Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

Media Center

Consumers still facing power outages reminded of Ohio Consumers’ Counsel’s services

COLUMBUS, Ohio — September 17, 2008 — The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) is the residential utility consumer advocate and can provide information and handle residential consumer complaints and inquiries relating to Ohio’s investor-owned electric utilities, including American Electric Power, Dayton Power & Light, Duke Energy and FirstEnergy.

The OCC’s toll free hotline is 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) and its website is at www.pickocc.org. E-mails can be submitted through the website or to occ@occ.state.oh.us.

Representatives staff OCC’s hotline from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Consumers also can access utility information 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the OCC’s automated voice response system.

Some reasons why residents call the OCC during a power outage include:

To ensure a power outage is reported at the utility company;
To find out updates provided by the utility;
To learn about the extent of an outage;
To receive safety tips; and
To find out customers' rights and responsibilities concerning outages.

Consumers should remember if they are still without electricity:

Turn circuit breakers off;
Use any gas-powered generators safely and never inside a home or garage;
Stay away from downed wires;
Report any damage to wires, transformers or other utility equipment immediately to the utility; and
Look at housing and food storage alternatives.

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.