About the OCC

Role and overview

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) represents the interests of 4.5 million households in Ohio. Led by Janine L. Migden-Ostrander, the OCC advocates for residential consumers in state and federal courts, administrative proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and federal regulatory agencies. The state agency also monitors utility companies' compliance with legislative regulatory standards and orders. In addition, the OCC educates consumers about utility issues and the services provided by their investor-owned electric, natural gas, telephone and water companies.

The consumers' counsel is selected by a nine-member, bipartisan governing board representing family farmers, organized labor and residential consumers. Each governing board member is appointed by the Attorney General. The OCC has approximately 74 employees and an annual budget of about $7 million.

The consumers' counsel oversees all areas of the agency including the Operations, Legal, Analytical and Communications departments.

Since the agency's inception, the OCC has worked to ensure consumer benefits and protections in a changing utility environment. In the last 10 years, the results of the agency's formal litigation efforts and negotiation strategies have saved Ohio residential utility consumers more than $3 billion. The OCC's advocacy efforts has led to stronger consumer protections and more choices for residential consumers in the electric, natural gas and telephone industries.

The OCC is one of the strongest consumer advocate offices in the nation that works on behalf of residential utility customers. The office is a member of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates and actively participates on several state and national councils and committees.

Department Descriptions

• Operations Department - The Operations Department is responsible for all fiscal and administrative functions of the office including, human resources, information management services, budgeting, purchasing, strategic planning, library services, docketing services and contract management.

  Also under the Operations umbrella is the Consumer Services Division, which responds to consumer inquiries regarding utility services - both in English and Spanish. The call center is a one-stop resource for residential consumers with utility questions.

• Legal Department - The Legal Department is the branch of the agency that represents residential consumer interests in state and federal courts and administrative proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and federal regulatory agencies. In addition, many policies regarding significant utility issues are identified through the legal area.

• Analytical Department - The Analytical Department is responsible for conducting technical analysis of utility operations in rate filings and other regulatory proceedings. This work includes accounting, economic and financial analysis, as well as managing projects such as utility cost determinations and economic impact projections.

  The department also monitors utility company compliance with state statutes, regulations, codes and company policies.

• Communications Department - The Communications Department is responsible for creating consumer awareness of the services provided by the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) through public and media relations, marketing, and education and outreach efforts.

  By presenting educational speeches and materials to groups throughout the state, the OCC helps educate consumers about relevant utility issues. The department also maintains and updates the agency's website and designs and produces all fact sheets and publications.