| 词条 | Office of Consumer Counsel | ||||||||||||||||||
| 释义 |
|agency_name = Office of Consumer Counsel |nativename = OCC |nativename_a = |nativename_r = |logo = Flag_of_Connecticut.svg |logo_width = 140px |logo_caption = The Flag of Connecticut |seal = Logo of the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel.jpg |seal_width = 200px |seal_caption = Logo of the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel |formed = 1975 |date1 = |date1_name = |date2 = |date2_name = |preceding1 = |preceding2 = |dissolved = |superseding = |jurisdiction = |headquarters = |positions = 13 (2013) |budget = $2.563 million(2012)[1] |chief1_name = Elin Swanson Katz |chief1_position = Consumer Counsel |chief2_name = |parent_agency = |child1_agency = |child2_agency = |website = http://www.ct.gov/occ/site/default.asp |footnotes = }}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.[2][3] 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.[4] Scope of workThe 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.[5] 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,[6] and before the Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) when its dockets affect electric utility ratepayers.[7] Where appropriate, the OCC appeals administrative decisions of PURA or CSC to court in order to secure a consumer-favorable outcome.[8] 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.[9] Membership & AffiliationsAt 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.[10] 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.[11] On a state and local level, OCC represents Connecticut utility consumers through board membership on the Connecticut Energy Advisory Board (CEAB),[12] the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board (EEB),[13][14] the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC),[15] and the Connecticut Low-Income Energy Advisory Board (LIEAB).[16] Each year OCC engages with legislators during legislative session about proposed legislation,[17][18] 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.[19][20] Staff resourcesThe OCC consists of attorneys, accountants, financial analysts and support staff.[21] As of 2014, OCC has 14 employee positions. In addition, the Consumer Counsel may hire expert witnesses to assist with the preparation of an advocacy matter.[22] 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.[23][24] Consumer CounselThe 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.[25][26] Following her appointment by Governor Malloy, the current Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz was confirmed by the Connecticut legislature to serve a five-year term as Consumer Counsel beginning on February 21, 2012.[27][28][29] A graduate of Cornell University, Boston University School of Law, and Trinity College, Katz has practiced environmental law at law firms in Washington, D.C. and Boston, MA. Katz then spent five years as Assistant Counsel within the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (now Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) followed by her practice of environmental law with Day, Berry & Howard in Hartford, CT.[30][31][32] Katz also served on the West Hartford, Connecticut Board of Education, taught at Trinity College, and served as a professional writing consultant.[33][34] On April 8, 2014, Katz was honored as one of three recipients of the Fourth Annual Achievement Awards from the New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE) group.[35] The Achievement Award "honor[s] women practitioners who have achieved professional excellence within their area of specialty and have actively paved the way to success for other women in similar or related professional areas . . . ."[36]
References1. ^Connecticut State Budget FY 14 & FY 15 Budget Agency Detail, {{Smallcaps|Office of Fiscal Analysis}} (June 21, 2013), http://www.gbact.com/GaBe/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/2014BB-20130621_FY%2014%20and%20FY%2015%20Budget%20Agency%20Detail%20-%20Budget%20Sheets%20(June%202013).pdf 2. ^{{Smallcaps|Conn. Gen. Stat.}} § 16-2a, available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_277.htm#sec_16-2a 3. ^Governmental Information, {{Smallcaps|CT State Library}}, http://www.ctstatelibrary.org/path/governmental-information/3502/0/page?page=0%2C0%2C3 (last visited Apr.10, 2014) 4. ^About Us, {{Smallcaps|Office of Consumer Counsel}} (Aug. 20, 2013), http://www.ct.gov/occ/cwp/view.asp?a=1419&q=260490 5. ^{{Smallcaps|Conn. Gen. Stat.}} § 16-2a, available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_277.htm#sec_16-2a 6. ^See About Us, {{Smallcaps|Pub. Utils. Regulatory Auth.