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HISTORY Utility and transportation regulation in Ohio dates back to 1867, when the Ohio General Assembly established the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs as a fact-finding agency responsible for reporting on the physical, financial, and operating conditions of Ohio’s railroad and telegraph companies. With the passage of the Railroad Act in 1906, the office was renamed the Railroad Commission, the number of commissioners was increased to three, and for the first time, the body had the authority to fix rates. In 1911, the legislature established the Ohio Public Service Commission . Expanding upon railroad regulation, the agency also addressed concerns in the emerging telephone, electric, natural gas, and water industries. In 1913, the name changed again to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The PUCO was later granted jurisdiction over motor carrier transportation. THE PUCO TODAY In 1983, the PUCO was expanded from a three- to five-person commission, as it remains today. Today’s PUCO vigilantly monitors the activities of utility companies to assure all Ohioans access to adequate, safe, and reliable services at fair prices. Commissioners are still appointed by the Governor of Ohio, but now serve five-year terms. The governor’s selection is made from a list of names submitted by the Public Utilities Commission Nominating Council, a broad-based group charged with screening suitable candidates for the office of commissioner. Although regulatory responsibilities did not change when the PUCO was expanded, the decision-making process is now more open to the public. For example, the PUCO holds regular public meetings to reach regulatory decisions and develop policies. Local public hearings, presided over either by commissioners or hearing examiners, are held around Ohio concerning a variety of utility issues. To carry out its responsibilities, the PUCO employs a professional staff that includes engineers, economists, attorneys, and safety inspectors. Continually monitoring the activities of utility and transportation companies, the PUCO scrutinizes rate and service matters with the goal of assuring all residential and business customers access to adequate, safe, and reliable utility services at fair prices, while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices. EXTERNAL LINKS
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