On March 12, I learned that the Office of Consumer Counsel may not be reauthorized because of inaction by the state Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy committee. I believe this would be a great loss to the citizens of Colorado.
What is the Office of Consumer Counsel? What does it do? Why should we care?
The OCC is under the Consumer Protection Section of the Colorado Office of Attorney General. It was created in 1984 to “represent the public interest and the specific interests of residential, small business and agricultural consumers in electric, gas and telephone rate and rulemaking cases.”
A Denver Post editorial (Jan. 26) provides a concise reason why we should care: “Utilities hold a lopsided advantage over consumers in terms of information they possess when they go before regulators asking for rate hikes or other changes in rules. It is very difficult for most outsiders to tell whether a request is fair.
“The OCC attempts to level the playing field with a few experienced analysts who examine such requests and advocate for consumers’ interests. The result has almost certainly saved Coloradans hundreds of millions of dollars over the years.”
According to information available at www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/departments/consumer_protection/office_consumer_counsel, “the OCC has filed its statement of position in the case where the PUC is reviewing Public Service’s request for an $80 to $100 million rate increase over three years. The OCC argued that the proposed rate increase is too much and there is no evidence to permit rate increases beyond the first year. A decision is expected later this year.”
Without the OCC’s continued advocacy on our behalf, Coloradans stand to see a significant increase in our utility rates
Confidently and unhesitatingly, I appeal to state Sen. Ellen Roberts to exercise the leadership ability she has so skillfully used before to benefit and protect not only her constituents but all Coloradoans and work to reauthorize the Office of Consumer Counsel.
Charles Lee Kirby
Durango