}}, http://www.ct.gov/pura/cwp/view.asp?a=3157&q=404410&puraNav_GID=1702 (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) 7. ^See, e.g., Citizens Against Overhead Power Line Constr. v. Conn. Siting Council, 57 A.3d 765 (2012), available at http://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/Cases/AROAP/AP139/139AP564.pdf 8. ^Citizens Against Overhead Power Line Constr. v. Conn. Siting Council, 57 A.3d 765 (2012), available at http://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/Cases/AROAP/AP139/139AP564.pdf 9. ^Citizens Against Overhead Power Line Constr. v. Conn. Siting Council, 57 A.3d 765 (2012), (taking the same side as CSC) available at http://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/Cases/AROAP/AP139/139AP564.pdf 10. ^Members, {{Smallcaps|NASUCA}}, http://nasuca.org/members/ (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) 11. ^Current Members, {{Smallcaps|NEPOOL}}, http://www.nepool.com/Existing_Members.php (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) 12. ^{{Smallcaps|Conn. Gen. Stat.}} § 16a-3, available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_295.htm#sec_16a-3 13. ^{{Smallcaps|Conn. Gen. Stat.}} § 16-245m(c), available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_283.htm#sec_16-245m 14. ^About: Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board, {{Smallcaps|Energize CT}} http://www.energizect.com/about/eeboard/board-membership (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) 15. ^Board Members, {{Smallcaps|Conn. Economic Resource Ctr., Inc.}}, http://www.cerc.com/Content/Board_Members.asp (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) 16. ^{{Smallcaps|Conn. Gen. Stat.}} § 16a-41b, available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_298.htm#sec_16a-41b 17. ^Office of Consumer Counsel Active on Legislative Issues, {{Smallcaps|Office of Consumer Counsel}} (Mar. 18, 2014), http://www.ct.gov/occ/lib/occ/3.18.2014taren.pdf 18. ^Publications: 2013 Legislative Testimony, {{Smallcaps|Office of Consumer Counsel}} (Apr. 26, 2013), http://www.ct.gov/occ/cwp/view.asp?a=1419&q=271336(legislative testimony) 19. ^Office of Consumer Counsel Active on Legislative Issues, {{Smallcaps|Office of Consumer Counsel}} (Mar. 18, 2014), http://www.ct.gov/occ/lib/occ/3.18.2014taren.pdf 20. ^Publications: 2013 Legislative Testimony, {{Smallcaps|Office of Consumer Counsel}} (Apr. 26, 2013), http://www.ct.gov/occ/cwp/view.asp?a=1419&q=271336(legislative testimony 21. ^About Us, {{Smallcaps|Office of Consumer Counsel}} (Aug. 20, 2014), (http://www.ct.gov/occ/cwp/view.asp?a=1419&q=260490 22. ^{{Smallcaps|Conn. Gen. Stat.}} § 16-2a, available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_277.htm#sec_16-2a. 23. ^{{Smallcaps|Conn. Gen. Stat.}} § 16-49, available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_277.htm#sec_16-49 24. ^{{Smallcaps|Conn. Gen. Stat.}} § 16-331e, available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/pub/chap_289.htm#sec_16-331e 25. ^{{Smallcaps|Conn. Gen. Stat.}} § 16-2a, available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_277.htm#sec_16-2a 26. ^{{Smallcaps|Conn. Gen. Stat.}} § 4-6, available at http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_046.htm#sec_4-6 27. ^Janice Podsada, Elin Swanson Katz Confirmed as Head of Office of Consumer Counsel, {{Smallcaps|Hartford Courant}} (Feb. 24, 2012), http://articles.courant.com/2012-02-24/business/hc-consumer-counsel-confirmed-20120224_1_consumer-counsel-utility-services-reasonable-utility-rates 28. ^West Harford Attorney Confirmed State's Consumer Counsel, {{Smallcaps|W. Hartford News}} (Feb. 26, 2012), http://www.westhartfordnews.com/articles/2012/02/26/news/doc4f47f3dfbf08e223557652.txt 29. ^Elin Swanson Katz Confirmed as Consumer Counsel, {{Smallcaps|Office of Consumer Counsel}} (Feb. 24, 2012), http://www.ct.gov/occ/lib/occ/elinconfirmation.pdf 30. ^Janice Podsada, Elin Swanson Katz Confirmed as Head of Office of Consumer Counsel, {{Smallcaps|Hartford Courant}} (Feb. 24, 2012), http://articles.courant.com/2012-02-24/business/hc-consumer-counsel-confirmed-20120224_1_consumer-counsel-utility-services-reasonable-utility-rates 31. ^West Harford Attorney Confirmed State's Consumer Counsel, {{Smallcaps|W. Hartford News}} (Feb. 26, 2012), http://www.westhartfordnews.com/articles/2012/02/26/news/doc4f47f3dfbf08e223557652.txt 32. ^Elin Swanson Katz Confirmed as Consumer Counsel, {{Smallcaps|Office of Consumer Counsel}} (Feb. 24, 2012), http://www.ct.gov/occ/lib/occ/elinconfirmation.pdf 33. ^Ronnie Newton, Gov. Malloy Appoints Elin Katz Consumer Counsel for State of Connecticut: Board of Education Member will assume new role effective October 3, {{Smallcaps|W. Hartford Patch}} (Sept. 15, 2011) http://westhartford.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/gov-malloy-appoints-elin-katz-consumer-counsel-for-st77933c5db7 34. ^West Harford Attorney Confirmed State's Consumer Counsel, {{Smallcaps|W. Hartford News}} (Feb. 26, 2012), http://www.westhartfordnews.com/articles/2012/02/26/news/doc4f47f3dfbf08e223557652.txt 35. ^Fourth Annual Achievement Awards, {{Smallcaps|New England Women in Energy And Env't}}, http://www.newiee.org/awards (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) 36. ^Fourth Annual Achievement Awards, {{Smallcaps|New England Women in Energy And Env't}}, http://www.newiee.org/awards (last visited Apr. 10, 2014) External links
4 : Government of Connecticut|Public utilities of the United States|Government agencies established in 1975|1975 establishments in Connecticut |
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