To download: Click the folder with a down arrow icon. To print: Click the printer icon in the top right of the display.
If you need multiple copies for an organization or group, please contact a member of our outreach team.
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 where decisions are made 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 transition to competitive markets.
State and federal utility cases are 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.
State and federal utility regulators 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 customers. OCC gives consumers a voice in the regulatory process. This voice is backed by legal and technical expertise on complex utility issues.
In establishing the agency, the Ohio General Assembly decided that OCC’s funding would not come from Ohio’s General Revenue Fund (taxes). Instead, OCC’s budget is paid through a fee on the intrastate gross earnings of utilities regulated by the PUCO.
This fee is minimal, and the agency’s advocacy results in many more dollars in savings for residential utility consumers. In other words, the OCC saves consumers much more money than it costs to exist.
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 organized groups representing each of the areas of labor, residential customers, 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.
OCC’s staff is organized into four departments working together to achieve our mission and vision. This includes:
OCC’s website (www.occ.ohio.gov) is an interactive and user-friendly resource for residential utility consumer information. Consumers can view OCC’s free educational publications and find updated information about key cases at the PUCO that could impact utility rates or service quality.
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 others, these include:
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.
Follow OCC on Twitter @OCC4Consumers for utility information, tips, news about OCC’s consumer advocacy, and more. A link to OCC’s YouTube channel is available at www.occ.ohio.gov.
To download: Click the folder with a down arrow icon. To print: Click the printer icon in the top right of the display.
If you need multiple copies for an organization or group, please contact a member of our outreach team.