About the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

“Your Residential Utility Consumer Advocate”

Advocating for Ohioans Regarding Their Utility Services

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) was created in 1976 by the Ohio General Assembly to represent Ohio’s residential consumers on issues related to their electric, natural gas, telephone, and water utility services.

OCC represents Ohio consumers in legal cases at regulatory agencies that make decisions about the prices and quality of their utility services. OCC also advocates in the legislature for laws that promote affordable and reliable utility services for consumers. OCC provides outreach and education to consumers on utility issues and their choices in the competitive energy markets.

State and federal utility cases can be highly technical. Individual Ohioans are unlikely to have the time or resources to be able to advocate on their own behalf in these large cases where others, including utilities, are represented. OCC provides consumers with representation where they may otherwise have none.

Regulator or Advocate?

State and federal utility regulators must balance the interests of all stakeholders in making just and reasonable decisions regarding utility services. For regulatory agencies—such as the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)—to make balanced decisions, they should hear from those affected, including the utilities and their consumers. OCC gives consumers a voice in the regulatory process. This voice is backed by legal and technical expertise on complex utility issues.

Funding and Budget

OCC is not funded by the General Revenue Fund like many other state agencies. When the Agency was created, the Ohio General Assembly decided that OCC’s funding should not come from taxes. Instead, OCC’s operating budget is funded through a small fee on the gross intrastate earnings of utilities regulated by the PUCO. This only costs the average residential consumer three cents for every $100 paid to their utility companies. Whereas, the Agency has saved consumers $29 for every dollar spent.

Since its creation, OCC’s advocacy has saved residential utility consumers millions of dollars, far exceeding the Agency’s budget many times over. In other words, the OCC saves consumers far more than it costs them.

Governing Board

By statute, the Ohio Attorney General appoints the Agency’s bi-partisan, nine-member Governing Board, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Three Board members are selected from groups representing each of the areas of labor, residential consumers, and family farmers. No more than five members of the Board may be from the same political party. Board members serve three-year terms. The Board appoints the Consumers’ Counsel to lead the Agency in its services to Ohioans. The Board also appoints the Deputy Consumers’ Counsel. The Governing Board usually meets every other month in Columbus.

About the Office

OCC’s staff is organized into four departments working together to achieve our mission and vision. This includes:

Legal: OCC is the legal representative for residential utility consumers in cases at the PUCO, Supreme Court of Ohio, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Federal Communications Commission, and appellate courts.

The legal staff’s advocacy includes both negotiating for settlements and litigating in hearings, to obtain outcomes that are favorable for utility consumers.

Analytical: Technical expertise for analysis of utility operations in rate filings and other regulatory proceedings are necessary to protect residential consumers in Ohio. Their work includes accounting, economics, and financial analysis. The Department also monitors utility company compliance with state statutes, regulations, and company policies.

Public Affairs: The Public Affairs Department serves Ohio’s residential utility consumers through outreach and education, media relations, and the legislative process. Educational information is provided to consumers on OCC’s website and publications.

The Department participates in the legislative process by providing information to legislators on issues affecting Ohio consumers.

Operations: The Operations Department is responsible for fiscal and administrative functions of the office. These functions include human resources, information management services, budgeting, purchasing, strategic planning, and contract management.

24/7 Information

OCC’s website (www.occ.ohio.gov) is a user-friendly resource for residential utility consumer information.

Consumers can view OCC’s free educational publications and find updated information about legislation and key cases at the PUCO that could impact utility rates or service quality.

Publications

OCC provides a variety of free publications, online or available by request, to inform residential utility consumers about ongoing utility issues and legislative initiatives. Among these and others include:

• Choosing an energy supplier;
• How to access bill-payment assistance programs;
• Disconnection and reconnection of utility services;
• Household tips on energy efficiency and weatherization; and
• Protections from common utility scams and fraud.

Outreach & Education

OCC provides knowledgeable professionals to talk to residential consumer groups about utility issues. Speakers are available free of charge and can be scheduled by contacting OCC at 1-877-742-5622 or emailing occ@occ.ohio.gov.

Social Media

Follow OCC on Twitter/X @OCC4Consumers for utility information, tips, news about OCC’s consumer advocacy, and more. Look for local public hearing information on Redditt. A link to OCC’s YouTube videos is available at www.occ.ohio.gov.