{Office of Consumer Counsel}

The Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) is the State of Connecticut’s advocate for all utility ratepayers. OCC seeks to ensure just and reasonable rates and reliable utility service for customers of Connecticut’s electric, gas, telephone, and water utilities and reasonable protections for cable television customers. OCC’s advocacy includes the promotion of beneficial policies for ratepayers, such as the conservation of energy resources. We participate actively in proceedings before the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and state and federal courts. We also seek to advance the goals and protect the needs of ratepayers at the U.S. Congress and the State Legislature.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Because of the fiscal crisis in the state, Monday, July 6, 2009 is a Furlough Day.  The Office of Consumer Counsel, like most state agencies will be closed.  If you would like to email us, please do so at occ.info@ct.gov.  The office will reopen on Tuesday, July 7, 2009. 

NEWS ALERT!

February 9, 2009  Mary J. Healey gave testimony to the Appropriations   Committee regarding the elimination of the Office of Consumer Counsel. To see the entire Testimony and the Appendix from that appearence, click on the desired link.

These are extraordinarily difficult financial times. The challenges facing our President and our Governors are unlike what any of us have witnessed in our lifetimes. The impact of money-tightening, shutdown of commercial markets and economic contraction is being felt by workers in all strata of our economy.

I appreciate the need for Governor Jodi Rell and Secretary Robert Genuario to reduce expenditures from the General Fund in order to bring our State budget into balance. I respect the difficulty of that task, and I don’t envy them their responsibilities....

View the entire Statement of the Office of Consumer Counsel on Governor's Proposal to Eliminate the Agency and the Memo to Connecticut General Assembly Members by clicking on the links!

View the 1997 Legislative Program Review by clicking on the link.

February 2009- OCC releases its latest Scorecard! Ratepayers to save approximately $2.5 Billion dollars due to OCC’s advocacy on behalf of Connecticut’s utility ratepayers. Click here to read our updated Scorecard of cases decided by the CT DPUC impacting rates effective January 1, 2006 and thereafter.

The Office of Consumer Counsel's 2008 Year End Newsletter is now available.

Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Report-To view the Office of Consumer Counsel's report to the Governor, please select the link above.