About the Office

Recent Telecommunications Activities

Until the bill was withdrawn by the sponsors in early May 2012, the OCC had worked closely with the PUC in providing support for the Administration’s position concerning SB 157, the telecommunications modernization bill. The OCC now is working with the Commission in its efforts to update rules on the high cost fund and when to move telecom services from fully regulated to relaxed regulated to deregulated. The Commission has requested comments on regulation that the OCC responded to in July 2012 when rulemaking began.  Public hearings will be held in Ft. Morgan, Montrose, and Rifle in September with detailed hearings on the draft rules in Denver on October 1-4, 2012.

Recent Energy Activities

After reaching agreement with the OCC concerning the minimum number of days that residential customers have to pay their monthly energy bills, PSCo made a tariff filing effective July 1st to give residential customers at least 18 calendar days in which to pay their bills. The company previously had given customers 15 days from billing, even though a bill may not be mailed for up to three days afterwards. The Commission rules require 15 days from mailing. The OCC is continuing to work with the Commission concerning PSCo use of a third party company for credit card payments. That company charges a surcharge which the OCC argues is in violation of state law.

Funding Sources

The following table displays the amount of revenue generated and the amount of expenditures for the Office of Consumer Counsel for fiscal years 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and an estimate for fiscal year 2012-2013.  

Outreach

William Levis' Comcast Interview

DORA Tiered Rates PSA

Office of Consumer Counsel Brochure