Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel - Your Residential Utility Consumer Advocate

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Legislative Testimony

Advocating for Consumers

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) is the statewide legal representative for Ohio’s residential consumers in matters related to their investor-owned electric, natural gas, telephone, and water services. The agency advocates in the legislature for laws that promote affordable and reliable utility services for consumers. Learn How Utility Legislation Becomes Law in Ohio. OCC also represents Ohio consumers in legal cases at regulatory agencies that make decisions about the prices and quality of their utility services. The agency also monitors public utilities’ compliance with regulatory standards for consumer protection.

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Date Testimony Bill Forum Witness Video
2025-05-07 The Consumer Utility Billing Transparency Act HB158 House Energy Committee Maureen Willis View
2025-05-07 Budget Bill HB96 Senate Agriculture Committee Maureen Willis View
2025-04-29 Amend Competitive Retail Electric Service Law HB 15 Senate Energy Committee Maureen Willis View
2025-04-08 Amend Competitive Retail Electric Service Law HB 15 Senate Energy Committee Maureen Willis View
2025-04-03 Budget Bill HB 96 House Finance Committee Maureen Willis View
2025-03-19 Amend Competitive Retail Electric Service Law HB 15 House Energy Committee Maureen Willis View
2025-03-18 Increase Power Generation; Improve Ohio's Electric Grid SB 2 Senate Energy Committee Maureen Willis
2025-03-04 Increase Power Generation; Improve Ohio's Electric Grid SB 2 Senate Energy Committee Maureen Willis View
2025-02-26 Budget Bill HB 96 House Natural Resources Committee Maureen Willis View
2025-02-18 Increase Power Generation; Improve Ohio's Electric Grid SB 2 Senate Energy Committee Maureen Willis View
2025-02-12 Amend Competitive Retail Electric Service Law HB 15 House Energy Committee Maureen Willis View
2024-12-10 Allow Electric Energy Efficiency Programs and Charges to Consumers Sub HB 79 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Maureen Willis View
2024-12-10 Regulations for Submetering SB 123 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Maureen Willis
2024-11-19 Virtual Net Metering SB275 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Maureen Willis
2024-05-08 Revise Electric Security Plans HB 260 House Public Utilities Committee Maureen Willis
2024-05-07 Lead Line Replacement HB 226 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Maureen Willis
2024-01-24 Lead Line Replacement HB 226 House Public Utilities Committee Maureen Willis View
2024-01-24 Implementation Of Community Solar Program HB 197 House Public Utilities Committee Maureen Willis View
2024-01-23 Repeal Electric Security Plans SB 143 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Maureen Willis View
2023-12-05 Changes to Utility Regulation and Ratemaking Sub SB 102 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Maureen Willis View
2023-10-31 Authorize Certain Public Bodies to Meet Virtually HB 257 House Government Oversight Committee Angela O'Brien
2023-06-21 Allow Electric Energy Efficiency Programs and Charges to Consumers Sub HB 79 House Public Utilities Committee Dr. Daniel Duann
2023-06-20 Changes to Utility Regulation and Ratemaking SB 102 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Maureen Willis View
2023-06-08 Testimony on House Bill 33 (Non-Budget Issues Harming Utility Consumers) HB 33 Senate Finance Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2023-05-30 Testimony on House Bill 33 (Non-Budget Issues for Utility Consumers) HB 33 Senate Finance Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2023-05-03 Allow Electric Energy Efficiency Programs and Charges to Consumers HB 79 House Public Utilities Committee Nicholas Stallard View
2023-05-02 Budget Bill - Agency Budget and Other Consumer Issues HB 33 Senate General Government Budget Committee Bruce Weston View
2023-04-20 Budget Bill - Other Consumer Issues HB 33 House Finance Committee Maureen Willis
2023-03-09 Agency Budget HB 33 House Finance Subcommittee on Agriculture, Development, and Natural Resources Bruce Weston View
2022-12-13 Charging Natural Gas Consumers to Subsidize Infrastructure Development HB 685 House Energy and Natural Resources Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2022-12-06 Allows Subsidies of Utilities for Electric Vehicle Charging, at Consumer Expense SB 307 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson
2022-12-06 Charges to Consumers for Water Utility Ratemaking HB 364 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Mike Haugh View
2022-11-29 Allows Subsidies of Utilities for Electric Vehicle Charging, at Consumer Expense SB 307 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Mike Haugh View
2022-11-15 Replaces Electric Security Plans with Competitive Power Plans Sub HB 317 House Public Utilities Committee Mike Haugh
2022-05-31 Replaces Electric Security Plans with Competitive Power Plans Sub HB 317 House Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson
2022-05-31 Affects Consumers' Basic Phone Service (Amendment 3127) - Joint Testimony Sub HB 430 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson et al.
