Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

News Release

Assistance available for low-income Aqua Ohio customersMar. 19, 2010
As part of a settlement with the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, assistance for low-income Aqua Ohio customers is now available in the utility's Lake Erie, Stark and Struthers divisions.
Winter Crisis Program assisting consumers to end at close of heating seasonMar. 17, 2010
The OCC reminds income-eligible consumers facing disconnection of their heating services to apply for assistance from the Home Energy Assistance Program Winter Crisis Program before March 31 when the winter heating season ends.
Telephone deregulation bill leaves customers with bundled services without protectionsMar. 17, 2010
According to the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), telephone deregulation legislation passed today by the House of Representatives will leave thousands of residential customers with bundled telephone services with few consumer protections.
Public hearing scheduled for Aqua Ohio Masury Division consumersMar. 11, 2010
Customers of Aqua Ohio's Masury Division have the opportunity to testify at a public hearing about the utility's proposed 80.3 percent rate increase.
OCC asks PUCO to clarify order to restore FirstEnergy discountsMar. 08, 2010
The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) today asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to clarify its decision to restore discounts to FirstEnergy's all-electric customers.
OCC: Supreme Court should reject AEP appeal related to Ormet discountMar. 04, 2010
The OCC has asked the Supreme Court of Ohio to reject an appeal from American Electric Power seeking to retain profits for services it is not providing.
The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel will educate consumers during National Consumer Protection WeekMar. 04, 2010
The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) joins other agencies and partners to provide consumers with tools to make wiser financial decisions during National Consumer Protection Week, March 7-13. The theme of this year's activities is "Dollars and Sense: Rated A for All Ages."
OCC supports decision to restore FirstEnergy all-electric discountsMar. 03, 2010
The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) today supported a decision that temporarily restores discounts to some customers of FirstEnergy living in all-electric homes.
OCC requests temporary and immediate rate relief for FirstEnergy's all-electric customers, review rate impact on billsFeb. 25, 2010
The OCC took action today on behalf of more than 100,000 customers of FirstEnergy living in "all-electric" homes. The residential consumer advocate filed a pleading with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) asking for temporary and immediate relief from rate increases that some have reported being as high as 300 percent more than what they were paying a year ago.
Columbia Gas of Ohio customers may continue seeing lower billsFeb. 24, 2010
As a result of the first wholesale auction for Columbus Gas of Ohio, customers will see lower prices, according to the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC).
Costs of 2008 windstorm should not be collected by Duke Energy says OCCFeb. 24, 2010
The OCC has asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to deny Duke Energy Ohio's request to charge customers $31 million for costs it spent to restore service because of a 2008 windstorm caused by Hurricane Ike.
OCC objects to FirstEnergy's attempt to collect costs of failed CFL program from residential customersFeb. 18, 2010
FirstEnergy's compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) program continues to cost too much money, the OCC said in comments filed at the PUCO. The OCC has objected to a request the utility has made to collect costs from its fail CFL program that will not benefit customers in the redesigned program.
Ashtabula and Tiffin: Consumers to voice opinions, concerns at Ohio American Water public hearingsFeb. 18, 2010
Ashtabula and Tiffin: Consumers to voice opinions, concerns at Ohio American Water public hearings
OCC: Consumers should benefit from the Frontier-Verizon mergerFeb. 11, 2010
More access to broadband and improved service quality are some of the benefits for Ohio residential customers as a result of the merger between Frontier Communications Corp. and Verizon Communications, Inc., according to Consumers' Counsel, Janine Migden-Ostrander.
OCC: Collaborative group of experts develop more meaningful consumer programsFeb. 09, 2010
New legislation has been introduce in the Ohio House that would create an advisory group of experts to review electric and natural energy efficiency programs in Ohio. The group would ensure a transparent and collaborative process takes place in the development of programs intended to help consumers become more energy efficient and ensure unreasonable costs are not added to customers' bills.
Public hearings scheduled in Ashtabula and Tiffin regarding Ohio American Water proposed rate increaseJan. 29, 2010
Public hearings for the Ohio American Water proposed rate increase have been added in the Ashtabula and Tiffin. The OCC requested these two locations be added to the hearing schedule so more than 20,000 OAW residential customers have the opportunity to speak about the proposed rate increase.
Ohio American Water withdraws step-increase rate proposal; OCC maintains water rate decrease recommendationJan. 20, 2010
Ohio American Water has filed a letter with the PUCO announcing it will remove the step-increase portion of its proposed increase request from its rate case. The OCC maintains that residential water consumers are warranted a rate decrease.
Franklin County: Consumers to voice opinions, concerns at Ohio American Water public hearingsJan. 19, 2010
Franklin County: Consumers to voice opinions, concerns at Ohio American Water public hearings
Mansfield-Marion: Consumers to voice opinions, concerns at Ohio American Water public hearingsJan. 19, 2010
Mansfield-Marion: Consumers to voice opinions, concerns at Ohio American Water public hearings
Ohio Consumers' Counsel Migden-Ostrander earns regional leadership awardJan. 14, 2010
Advocating for energy efficiency benefits has earned Ohio Consumers' Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander the Inspiring Efficiency Leadership Award. It will be presented by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance as part of the alliance's Midwest Energy Solutions Conference.
Consumers' Counsel recommends changes to FirstEnergy's proposals for generation serviceJan. 08, 2010
FirstEnergy's proposed bidding process to arrive at the generation rates customers will pay should be permitted but greatly modified.
OCC: Rate decrease warranted for residential water customers of Ohio American WaterJan. 05, 2010
Residential customers of Ohio American Water (OAW) would pay lower rates based on reductions sought by the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC). The consumer advocate yesterday filed testimony with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) asking to amend a proposed OAW rate increase.

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