Every proceeding heretofore commenced under the laws in effect before the enactment of the amendment of this article effective .........., 1977, shall be deemed to have commenced under this article so amended for the purpose of conducting the proceeding henceforth, except that in the discretion of the commissioner the proceeding may be continued, in whole or in part, as it would have been continued had this article not been so amended.
40 P.S. § 221.9