Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is an agency of State of Ohio that is charged with the regulation of utility service providers such as those of electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications as well as railroad safety and intrastate hazardous materials transport.

There are several ways by which the Commission attempts to do this^[1]:

• Enforcement of laws against service deemed unfair or unsafe
• Resolving disputes between utilities and residential, business, and industrial customers, as well as between competing utilities.
• Assuring availability of residential, business, and industrial utility services
• Providing consumers with relevant information about their rights and responsibilities
• Regulating rates for utility services in which there is little to no competition (i.e. electricity and natural gas services)

Commissioners

There are five commissioners (one of whom serves as chairman) as well as approximately 400 agency employees. Each commissioner is appointed by the residing governor to a five-year term. Current commissioners are:

• Todd Snitchler (chair), through April 2014
• Paul Centolella, through April 2012
• Andre T. Porter, through April 2016
• Steven D. Lesser, through April 2015
• Cheryl Roberto, through April 2013

Notes

1. ^ PUCO web-site

External links

• Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)
• PUCO Commissioners
• Apples to Apples Natural Gas and Electric Rate Comparison Charts
• File an informal complaint with the PUCO
• File a formal complaint with the PUCO
• Ohio Utility Maps
• Utility Information by Street Address