2022-05-17 Allows Subsidies of Utilities for Electric Vehicle Charging, at Consumer Expense SB 307 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Mike Haugh View
2022-04-06 Replaces Electric Security Plans with Competitive Power Plans Sub HB 317 House Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2022-03-30 Charges to Consumers for Water Utility Ratemaking HB 364 House Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2022-03-02 Replaces Electric Security Plans with Competitive Power Plans Sub HB 317 House Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2022-03-02 Allows Development of Community Solar Projects Sub HB 450 House Public Utilities Committee Mike Haugh
2021-12-09 Reduction of State Agency Regulations SB 9 House Government Oversight Committee Bruce Weston
2021-11-17 Allow Electric Energy Efficiency Programs and Charges to Consumers Sub HB 389 House Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2021-10-13 Allow Electric Energy Efficiency Programs and Charges to Consumers HB 389 House Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson
2021-09-29 Partial Repeal of House Bill 6 (Coal Plant Bailout for AEP, Duke, DP&L) HB 351 House Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2021-09-14 Repeal of Solar Subsidies from House Bill 6 SB 118 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Larry Sauer
2021-05-26 Refunds of Improper Charges to Utility Consumers HB 260 House Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2021-05-18 Agency Budget Sub HB 110 Senate Finance Committee Bruce Weston
2021-05-12 Partial Repeal of House Bill 6 (Coal Plant Bailout for AEP, Duke, DP&L) SB 117 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2021-05-05 Printed Phone Directories Sub HB 110 Senate General Government Budget Committee Larry Sauer et al.
2021-04-27 Agency Budget Sub HB 110 Senate General Government Budget Committee Bruce Weston View
2021-04-15 Agency Budget Sub HB 110 House Finance Committee Bruce Weston View
2021-03-02 Partial Repeal of House Bill 6 HB 128 House Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2021-02-25 Agency Budget HB 110 House Finance Subcommittee on Agriculture, Development, and Natural Resources Bruce Weston View
2021-02-23 Partial Repeal of House Bill 6 SB 44 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2021-02-10 Reduction of State Agency Regulations SB 9 Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee Bruce Weston
2021-02-02 Partial Repeal of House Bill 6 SB 10 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2020-12-16 Partial Repeal of House Bill 6 HB 798 House Select Committee on Energy Policy and Oversight Bruce Weston
2020-12-09 Partial Repeal of House Bill 6 HB 772 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2020-12-03 Partial Repeals of House Bill 6 and House Bill 166 HB 798 House Select Committee on Energy Policy and Oversight Jeff Jacobson View
2020-11-10 Repeal of House Bill 6 SB 346 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson
2020-09-23 Repeal of House Bill 6 HB 738 & HB 746 House Select Committee on Energy Policy and Oversight Jeff Jacobson View
2020-06-30 Possible Amendment on Water Utility Ratemaking HB 264 House Select Committee on Energy Policy and Oversight Jeff Jacobson
2020-01-28 Testimony on Electric Reliability in Ohio Energy Reliability in Ohio Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Michael Haugh View
2019-12-10 Protect Consumers from Robocalls and Caller ID Spoofing SCR 6 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2019-12-09 Add Rules for OAQDA to Review the PUCO's Audit of HB 6 Charges to Consumers OAC Chapter 3706-4 Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review Jeff Jacobson
2019-11-20 Protect Consumers from Robocalls and Caller ID Spoofing HCR 12 House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2019-11-12 (Submetering) Regulate certain resellers of utility service SB 86 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson
2019-10-23 Retail Electric Service HB 247 House Public Utilities Committee Michael Haugh View
2019-06-29 Subsidies for Power Plants Sub. HB 6 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Michael Haugh
2019-06-27 Subsidies for Power Plants Sub. HB 6 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Michael Haugh
2019-06-19 Subsidies for Power Plants Sub. HB 6 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Michael Haugh
