Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

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Contact: Beth Gianforcaro
614-466-9491

Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Names Amy Gomberg Legislative Director

COLUMBUS, Ohio – October 27, 2009 – Amy Gomberg has been named director of legislative and governmental affairs for the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate.

“Ms. Gomberg brings an excellent lobbying background and knowledge of environmental and utility issues to the OCC,” said Consumers’ Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander. “She is a wellrespected, energetic lobbyist who has worked hard throughout her career for consumers. This background will enable her to effectively represent residential consumer interests on key issues during these challenging economic times.”

Gomberg will serve as liaison between the OCC and the Ohio General Assembly and the U.S. Congress, and be actively involved in legislative issues relating to public utilities. She will represent the consumers’ counsel in all legislative hearings, as well as communicate OCC policies and positions on utility issues and pending legislation. She also will respond to inquiries from state and federal legislative offices.

Since 2006, Gomberg has served as the program director and acting state director for Environment Ohio and Environment Ohio Research and Policy Center, where she worked to advance environmental programs throughout the state. Gomberg helped launch Environment Ohio in 2006. Her work has focused primarily on energy, climate and water issues, having written five reports that generated hundreds of media stories around the state.

Gomberg also is credited with being a lead strategist in advocating for Ohio’s renewable energy standard in the recently passed Senate Bill 221 and in garnering support from the Ohio business community to enable its success, Migden-Ostrander said. Gomberg also led Environment Ohio’s climate change work and was appointed to the Midwestern Governors Association’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord Advisory Committee.

Prior to her work with Environment Ohio, Gomberg was citizen outreach director for the Fund for the Public Interest, and the environmental associate with the Ohio Public Interest Research Group. She began her career in 2004 with Green Corps, working on the New Voters Project during the 2004 elections in New Mexico and with Corporate Accountability International in Atlanta, Ga.

Gomberg received a bachelor of arts in earth and environmental sciences from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., in 2004.

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 Web site at www.pickocc.org.