Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel
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2004 Press Releases
| Power outage
letter to the editor December 27, 2004 |
| The OCC expresses appreciation for the hard work being done to restore power. While outages are bound to occur during severe winter storms, the OCC emphasizes the need for uniform statewide tree trimming standards. |
| Consumers'
Counsel objects to proposed rate hikes for Vectren customers December 27, 2004 |
| The OCC objects to several recommendations made by the staff of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) that would allow Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio to raise rates by up to $10.1 million per year. |
| Consumers'
Counsel requests that state regulators reconsider harmful Cincinnati
Gas & Electric rate plan December 27, 2004 |
| The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) filed a request today with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to reconsider a Cincinnati Gas & Electric (CG&E) rate plan that violates the law and could significantly raise monthly bills. |
| Consumers'
Counsel reacts to result of FirstEnergy auction December 9, 2004 |
| Consumers' Counsel reacts to result of FirstEnergy auction |
| Dayton Power
and Light Customers have three days left to join new electric choice
program December 7, 2004 |
| Dayton Power & Light residential customers have until Friday, December 10 to enroll in a new electric choice pilot program. |
| Consumers'
Counsel urges customers of Ohio American Water, Citizens Utilities
to voice opinion on proposed rate hike December 6, 2004 |
| The OCC urges customers of Ohio American Water and Citizens Utilities to voice their opinion on a proposal that could raise rates by nearly 20 percent. |
| DP&L
customers still have time to join new electric choice program December 1, 2004 |
| Customers of Dayton Power & Light still have time to enroll in the electric choice pilot program, said the Ohio Consumers' Counsel. The deadline for enrollment is December 10. |
| DP&L
voluntary enrollment letter to editor December 1, 2004 |
| Customers of Dayton Power & Light still have time to enroll in the electric choice pilot program, said the Ohio Consumers' Counsel. The deadline for enrollment is December 10. |
| Utility assistance
programs help consumers stay connected November 24, 2004 |
| Many Ohioans may find themselves facing difficulties in paying their utility bills during the colder, winter months. Programs such as the winter reconnect order, HEAP, PIPP and budget billing are available to help consumers manage their bills. |
| Stay Connected
letter to editor November 24, 2004 |
| Consumers who are income eligible can use the winter reconnect order, HEAP and PIPP to stay connected to their utilities this winter. Most consumers, regardless of income, can participate in budget billing to spread the high heating costs over the year. |
| Consumers'
Counsel reacts to PUCO gas rate decision, offers help to residential
customers November 23, 2004 |
| OCC reacts to PUCO natural gas rate decision and offers help to Columbia and Dominion customers |
| Proposed
Verizon late payment charge will harm consumers November 16, 2004 |
| The OCC has filed its opposition to a proposed late payment charge by Verizon that could cause customers to pay as much as a 16 percent penalty if bill are late. |
| Letter to
the Editor - Post election aggregation November 12, 2004 |
| This is an example of the letter to the editor sent to media outlets in communities where electric or natural gas aggregation issues were passed on the November 2, 2004 ballot. Individual Letters to the Editor covered the following counties: Hamilton, Stark, Summit, Wayne and Wood. |
| OCC reaction
of FCC's decision on Internet-based phone services November 9, 2004 |
| The OCC reacts to a Federal Communications Commission decision that limits the authority of individual states over Internet-based telephone services. |
| DP&L
customers can join a new electric choice program November 8, 2004 |
| Customers of DP&L can now enroll in a pilot electric choice program that if successful will guarantee savings. The deadline to enroll in this risk free program is December 10. |
| Ohio consumer
advocate reacts to SBC wholesale rate increase November 3, 2004 |
| The OCC reacts to a wholesale rate increase approved for SBC, which will likely result in fewer local telephone choices for residential consumers. |
| Machado will
help educate Spanish speaking Ohioans about their utility services November 1, 2004 |
| Machado will help educate Spanish speaking Ohioans about their utility services |
| Consumer
advocate asks regulators to reconsider Cincinnati Gas & Electric
rate plan decision October 29, 2004 |
| The OCC asks the PUCO to reconsider a recent decision that will likely result in three years of higher electric rates for Cincinnati Gas & Electric customers. |
