(a) The commission may provide for the appointment of a commission staff member as the mediator of an informal complaint filed with the commission, or the parties may agree to employ and pay an independent mediator for the purpose of mediating the complaint.
(b) If the parties request that the mediation be conducted at a location other than the offices of the commission in Austin, the parties shall reimburse the commission for the commission's costs related to travel to those other locations.
(c) This section does not prohibit the commission from requiring that the parties participate in a formal complaint resolution proceeding.
(d) At least annually, the commission shall notify oil and gas producers of the existence of any informal complaint resolution process provided for by the commission.
(e) Filing an informal complaint is not a prerequisite for filing a formal complaint.