Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor OUCC Representing

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

OUCC: Representing Utility Consumer Interests n n n 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) 2

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

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

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

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) 6

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) 7

OUCC Utility Consumers’ Attorney & Experts Judge IURC

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

Exempt utilities n 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) 10

Utility Withdrawal n 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) 11

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

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

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