About the OUCC
Welcome to the Website of the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor.
Utility customers in Indiana and throughout the nation face new challenges both now and well into the future. These challenges include today’s uncertain economy as well as the spectrum of potentially dramatic changes in federal environmental legislation that may affect the prices consumers pay for utility services. Despite these challenges, all Indiana consumers have the right to expect safe, reliable utility services at the most reasonable prices possible.
As Indiana’s Utility Consumer Counselor, I am committed to ensuring that all Hoosier consumers, residential and business consumers alike, have their interests appropriately represented in the utility regulatory process. In each case, my dedicated staff and I are working hard to ensure that ratepayer concerns are heard and their interests protected.
From heating and cooling your home or workplace to paying fair rates for water and ensuring the overall delivery of dependable utility services, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) is your consumer advocate. I invite you to contact us with your comments, questions and concerns.
I also invite you to review our Annual Report, which summarizes the OUCC's activities and accomplishments.
- 2012 Annual Report
- 2011 Annual Report
- 2010 Annual Report
- 2009 Annual Report
Sincerely,
A. David Stippler
Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor
Mission Statement
To represent all Indiana consumers to ensure quality, reliable utility services at the most reasonable prices possible through dedicated advocacy, consumer education and creative problem solving.
What We Do
Our job is to give all Indiana consumers a voice when decisions are made that could affect utility rates and services.
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) represents the interests of residential, commercial and industrial utility customers in cases before the:
- Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC).
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC),
- Indiana Court of Appeals, and Indiana Supreme Court
Our attorneys and technical experts are involved in electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water and sewer matters.
The OUCC and IURC are separate state government agencies, with the IURC designated under Indiana law to make decisions in cases involving regulated public utilities and the OUCC serving as the consumers’ legal and technical representative. Simply put, the OUCC represents the public and the IURC is the "court."
For additional information, please see our introductory brochure.
Our History
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is one of the oldest state agencies of its type in the United States. Created in 1933 by the Indiana General Assembly, the agency was initially the Office of Public Counselor.
In 1981 the General Assembly replaced the Public Counselor's Office with the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor. Appointed by the Governor, the Consumer Counselor serves a four-year term.
Since the appointment of Sherman Minton of New Albany in 1933, there have been a total of 23 Utility Consumer Counselors from towns and cities throughout the state.
About the Utility Consumer Counselor
David Stippler became the 23rd Utility Consumer Counselor for the State of Indiana on March 10, 2008. Having specialized in public utility law throughout most of his career, David brings extensive experience as a practicing Indiana attorney to his role as the state’s Utility Consumer Counselor.
David oversees a dedicated staff of more than 50 utility professionals, including attorneys, analysts, engineers and additional employees who represent Indiana’s residential, commercial and industrial ratepayers in state and federal utility regulatory proceedings.
Before joining the OUCC, David practiced law with the Indianapolis law firm of Bingham McHale, LLP where he represented utilities and municipalities on a wide range of legal and regulatory issues affecting their business activities. He also served as in-house corporate counsel with Ameritech Corporation and SBC Communications. Before his corporate law experience, David was engaged in the private practice of law in Indianapolis, concentrating principally in corporate law and civil litigation matters.
An Evansville native, David is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis. He is also an alumnus of Saint Meinrad College and the University of Evansville.
David has served on the Saint Meinrad Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. He is a Director Emeritus and past president of the Lawrence Township School Foundation in Marion County. He has also served on the Board of Trustees of Marian University and the Board of Directors for the Arts Council of Indianapolis.
David and his spouse, Elizabeth, reside in Carmel, Indiana.
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