| Letter to
the Editor - Aggregation ballot issues October 28, 2004 |
| Consumers in 10 Ohio communities will vote on electric or natural gas aggregation issues on Tuesday, November 2. If the ballot issues pass, the local governments will be authorized to select an electric or natural gas supplier on behalf of their residents in an effort to save money on their energy bills. |
| Letter to
the editor on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) October 20, 2004 |
| Telephone service using a broadband connection is a welcome addition to the competitive market, but consumers should be educated about the potential benefits and pitfalls before signing up. |
| Consumers'
Counsel challenges a PUCO-approved agreement with Columbia Gas of Ohio
at the Ohio Supreme Court October 8, 2004 |
| The OCC filed an appeal today at the Ohio Supreme Court that challenges a PUCO-approved agreement with Columbia Gas of Ohio that fails to protect the interests of residential consumers. |
| Consumers'
Counsel is analyzing the power auction process outlined by the PUCO October 6, 2004 |
| The OCC reacts to a PUCO decision on the competitive bid process, which could determine future electric rates for FirstEnergy customers. |
| SBC customers
on National Connections plans should be aware of possible billing error October 5, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts SBC customers of an error that has affected approximately 5,300 Ohio households who have signed up for a National Connections plan. |
| Consumers'
Counsel advocates to Federal Communications Commission: Save local
telephone choice October 4, 2004 |
| The OCC files comments on what rules should be adopted regarding local telephone competitors’ access to local telephone lines and equipment, and on the competitive situation in the states. |
| Consumers'
Counsel challenging FirstEnergy rate plan at Ohio Supreme Court October 1, 2004 |
| The OCC appeals the decision by the PUCO to modify and approve a FirstEnergy rate plan. The OCC believes the plan is unlawful and will harm residential consumers throughout northern Ohio. |
| New program
could result in Dayton area electric savings September 30, 2004 |
| DP&L: Customers of Dayton Power & Light (DP&L) will soon receive information in their bills announcing a new electric choice pilot program that, if successful, will save them money. |
| Residents
in East Palestine must make electric decision by October 20 September 30, 2004 |
| East Palestine: The OCC alerts East Palestine residents that they must decide by October 20 whether to join or withdraw from a new community electric aggregation group. |
| Consumers'
Counsel reacts to Cincinnati Gas & Electric rate decision September 29, 2004 |
| The OCC reacts to a PUCO decision that will cause increases in monthly electric bills paid by residential customers of Cincinnati Gas & Electric. |
| Plan would
likely raise ALLTEL & Western Reserve customers' rates for telephone
features September 20, 2004 |
| The OCC opposes a plan that could increase the prices paid by customers of ALLTEL and Western Reserve for commonly used products and services. The plan, known as elective alternative regulation, would allow price increases at a time when residential customers of these companies have no local telephone choices. |
| FirstEnergy's
proposed auction process could lead to failed bid, allow high electric
rates to continue September 13, 2004 |
| The OCC advocates changes to FirstEnergy's proposed auction process. Unless the auction is structured properly it could fail, allowing high electric rates to continue in northern Ohio. |
| Convenient
utility bill-paying services often come with a price tag September 2, 2004 |
| Consumers should be aware that some services that allow online and over-the-telephone utility bill payments may charge monthly fees and take up to five business days to notify the utility of the transaction. |
| Weston named
Deputy Consumers' Counsel August 30, 2004 |
| Weston named Deputy Consumers' Counsel |
| Plan would
likely raise Chillicothe Telephone customers' rates for telephone features August 27, 2004 |
| The OCC opposes a plan that would allow Chillicothe Telephone to increase the rates of dozens of services at a time when its residential customers have no choice of local telephone providers. |
| Sprint's
local telephone customers paying higher prices for packages, features August 19, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts Sprint's local customers of increased prices for several telephone packages and commonly used services. The increases are permitted because Sprint is operating under "elective alternative regulation" rules. |
| Consumer
Alert: Internet dialing scams continue; consumers hit with high telephone
bills August 5, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts consumers to an Internet dial-up scam that is hitting some households with hundreds of dollars in unauthorized long-distance charges. |