2019-06-17 Budget Bill - FirstEnergy Profit/Customer Charges Sub. HB 166 Senate Finance Committee Bruce Weston
2019-05-23 Subsidies for Power Plants Sub. HB 6 House Energy and Natural Resources Committee Michael Haugh
2019-05-23 Budget Bill - FirstEnergy Profit/Customer Charges Sub. HB 166 Senate Finance Committee Jeff Jacobson
2019-05-22 Subsidies for Power Plants Sub. HB 6 House Energy and Natural Resources Committee Michael Haugh
2019-05-08 Subsidies for Power Plants Sub. HB 6 House Energy and Natural Resources Committee Michael Haugh
2019-05-07 Budget Bill - FirstEnergy Profit/Customer Charges Sub. HB 166 House Finance Committee Jeff Jacobson View
2019-05-01 Agency Budget HB 166 Senate General Government and Agency Review Committee Bruce Weston
2019-04-24 Subsidies for Power Plants HB 6 House Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy Generation Michael Haugh View
2019-04-02 Agency Budget HB 166 House Finance Subcommittee on Agriculture, Development, and Natural Resources Bruce Weston
2019-03-05 Reduction of State Agency Regulations SB 1 Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee Jeff Jacobson
2018-12-04 Consumer Protection ‎from Fraud by Telemarketers Using False Caller ID Information HB 597 House Criminal Justice Terry Etter
2018-11-29 Ohioans' Basic Telephone Service - Joint Testimony Sub. HB 402 House Public Utilities Committee Terry Etter et al.
2018-11-14 Ohioans' Basic Telephone Service - Joint Testimony SB 290 Senate Judiciary Committee Terry Etter
2018-06-26 Consumer Protections Related to Submetering and Reselling of Public Utility Services SB 157 Senate Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2018-06-20 Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction Standards HB 114 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Christopher Healey
2018-06-07 Changes to Ratemaking Law that Can Increase Water Utility Consumers’ Bills HB 422 Senate Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson
2018-06-06 Reduction of State Agency Regulations SB 293 Senate Transportation, Commerce and Workforce Committee Jeff Jacobson
2018-04-10 Ohioans' Basic Telephone Service — Joint Testimony Sub. HB 402 House Public Utilities Committee Terry Etter et al.
2018-02-20 Ohioans' Basic Telephone Service Sub. HB 402 House Public Utilities Committee Terry Etter
2018-01-30 Ohioans' Basic Telephone Service HB 402 House Public Utilities Committee Terry Etter
2018-01-23 Consumer Protections Bill HB 247 House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2018-01-23 Changes to Ratemaking Law that can Affect Water Utility Consumers’ Bills HB 422 House Energy and Natural Resources Committee Daniel Shields
2018-01-18 Consumer Protections Related to Submetering and Reselling of Public Utility Services SB 157 Senate Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson
2018-01-10 Subsidies for Power Plants SB 155 Senate Public Utilities Committee Daniel Shields
2018-01-10 Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction Standards HB 114 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Colleen Shutrump
2017-11-14 Invited Presentation on the Agency's role for Consumer Protection and Electric Regulation House Public Utilities Committee House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2017-10-24 Subsidies for Nuclear Power Plants SB 128 Senate Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2017-10-18 Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction Standards HB 114 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Christopher Healey
2017-10-17 Consumer Protections Related to Submetering and Reselling of Public Utility Services — Joint Testimony HB 249 House Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson et al.
2017-10-12 Subsidies for Power Plants SB 155 Senate Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2017-06-22 Consumer Protections Related to Submetering and Reselling of Public Utility Services SB 157 Senate Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson
2017-06-08 Subsidies for Power Plants SB 155 Senate Public Utilities Committee Michael Haugh
2017-06-06 Subsidies for Power Plants HB 239 House Public Utilities Committee Michael Haugh
2017-06-01 Subsidies for Nuclear Power Plants SB 128 Senate Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson
2017-05-23 State Budget - Lifeline Assistance for Low-Income Telephone Consumers — Joint Testimony Sub. HB 49 Senate Finance Subcommittee on General Government and Agency Review James Williams et al.
