in regard to foundation for testimony or exhibits, to hear and rule upon evidentiary objections to prefiled testimony, to identify the proposed witnesses for each party, to schedule discovery, to discuss the procedure at the hearing, to consider such other matters that may be necessary or advisable, and, if possible, to reach a final settlement without the necessity for further hearing.

(2) Upon written request of any party or upon the hearing examiner's motion, a prehearing conference may be ordered prior to each contested case hearing. The hearing examiner may require the parties to file a prehearing statement prior to the prehearing conference which shall contain such items as the hearing examiner deems necessary to promote a useful prehearing conference. A prehearing conference shall be an informal proceeding conducted expeditiously following written notice to all parties or their attorneys. Agreements on the simplification of issues, amendments, stipulations or other matters may be entered on the record or may be the subject of an order by the hearing examiner. A party who fails (without having made prior arrangements with the hearing examiner) to appear at a prehearing conference shall have waived the right to object to any matters agreed upon by other parties in attendance at the prehearing conference. Following a prehearing conference, the hearing examiner may issue a procedural order which fixes any dates which are appurtenant to the disposition of the case, and which sets out the procedures to be followed by the parties. The procedural order may include a description of the matters discussed at and the actions taken pursuant to the prehearing conference.