Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

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Ohio Consumers’ Counsel attorney David Bergmann receives national award for advocacy on behalf of telecommunications consumers

COLUMBUS, Ohio – November 19, 2007 – A long-time lawyer for the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, the state’s residential utility consumer advocate, was honored by utility consumer advocates across the nation. David Bergmann received the “Outstanding Service Award,” the first of its kind, from the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA), a non-profit, national organization of state offices in more than 40 states and the District of Columbia designated to represent consumers in state and federal utility proceedings.

NASUCA presented Bergmann with the award during its annual meeting last week in Anaheim, California. The heads of many of the state agencies dedicated to consumer advocacy on utility issues attended the meeting.

“David’s excellence as a lawyer is demonstrated in each case he has participated in as an advocate for residential utility consumers,” said Janine Migden-Ostrander, Ohio’s Consumers’ Counsel. “His passion for helping to protect consumers has spread across the country through his role as a key organizer of federal telecommunications work performed on behalf of the nation’s telephone consumers.”

Bergmann serves as an Assistant Consumers’ Counsel in Ohio and has been chair of NASUCA’s Telecommunications Committee at the national level since 2002.

“David is a tireless advocate for consumers who demand and deserve to pay reasonable rates for quality utility services,” said John R. Perkins, outgoing president of NASUCA who is also the consumer advocate for the state of Iowa. “David has helped bring consumer advocates to the forefront of telecommunications issues ranging from affordability to quality of service to the level of competition from which customers can benefit.”

Bergmann recently received another national honor as he received the 2007 Golden Phone Award from the nonprofit organization Community Voice Mail.

Bergmann joined the Consumers’ Counsel’s staff in 1982. He received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, his juris doctor from the University of Michigan and an MBA from The Ohio State University. He grew up in the Akron area and resides in Columbus.

Editor’s Note: Mr. Bergmann is a resident of Columbus, Ohio (Zip Code 43221)

About the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA)

NASUCA is a non-profit, national organization of more than 40 state offices designated to represent consumers in state and federal utility proceedings. NASUCA regularly participates in proceedings before the FCC and other federal regulatory agencies.

About the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, represents the interests of 4.5 million households in proceedings before state and federal regulators and in the courts. The state agency also educates consumers about electric, natural gas, telephone and water issues and resolves complaints from individuals. To receive utility information, brochures, schedule a presentation or file a utility complaint, residential consumers may call 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) toll free in Ohio or visit the OCC website at www.pickocc.org.