2017-05-23 Agency Budget Sub. HB 49 Senate Finance Subcommittee on General Government and Agency Review Bruce Weston
2017-05-09 Subsidies for Nuclear Power Plants HB 178 House Public Utilities Committee Jeff Jacobson
2017-03-30 State Budget - Lifeline Assistance for Low-Income Telephone Consumers — Joint Testimony HB 49 House Finance Committee James Williams et al.
2017-03-22 Transportation Budget - Gas Utility Subsidy Charges HB 26 Senate Transportation, Commerce and Workforce Committee Jeff Jacobson
2017-03-21 Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction Standards HB 114 House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2017-03-16 Hearing on Submetering and Reselling N/A Columbus City Council Public Utilities Committee Andrew Garver
2017-03-14 Invited Presentation on the Agency's role for Consumers N/A House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2017-02-16 Agency Budget HB 49 House Finance Subcommittee on Agriculture, Development, and Natural Resources Bruce Weston
2016-12-08 Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction Standards HB 554 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Bruce Weston
2016-11-30 Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction Standards Sub. HB 554 House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2016-11-22 Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction Standards Sub. SB 320 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Bruce Weston
2015-06-01 Energy Efficiency Standards, etc. Link to Report Ohio Energy Mandates Study Committee Bruce Weston
2015-05-06 Invited Presentation on the Agency's role for Consumers N/A House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2015-05-05 Agency Budget and Basic Telephone Service for Consumers Am. Sub. HB 64 Senate Finance Committee, Workforce Subcommittee Bruce Weston
2015-03-04 Agency Budget and Basic Telephone Service for Consumers HB 64 House Finance Subcommittee on Agriculture, Development, and Natural Resources Bruce Weston
2014-12-17 Consumer Protections Related to Master-Metering, Submetering and Reselling of Public Utility Services Am. HB 662 House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2014-12-04 Ohioans' Basic Telephone Service Am. Sub. HB 490 Senate Agriculture Committee Bruce Weston
2014-12-02 Consumer Protections Related to Master-Metering, Submetering and Reselling of Public Utility Services HB 662 House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2014-11-14 Ohioans' Basic Telephone Service HB 490 House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Bruce Weston
2014-05-20 Energy Efficiency Standards Etc. Am. Sub. SB 310 House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2014-04-30 Energy Efficiency Standards Etc. SB 310 Senate Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2014-04-08 Consumer Protections for Reselling of Public Utility Services HB 483 House Finance and Appropriations Committee Bruce Weston
2014-04-02 Cost of Manufactured Gas Plant Clean-up HB 483 House Finance and Appropriations Committee Bruce Weston
2013-10-15 Affordable, Reliable Electric Service N/A House Policy and Legislative Oversight Committee Bruce Weston
2013-10-09 Energy Efficiency Standards Etc. Sub. SB 58 Senate Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2013-05-31 Preserving Affordable Basic Telephone Service Am. Sub. HB 59 Senate Finance Committee Bruce Weston
2013-05-28 Cost of Manufactured Gas Plant Clean-up Am. Sub. HB 59 Senate Finance Committee Bruce Weston
2013-04-30 OCC Budget Am. Sub. HB 59 Senate Finance Committee, General Government Finance Subcommittee Bruce Weston
2013-04-09 Energy Efficiency Standards Etc. SB 58 Senate Public Utilities Committee Wilson Gonzalez
2013-04-03 Review of SB 162 (Telecom Deregulation) SB 162 Select Committee on Telecommunications Regulatory Reform Amy Kurt
2013-02-28 OCC Budget HB 59 House Finance and Appropriations Committee, Agriculture and Development Subcommittee Bruce Weston
2012-05-21 Energy Industry Sub. SB 315 House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2012-05-08 Natural Gas Regulation Am. Sub. HB 487 Senate Finance Committee Bruce Weston
2012-04-25 Energy Industry SB 315 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Wilson Gonzalez
2012-03-14 Water and sewer utilities rates and regulations HB 379 House Public Utilities Committee Amy Kurt
2012-01-25 Telecommunications Carrier-of-Last-Resort SB 271 Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2011-12-07 Electric Service N/A House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2011-11-30 Electric Securitization HB 364 House Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston
2011-11-30 Electric Securitization SB 248 Senate Public Utilities Committee Bruce Weston