Sarantou seeks funding for consumers’ counsel

4/13/2011
BLADE STAFF

COLUMBUS — Toledo Councilman George Sarantou asked the Ohio House of Representatives finance committee Tuesday to restore funding for the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.

Mr. Sarantou said the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel has played a vital role in representing the interests of Ohio’s 4.5 million residential utility customers since 1976. He said the budget reduction of 50 percent would not be returned to the customers but would go back to the utilities.

He said the counsel has had broad bipartisan support from the Ohio General Assembly and saved customers almost $55 million through its advocacy in the past two years.