The Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) is an independent Connecticut state agency located in New Britain, Connecticut, that was created for the purpose of advocating for all utility ratepayers in Connecticut. § 16-2a, available at https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_277.htm#sec_16-2aGovernmental Information, , http://www.ctstatelibrary.org/path/governmental-information/3502/0/page?page=0%2C0%2C3 (last visited Apr.10, 2014) Since its establishment in 1975 by Connecticut Public Act 75-486, the OCC has served as an independent voice for Connecticut's electric, natural gas, water, and telecommunications consumers through advocacy and consumer education.About Us, (Aug. 20, 2013), http://www.ct.gov/occ/cwp/view.asp?a=1419&q=260490

Scope of work

The OCC is authorized by Connecticut General Statutes section 16-2a to participate in any matter involving the interests of public utility consumers through administrative, judicial, or other forums. § 16-2a, available at https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_277.htm#sec_16-2a Primarily, OCC advocates before the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) which is an administrative forum regulating the rates and services of Connecticut's public utilities,See About Us, , (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) and before the Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) when its dockets affect electric utility ratepayers.See, e.g., Citizens Against Overhead Power Line Constr. v. Conn. Siting Council, 57 A.3d 765 (2012), available at https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/Cases/AROAP/AP139/139AP564.pdf Where appropriate, the OCC appeals administrative decisions of PURA or CSC to court in order to secure a consumer-favorable outcome.Citizens Against Overhead Power Line Constr. v. Conn. Siting Council, 57 A.3d 765 (2012), available at https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/Cases/AROAP/AP139/139AP564.pdf In those forums and others, OCC's consumer-focused positions may align with those of other Connecticut governmental agencies such as the Attorney General's Office (AG) and/or private non-profit groups such as the Connecticut Industrial Energy Consumers (CIEC) and the AARP.Citizens Against Overhead Power Line Constr. v. Conn. Siting Council, 57 A.3d 765 (2012), (taking the same side as CSC) available at https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/Cases/AROAP/AP139/139AP564.pdf

Membership and affiliations

At the national level, OCC represents Connecticut utility ratepayer interests through the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA), which is an association of 44 consumer advocates in 40 states.Members, , http://nasuca.org/members/ (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) Through Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proceedings, OCC monitors issues related to maintaining the reliability of the electric grid, negotiating Reliability Must Run (RMR) contracts, and testifying before the FERC on whole market design, the effects of electric pricing, transmission proposals and other policies concerning utility ratepayers. As a member of the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL), the OCC represents Connecticut electricity consumers on a regional and national basis at NEPOOL meetings.Current Members, , http://www.nepool.com/Existing_Members.php (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) On a state and local level, OCC represents Connecticut utility consumers through board membership on the Connecticut Energy Advisory Board (CEAB), § 16a-3, available at https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_295.htm#sec_16a-3 the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board (EEB), § 16-245m(c), available at https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_283.htm#sec_16-245mAbout: Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board, http://www.energizect.com/about/eeboard/board-membership (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC),Board Members, , http://www.cerc.com/Content/Board_Members.asp (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) and the Connecticut Low-Income Energy Advisory Board (LIEAB). § 16a-41b, available at https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_298.htm#sec_16a-41b Each year OCC engages with legislators during legislative session about proposed legislation,Office of Consumer Counsel Active on Legislative Issues, (Mar. 18, 2014), Publications: 2013 Legislative Testimony, (Apr. 26, 2013), testimony) it coordinates with other groups reflecting similar positions, and testifies at legislative hearings. Due to its subject matter expertise on utility ratepayers, the OCC is routinely consulted by state legislators, such as the members of the General Assembly's Energy and Technology Committee, concerning the impact of energy policies which may require the OCC to provide written or oral testimony.Office of Consumer Counsel Active on Legislative Issues, (Mar. 18, 2014), Publications: 2013 Legislative Testimony, (Apr. 26, 2013), http://www.ct.gov/occ/cwp/view.asp?a=1419&q=271336 (legislative testimony)

Staff resources

The OCC consists of attorneys, accountants, financial analysts and support staff.About Us, (Aug. 20, 2014), http://www.ct.gov/occ/cwp/view.asp?a=1419&q=260490 As of 2022, OCC has 14 employee positions. In addition, the Consumer Counsel may hire expert witnesses to assist with the preparation of an advocacy matter. § 16-2a, available at https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_277.htm#sec_16-2a. Utility customers of regulated Connecticut public utilities and customers of qualifying telephone companies, competitive electric suppliers, and video services companies that do business in Connecticut pay for both OCC's and PURA's expenses. § 16-49, available at https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_277.htm#sec_16-49 § 16-331e, available at

Consumer counsel

The consumer counsel is appointed by the governor of Connecticut, and appears before the Executive Nominations Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly for final confirmation by either house of the state legislature. The consumer counsel serves for a 5-year term of office. § 16-2a, available at https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_277.htm#sec_16-2a § 4-6, available at https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_046.htm#sec_4-6 Following her appointment by Governor Lamont, the current Consumer Counsel Claire E. Coleman was confirmed by the Connecticut legislature to serve a five-year term in February of 2022.Mark Pazniokas, Lamont names Claire Coleman to fill long-empty consumer counsel job, (Nov. 10, 2021), https://ctmirror.org/2021/11/10/lamont-names-claire-coleman-to-fill-long-empty-consumer-counsel-job/Lamont nominates Coleman for consumer counsel, (Nov. 10, 2021), https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/lamont-nominates-coleman-for-consumer-counselGovernor Lamont Appoints Claire Coleman as Consumer Counsel, (Nov. 10, 2021), A graduate of Cornell University and Northwestern University School of Law, Coleman worked as an energy attorney at Save the Sound (formerly Connecticut Fund for the Environment), and served as counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where she conducted investigations into both private business practices and government programs and regulations, and prepared members of Congress for hearings on many areas of government policy and practice. She also worked as a litigation associate at Wiggin and Dana LLP in New Haven and Sullivan and Cromwell LLP in New York, and served as law clerk to the Honorable Ellen Bree Burns, United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut.Office of Governor Ned Lamont, Governor Lamont Appoints Claire Coleman as Consumer Counsel, (Nov. 10, 2021), Prior to her appointment to the OCC, Coleman served as the Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, where she provided legal and policy advice related to the formulation and implementation of the budget and public policy for the state. In this role, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities honored Coleman as a Municipal Champion for her work on emergency COVID-19 pandemic executive orders that supported the efforts of local governments to respond to and govern during the pandemic.Office of Governor Ned Lamont, Governor Lamont Appoints Claire Coleman as Consumer Counsel, (Nov. 10, 2021), Coleman began serving as the Interim Consumer Counsel on December 3, 2021 and was confirmed by the Connecticut General Assembly during the regular legislative session in February 2022.Office of Governor Ned Lamont, Governor Lamont Appoints Claire Coleman as Consumer Counsel, (Nov. 10, 2021), Consumer Counsels Years of service Claire E. Coleman 2021–Present Richard E. Sobolewski (Acting) 2019–2021 Elin Swanson Katz 2011–2019 Mary J. Healey 2001–2011 Guy R. Mazza 1997–2001 John F. Merchant 1992–1996 Eugene M. Koss 1990–1991 James F. Meehan 1986–1989 Barry S. Zitser 1978–1985 David Silverstone 1975–1977

References

External links ct.gov