The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate was established by the General Assembly in 1976 to represent the consumers of Pennsylvania in matters involving their utility service.
The Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) is a state agency that represents the interests of Pennsylvania utility consumers before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), federal regulatory agencies, and state and federal courts. The OCA was created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1976 and is an independent office within the Office of Attorney General.
The OCA is led by a Consumer Advocate and has a staff of Attorneys and Regulatory Analysts who represent consumer interests in cases and proceedings before the PUC. In addition, OCA’s Consumer Service Representatives and Consumer Liaisons offer assistance and consumer education to the public. Administrative and Clerical Support Staff support the work of all members of the office in fulfilling the OCA’s mission.
Our office is available to help consumers who have questions or problems with their electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water or wastewater service.
Patrick M. Cicero, Esq.
Under Pennsylvania law, the Consumer Advocate is nominated by the Attorney General and must be confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate. Patrick M. Cicero, Esquire was appointed the Acting Consumer Advocate by Attorney General Josh Shapiro on December 13, 2021 and nominated for the position on March 30, 2022. Patrick was confirmed as Consumer Advocate by the Senate on June 7, 2022. Patrick has spent his legal career representing the interests of consumers in Pennsylvania in the areas of utility, consumer, and housing law. Immediately prior to his tenure as Consumer Advocate, Patrick served as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc., where he provided strategic leadership and oversaw the advocacy, fundraising, and management of Pennsylvania’s coordinated network of legal aid organizations serving low income households and victims of domestic violence. You can learn more about Patrick’s professional experience by viewing his resume. Patrick is a life-long Pennsylvanian. He attended college and law school in the state and currently lives in Mechanicsburg with his family.
To view OCA’s Leadership History, click here.
Mailing Address:
PA Office of Consumer Advocate
555 Walnut Street
5th Floor Forum Place
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1923
Contact Information:
Toll Free: (800) 684-6560 or
(717) 783-5048
Email: consumer@paoca.org
Hours of Operation:
Monday- Friday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm *Eastern Standard Time*
Saturday- Sunday: CLOSED
Parking:
Visitors to our office may park in either the 5th Street garage or the garage at Harrisburg University (entrance off of 4th Street).
The OCA represents the interests of consumers in cases before the PUC involving a wide range of utility issues. These include rate increase cases, energy supply and purchased gas cost cases, retail competition issues, mergers, and alternative regulation plans. The OCA is involved in rulemakings, policy statements, and state and federal cases concerning either the price consumers pay for vital utility service or the quality of service they receive. The OCA generally stresses the interests of residential consumers.
The OCA works to keep utilities from charging more than they need to provide safe, reliable, and adequate service to consumers. The OCA also works to ensure that rates remain affordable and that programs exist to help low income and vulnerable households remain connected to essential utility service. The OCA can appeal a PUC final decision if it believes the decision is in error and is harmful to consumers. The OCA has filed many appeals from PUC decisions. Some have gone as far as the Pennsylvania and United States Supreme Courts.
Laws and policies concerning utility service to consumers are changing rapidly. In the past, most consumers could only choose one company for their electric, telephone or natural gas service. In recent years, both state and federal lawmakers and policymakers have opened many areas of the utility industry to competition. The OCA is the consumer’s voice in these policy debates and in the cases resulting from these policy changes. The OCA’s goal is to have all Pennsylvania consumers benefit from these changes and to make sure that consumers are protected as these changes occur. The office has actively participated in the legislative and policy debates surrounding utility competition and has been involved in cases regarding competition in the electric, natural gas and telecommunications industries in Pennsylvania.
The OCA can help a consumer or a group of consumers with utility questions or concerns. Consumers may have problems with their utility bills, their quality of service or they may need help in getting utility service provided to their homes. Consumers may be facing loss of their utility service or have questions about a competitive energy supplier.
The OCA responds to all consumer contacts, answers questions and attempts to resolve consumer disputes with utility companies.
Pennsylvania consumers can email us at consumer@paoca.org or call the OCA’s toll-free call center at 800-684-6560. Members of OCA staff respond to all customer contacts by providing information or by otherwise helping consumers resolve their complaints and concerns with their utility provider.
The OCA educates consumers and the public on utility issues through its participation in many forums, seminars, community meetings and through the use of social and other media. The office’s website at www.oca.pa.gov has tips, testimony and other educational information. The OCA also publishes Residential Electric and Natural Gas Shopping Guides. They provide “apples-to-apples” price comparisons for alternative suppliers in each utility’s service area.
If you are a community group, community leader, or government official and would like an OCA staff member to give a presentation or speak at a community meeting please contact us through our Contact Us page or by email at consumer@paoca.org.
Job Openings
The OCA is seeking two full-time Regulatory Analysts. Click here for more information.
Office News
Social Media
Apply for the Affordable Connectivity Program. This program is designed to assist households in obtaining affordable and accessible broadband service. To learn more about the program or how to apply, visit: fcc.gov/acp
Act fast! All applications for LIHWAP must be submitted by Friday, October 28. Learn more about the program and how to apply by visiting: bit.ly/3Mc0YED.
The PA OCA is hiring Regulatory Analysts. Interested in learning more about the position or how you can apply, visit: bit.ly/3AavTOC
Happy First Day of Fall! Prepare your home by inspecting exterior wall water pipes for proper insulation. This small task could precent from freezing or bursting pipes!
This National Preparedness Month, we are reminding you to build your emergency kit. Don’t forget to include: Non-perishable food and water that can last several days. Flashlights, radios & extra batteries. First aid kit. #TuesdayTip #September
Do you have past-due water bills? Do you have water shut off notice? Has your water service terminated? Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program may be available to you. Learn more: bit.ly/3Mc0YED
The PA OCA is seeking two full-time Regulatory Analysts. For more information and to learn how to apply: bit.ly/3AavTOC.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has scheduled a telephonic Public Input Hearing regarding the proposed rate increase request by Leatherstocking Gas Company LLC. The hearing will be held on Monday, September 19 at 6 pm. To participate you must pre-register by September 15 at 2 pm. For further registration instruction information, please view:
bit.ly
PA Public Utility Commission regulates the services you rely on: electric, natural gas, pipeline, motor carrier, rail, telecomm, water and wastewater.The Affordable Connectivity Program provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service and connected devices. This program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward the internet for eligible households and up to $75 per month for homes on qualifying Tribal lands. Find out if you're eligible for the program and how to apply here: AffordableConnectivity.gov #BroadbandForAll #FCCGov
If you are at risk for eviction or loss of utility service or have unstable housing, help is available through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Learn more about how to apply at dhs.pa.gov/erap.
Quick Links
Residential Electric Shopping Guide
Learn how to shop for electricity and compare prices for generation suppliers in each major electric utility service territory.
Residential Natural Gas Shopping Guide
Learn how to shop for natural gas and compare prices for gas suppliers in each major natural gas utility service territory.