| Reaction
to PUCO's FirstEnergy decision August 4, 2004 |
| The OCC reacts to the PUCO's latest ruling in the FirstEnergy rate plan case. |
| Consumers
encouraged to get involved, have a stronger voice on utility issues July 27, 2004 |
| Get involved with the Action Alerts Network. |
| Consumers'
Counsel to discuss utility issues at a Cleveland community forum July 20, 2004 |
| Janine Migden-Ostrander, Consumers' Counsel, will participate in a panel presentation and answer questions from consumers during a community forum on Tuesday, July 27 in Cleveland. |
| Consumer
advocate asks regulators to reconsider FirstEnergy rate plan decision July 9, 2004 |
| The OCC asks the PUCO to reconsider the portions of a decision that may cause FirstEnergy customers to continue to pay high monthly bills. |
| Carles joins
Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel as Outreach and Education Specialist
for NW Ohio July 7, 2004 |
| Amy Carles has joined the Office of the Consumers' Counsel as an Outreach and Education Specialist. She will be based in Findlay and travel throughout 23 counties in Northwest Ohio. |
| Residents
in Defiance must make electric decision by July 16 July 2, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts Defiance residents that they must decide by July 16 whether to join, remain in or withdraw from a community electric aggregation group. |
| Residents
in Stryker must make electric decision by July 16 July 2, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts Stryker residents that they must decide by July 16 whether to join, remain in or withdraw from a community electric aggregation group. |
| AEP rate
hike: Utility, regulators should do what Ohio law intended July 1, 2004 |
| The OCC advocates for AEP residential customers in a guest column published by the Canton Repository. |
| Ohio's residential
utility advocate reacts to AT&T's pullout from wholesale rate case July 1, 2004 |
| The OCC reacts to AT&T's withdrawal from a case that will decide whether SBC Ohio can raise its wholesale rates. The pullout could have an significant impact on the proceedings and the future of local telephone choice. |
| Approval
of plan will likely result in higher prices for many Cincinnati Bell customers June 30, 2004 |
| Customers of Cincinnati Bell Telephone should expect to pay higher prices for many commonly used telephone services under a plan approved by state regulators. The plan, known as "elective alternative regulation," allows Cincinnati Bell to increase prices at a time when its residential customers have no choice of local telephone providers. |
| OCC offers
comparison chart of local telephone providers for Verizon's residential
customers June 28, 2004 |
| The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) has developed a chart to help Verizon customers compare their local telephone choices. The new comparison chart titled "Comparing Your Local Telephone Choices for Verizon Customers" contains a list of providers and a wide variety of their service packages. |
| Consumer
reaction to AT&T no longer competing for Ohio's residential local
and long-distance customers June 23, 2004 |
| The OCC reacts to AT&T's decision to no longer compete for Ohio's residential local and long-distance customers. |
| Stapleton
joins Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel as Director of Legislative
and Governmental Affairs June 23, 2004 |
| Dennis Stapleton has been named director of legislative and governmental affairs for the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC). A former four term state legislator, he will serve as a liaison between the OCC and state and federal governmental agencies. |
| Consumers'
Counsel: Decision on FirstEnergy rate plan responded to consumer opposition June 9, 2004 |
| Today, the OCC was pleased that the PUCO announced that an auction will be used to achieve the lowest possible electric prices for consumers in northern Ohio. The PUCO's decision established a competitive bidding process and made significant changes to FirstEnergy's proposal. |
| Residents
in Westlake must make electric decision by June 14 June 2, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts Westlake residents that they must decide by June 14 whether to join, remain in or withdraw from a community electric aggregation group. |
| New consumer
advocate moves agency forward May 28, 2004 |
| Consumers' Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander outlines her vision for the OCC, the residential utility advocate. |
| Consumers'
Counsel calls for regulators to dismiss American Electric Power rate
proposal May 24, 2004 |
| The OCC today asked state regulators to throw out an American Electric Power (AEP) proposal because it violates the law, breaks prior commitments by AEP and will lead to higher rates. |
| Consumers'
Counsel announces enhanced ethics and public records policies May 20, 2004 |
