The OCC's mission is to represent the interests of residential, small business and agricultural energy and telecommunication consumers by promoting affordable, reasonably priced, high quality, reliable service.
The Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) represents the interests of residential, small business and agricultural consumers before the Public Utilities Commission, certain federal agencies (such as the Federal Communications Commission), and in the courts on appeal. The OCC is Colorado's consumer advocate in electric, gas and telecommunications utility rate and rule making matters. The office represents consumers by participating in complex utility cases. The OCC examines the technical evidence filed by the utility, provides expert testimony on consumers' behalf, cross-examines other witnesses, makes legal arguments, and represents consumers in settlement negotiations. Approximately 40 other states have utility consumer advocate offices similar to the OCC.
The OCC is charged with representing the small consumer before the PUC, but is prohibited by statute from representing individuals in complaints with utilities. Instead, the PUC is staffed to resolve individual complaints. The OCC is interested in individual complaints when they show a pattern of rate or service problems the office believes should be addressed. The OCC has a staff of seven technical and administrative personnel as well as legal representation through the Department of Law. In addition, a statutorily authorized board appointed by the Governor gives policy guidance to the OCC. The eleven-member board is appointed to represent the public interest and, specifically, the interests of residential, small business, and agricultural utility consumers. Board members come from all geographic areas of the state.
The Office of Consumer Counsel helps consumers by lowering or eliminating utility rate increases and by ensuring that utility rates, regulations and policies are more equitable for residential, small business and agricultural consumers.
William Levis
Consumer Counsel
What is the OCC doing?
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The OCC entered into a settlement agreement with Public Service (PSCo) and the staff of the PUC in May 2011 in the company's gas rate case. PSCo had initially proposed over $30 million in rate increases with a return on equity of nearly 11 percent. As a result of the advocacy of the OCC and the Commission staff, the rate increase will be less than $11 million with a return on equity of 10.1 percent.
The OCC is an active party in Black Hills' electric rate case. The company serves over 90,000 customers around the state. Black Hills has asked for over $40 million in rate increases which would raise customer charges by nearly 20 percent. The hearing is expected to occur in Fall 2011.
The OCC continues to advocate on behalf of consumers in the PUC docket 10R-191T reviewing the state high cost support mechanism for telephone service. With the increase in choices amon landline, wireless and voice internet service, the OCC has called for a substantial reduction in the annual $60 million that goes to local landline companies for the program.
The Smart Grid Task Force, formed by statute to assist in the development of smart grid technology in Colorado, issued its report to the Governor, General Assembly and the Public Utilities Commission in January 2011. The report and more information on grid modernization can be found at http://www.rechargecolorado.com/index.php/programs_overview/smart_grid_task_force/
Telecommunications Advisory Group (TAG): The Office of Consumer Counsel has been an active participant in PUC docket 10M-565T creating the TAG to brief the Commission and members of the General Assembly on current advancements in telecommunications technology and the telecommunications marketplace. Members of the TAG testified both informally and formally before members of the General Assembly on a telecom rewrite during the 2011 legislative session. It is anticipated that TAG members, including the OCC, will work toward drafting a bill for introduction in 2012 as well as making possible regulatory changes.
FCC Rolls Out New Consumer Internet Page
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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has implemented a new Help Center website assisting consumer through information, complaint mediation and regulatory policy. The FCC Help Center site has a number of tools such as Online Privacy and Security, a Consumer Broadband Test, information regarding Early Termination Fees, Tips for Wireless World Travelers, and a general fact sheet. Overall, the site helps consumers make educated decisions on communication services such as telephone, TV and internet including filing complaints and information on consumer protection regulations.
Click here to view the website.
How A Consumer Can Opt-Out of Yellow Pages
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Yellow Page publishers have both websites and phone numbers where consumers can opt-out of receiving the Yellow Page phone books.
The most common yellow pages distributed in the Metro Denver are:
Yellow Book USA, Inc.
Please call 1-800-YBYELLOW or visit www.yellowbook.com and click Directory Options under the Community section.R.H. Donnelley/DEX
1-866-60-MY-DEX or 866-606-9339
www.DexKnows.com/SelectYourDexSuperMedia Inc.
800-888-8448, select Option 2 or visit http://my.supermedia.com/directoryoptout/Seccion Amarilla USA, LLC
Please call 1-800-251-9039
For more information click here to view the Consumer Choice Opt-Out page.
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