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Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC)

The OUCC is a state agency created in 1933 to represent the interests of business and residential utility consumers. They are a formal party in all Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) cases and provide assistance, education, and advocacy for electric, natural gas, telecommunications, and water/wastewater consumers.

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Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC)

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  1. Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) Representing Indiana’s Utility Customers 1-888-441-2494 www.IN.gov/OUCC

  2. OUCC: Representing Utility Consumer Interests • State agency • Created in 1933 • Represents business & residential consumer interests • Formal party to all IURC cases • 49 employees Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (7-06)

  3. Attorneys Economists Administrative Accountants Engineers External Affairs OUCC: Representing Utility Consumer Interests Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (7-06)

  4. OUCC: Representing Utility Consumer Interests • Electric • Natural Gas • Telecommunications • Water/Wastewater Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (7-06)

  5. OUCC: Representing Utility Consumer Interests • State regulatory proceedings (IURC) • Federal regulatory proceedings (FERC, FCC) • Appellate Courts • Public policy • Consumer education/assistance Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (7-06)

  6. OUCC and IURC: Separate State Agencies Ind. Utility Regulatory Commission: • Regulates many utilities (but not all) • Regulates rates, financing, service quality, territory, etc. Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (7-06)

  7. OUCC and IURC: Separate State Agencies Ind. Utility Regulatory Commission: • Neutral, fact finding body • Required to balance utility & consumer interests Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (7-06)

  8. OUCC Utility Consumers’ Attorney & Experts Attorney & Experts Judge IURC

  9. The OUCC’s Role • Our focus is on utility regulatory proceedings at the state and federal levels. • Certain utilities are exempt from state jurisdiction over rates/finances • With these utilities, accountability for rates/finances is at the local level. Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (7-06)

  10. Exempt utilities • State law exempts these utilities from IURC jurisdiction over rates/finances: • Regional water and sewer districts • Sewer utilities operated by conservancy districts • Municipal sewer utilities Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (7-06)

  11. Utility Withdrawal • State law allows these utilities to withdraw from IURC jurisdiction: • Municipal water & electric utilities • Non-profit utilities • Privately owned water & sewer utilities with under 300 customers • Rural electric membership cooperatives Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (7-06)

  12. Utility Withdrawal • OUCC Website (www.IN.gov/OUCC) offers more info • “Utility Withdrawal from IURC Jurisdiction” fact sheet • Overview of issues • Code cites for specific utility types Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (7-06)

  13. The OUCC is a resource • Guide to state regulatory proceedings • General information for service providers • Consumer publications on a wide range of utility service issues Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (7-06)

  14. Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) Representing Indiana’s Utility Customers 1-888-441-2494 www.IN.gov/OUCC

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