| The OCC announces enhanced ethics and public records policies in a report filed today with the Office of the Inspector General. |
| Residents
in Akron must make electric decision by June 7 May 19, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts Akron residents that they must decide by June 7 whether to join, remain in or withdraw from a community electric aggregation group. |
| Ohio Consumers'
Counsel Encourages Consumers to Speak Out May 11, 2004 |
| American Electric Power customers are encouraged to voice their concerns at an upcoming public hearing about a plan proposed by the company that could significantly raise residential customer's electric rates. |
| Customers
of Columbia Gas lose under PUCO-approved settlement May 6, 2004 |
| Over the OCC's objections, the PUCO approved a Columbia Gas settlement that allows the company to collect in excess of $100 million over four years that would otherwise be credited to its customers through lower rates. |
| Consumers
urge state regulators to hear arguments about FirstEnergy rate plan April 12, 2004 |
| Eight stakeholder groups today requested that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) hear oral arguments on a rate proposal by FirstEnergy. |
| American
Electric Power proposal would hurt residential consumers April 8, 2004 |
| The OCC objects to a proposal by American Electric Power (AEP) that could raise some electric rates by as much as 33 percent and could take away a state-approved rate reduction. |
| Coalition
opposes FirstEnergy plan April 8, 2004 |
| The OCC joined other consumer groups to speak out in unison against a proposal by FirstEnergy that will lead to higher, more volatile rates if approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. |
| State's residential
utility advocate to join consumer groups in local media briefings on
FirstEnergy's future rates April 8, 2004 |
| A coalition of consumer groups will brief local media throughout Northern Ohio on a FirstEnergy proposal that would lead to higher, more volatile rates. Included in the briefings will be Consumers' Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander, the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), the Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition (NOAC) and Ohio Citizen Action. |
| Residential
consumers should watch out for long-distance billing error March 26, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts telephone customers of a $3.95 "Monthly Service Charge" by AT&T that is being added in error to the long-distance portion of some monthly bills. |
| Letter to
the Editor on aggregation ballot issues March 19, 2004 |
| Residents in six Ohio communities will voted to approve electric and/or natural gas aggregation issues in the March 2004 election. Since the issues have passed, the local governments have been authorized to select an electric and/or natural gas supplier on behalf of their residents in an effort to save money on their energy bills. |
| Residents
of Seven Hills must make electric decision by April 2 March 12, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts Seven Hills residents that they must decide by April 2 whether to join, remain in or withdraw from a community electric aggregation group. |
| CG&E
proposals call for higher, more volatile rates March 9, 2004 |
| The OCC opposes Cincinnati Gas & Electric plans which would significantly increase monthly electric bills and take away state-approved consumer benefits. |
| Migden named
Consumers' Counsel March 8, 2004 |
| Migden named Consumers' Counsel |
| Oak Harbor
resident re-appointed to serve on Ohio Consumers' Counsel Governing
Board March 2, 2004 |
| Oak Harbor resident re-appointed to serve on Ohio Consumers' Counsel Governing Board |
| Girard resident
appointed to serve on Ohio Consumers' Counsel Governing Board March 2, 2004 |
| Girard resident appointed to serve on Ohio Consumers' Counsel Governing Board |
| Cleveland
resident appointed to serve on Ohio Consumers' Counsel Governing Board March 2, 2004 |
| Cleveland resident appointed to serve on Ohio Consumers' Counsel Governing Board |
| Ohio Consumers'
Counsel Governing Board finalizes list of candidates February 26, 2004 |
| Ohio Consumers' Counsel Governing Board finalizes list of candidates |
| March 2004
aggregation ballot issues - Letter to the Editor February 25, 2004 |
| Consumers in six Ohio communities will vote on electric and/or natural gas aggregation issues on Tuesday, March 2. If the ballot issues pass, the local governments will be authorized to select an electric and/or natural gas supplier on behalf of their residents in an effort to save money on their energy bills. |
| Residents
of Canton must make natural gas decision by March 9 February 23, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts Canton residents that they must decide by March 9 whether to participate in or withdraw from a community natural gas aggregation group. |
| Residents
of Euclid must make natural gas decision by March 9 February 23, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts Euclid residents that they must decide by March 9 whether to participate in or withdraw from a community natural gas aggregation group. |
| Residents
in four Summit County communities must make natural gas decision by
March 9 February 23, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts residents in four Summit County communities that they must decide by March 9 whether to participate in or withdraw from a community natural gas aggregation group. |
| Energy aggregation
issue to appear on election ballots February 18, 2004 |
| Consumers in six Ohio communities will vote on electric and/or natural gas aggregation issues on Tuesday, March 2. If the ballot issues pass, the local governments will be authorized to select an electric and/or natural gas supplier on behalf of their residents in an effort to save money on their energy bills. |
| Ohio Consumers'
Counsel: Dayton area natural gas customers deserve $11 million rate
reduction February 11, 2004 |
| The OCC advocates for customers of Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio to receive approximately $11 million in refunds. The refunds are based on the OCC's analysis of a recent management performance audit. |
| FirstEnergy
proposal calls for higher, more volatile rates February 6, 2004 |
| The OCC opposes a plan by FirstEnergy that would result in over $1 billion in new charges to residential customers and fail to provide rate stability. The plan would determine most of the electric rates consumers pay after the current five-year generation rate cap ends on December 31, 2005. |
| Ohio Consumers'
Counsel opposes SBC's attempt to undo consumer safeguards January 30, 2004 |
| The OCC opposes a request by SBC Ohio to be exempt from minimum service standards that have protected residential consumers for decades. |
| Plan would
raise CenturyTel customers' rates January 30, 2004 |
| The OCC asks state regulators to reject an application by CenturyTel that could increase the rates of dozens of commonly-used services. |
| Consumer
protection tips for utility customers A Guest Column by Eric Stephens, Deputy Consumers' Counsel January 27, 2004 |
| Many times consumers pay their monthly utility bills without thinking twice. But, with the entry of new companies into the market and more services being offered than ever before in the utility industry, residential consumers need to be aware of the charges they are paying. The OCC offers tips on how to become a wiser consumer. |
| Ohio Consumers'
Counsel opposes Sprint late payment charge January 22, 2004 |
| The OCC opposes a Sprint charge that, if approved by state regulators, would penalize many of its local telephone customers who pay late by adding at least $5 to their monthly bills. The OCC believes this charge is unfair to customers and violates a rate cap that has applied to Sprint since October 2002. |
| Ohio Consumers'
Counsel: State regulators fail to meet consumers' needs by rejecting
statewide reliability investigation January 21, 2004 |
| The OCC reacts to state regulators' rejection of its request to conduct a statewide electric reliability investigation. |
| Ohio Consumers'
Counsel challenges electric charges at Ohio Supreme Court January 14, 2004 |
| The Ohio Consumers' Counsel argued before the Ohio Supreme Court today challenging new electric fees that violate Ohio law. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) granted utility companies the ability to charge news fees for extending electric to homes not previously connected to the power system. These new fees violate an electric rate cap that began on January 1, 2001 and extends through the end of 2005. |
| Ohio Consumers'
Counsel calls for statewide reliability investigation; Highlights obstacles
to electric choice January 8, 2004 |
| The OCC calls on state regulators to conduct a comprehensive investigation into whether electric utilities are providing the reliable service required under Ohio law. The request was announced as part of the OCC's End-Of-Year Update on Ohio's Electric Market. |
| Residents
of Youngstown must make electric decision by January 26 January 5, 2004 |
| The OCC alerts residents in Youngstown that they must decide by January 26 whether to participate in or withdraw from their community's electric aggregation group. |
Office
of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel - Your Residential Utility Consumer
Advocate 10 West Broad Street, Suite 1800, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3485
1-877-742-5622 (toll-free in Ohio) or 614-466-8574
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For information about our privacy policy and copyright, visit our Legal Disclaimer page.
The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel is an equal opportunity employer and provider of services.