Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel
The Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel is a 17-person Texas state agency, established in 1983, that provides free legal and technical representation to millions of residential and small commercial consumers in utility rate, rulemaking, and ERCOT proceedings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel does
The Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) is a state government agency established by the Texas Legislature in 1983 with a statutory mandate to represent the interests of residential and small commercial utility consumers, as a class, in proceedings across the electric, water, wastewater, and telecommunications industries. Its core service is legal and technical advocacy before the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), state and federal courts, and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) governance processes, including contested rate cases, rulemakings, and appeals. In 2023, the agency represented consumers in 30 contested cases, 26 projects, and 3 appeals, resulting in approximately $180 million in consumer bill savings, with a separate prior-period figure citing over $1.1 billion in current-year bill savings. The agency is led by Chief Executive and Public Counsel Benjamin Barkley, reappointed by Governor Greg Abbott for a term expiring February 1, 2027, and operates with a small staff of 17 employees out of Austin.
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel
- Legal name
- Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel
- Website
- https://opuc.texas.gov
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel is a 17-person Texas state agency, established in 1983, that provides free legal and technical representation to millions of residential and small commercial consumers in utility rate, rulemaking, and ERCOT proceedings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Utility Consumer Advocacy and Regulatory Legal Services
- NAICS
- Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (926130)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Stakeholder, Intervenor & Public Hearing Management (EUAJAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) is a state government agency that provides free legal representation and technical advocacy on behalf of residential and small commercial consumers, as a class, in electric, water, wastewater, and telecommunications utility matters before the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), state courts, and ERCOT governance processes. Its services include contested case intervention, rate case advocacy, rulemaking participation, consumer billing and disconnection assistance, and grid condition monitoring during emergencies. The agency does not sell products or charge consumers; it is funded through legislative appropriations.
Product overview
The Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) is a state government agency established in 1983 that provides consumer advocacy and legal representation services, not a technology product company. OPUC operates as a single, unified service offering: representing residential and small commercial utility consumers (as a class) in proceedings before the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), state and federal courts, and ERCOT governance processes. The agency provides: (1) legal representation and technical expertise in contested cases and rulemaking proceedings; (2) consumer resources including bill assistance information, storm preparedness guidance, and utility rights information; (3) grid condition monitoring for the ERCOT region; (4) annual reports and strategic plans documenting agency performance and savings achieved for consumers. OPUC does not offer distinct software products, modules, or technology platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Legal Representation in Utility Proceedings Free legal and technical representation of residential and small commercial consumers, as a class, in contested cases, rulemaking, and appeals before the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), state courts, and ERCOT governance processes. Covers electric, water, wastewater, and telecommunications utilities.
- Consumer Assistance and Customer Service Direct assistance to consumers via phone (Austin 512-936-7500, toll-free 877-839-0363), email ([email protected]), fax, and mail. Staff respond to public contacts within one business day and to written complaints within 10 business days, addressing billing disputes, payment plans, and disconnection protection.
- Grid Condition Monitoring and Emergency Communications Monitoring of ERCOT grid conditions and distribution of real-time updates to residential and small commercial consumers during weather emergencies, including severe storms and other events affecting power restoration.
- Annual Public Meetings and Consumer Education Annual public meetings held at locations such as the Texas Capitol and Texas Tech University, required by Texas Utilities Code, providing consumer education and agency reporting. The agency also publishes annual reports and strategic plans documenting consumer savings and agency performance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Approximately $180 million in utility bill savings in 2023 through representation in 30 contested cases, 26 projects, and 3 appeals
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- California Public Advocates Office (PAO): California's independent consumer advocate within the CPUC that represents residential and small business utility customers in rate and other proceedings, providing the closest large-scale analog to OPUC's Texas mandate.
- Maryland Office of People's Counsel (OPC): Maryland's independent state agency that advocates on behalf of residential and small business utility consumers in proceedings before the Maryland Public Service Commission, mirroring OPUC's consumer class representation function.
- New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel: New Jersey's state entity within the Department of the Public Advocate that represents ratepayers in proceedings before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, structurally comparable to OPUC's class representation role.
- Illinois Citizens Utility Board (CUB): Illinois's independent state-created consumer advocacy organization representing residential and small business utility customers before the Illinois Commerce Commission, with a representative function paralleling OPUC's.
- Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA): Pennsylvania's independent state agency representing the interests of consumers in utility rate and service proceedings before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, with a statutory mandate closely paralleling OPUC's.
- Ohio Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC): Ohio's state agency that represents residential and small business utility consumers before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, with legal advocacy functions analogous to OPUC's role before PUCT and SOAH.
- Oregon Public Utility Commission - Consumer Advocate Section: Oregon's designated consumer advocate within the Public Utility Commission that represents residential and small commercial customers in utility proceedings, mirroring OPUC's role in Texas rate cases.
- Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC): Connecticut's state agency that represents the interests of residential and small business utility consumers before state regulatory bodies, with a mandate structurally analogous to OPUC's representation of Texas consumers in utility proceedings.
Broad incumbents
- Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT): Texas's statewide regulator before which OPUC litigates contested cases; PUCT sets overall utility policy and rates, while OPUC is the dedicated consumer advocate within that broader regulatory system.
- Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT): Texas's grid operator, in whose governance and stakeholder processes OPUC represents consumer interests - a related institutional counterpart in the same Texas utility ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel social profiles
Digital presenceTexas Office of Public Utility Counsel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel
What does Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel do?
The Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) is a state government agency that provides free legal representation and technical advocacy on behalf of residential and small commercial consumers, as a class, in electric, water, wastewater, and telecommunications utility matters before the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), state courts, and ERCOT governance processes. Its services include contested case intervention, rate case advocacy, rulemaking participation, consumer billing and disconnection assistance, and grid condition monitoring during emergencies. The agency does not sell products or charge consumers; it is funded through legislative appropriations.
Is Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel a public or private company?
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel founded?
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel was founded in 1983. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel based?
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are California Public Advocates Office (PAO), Maryland Office of People's Counsel (OPC), New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel, Illinois Citizens Utility Board (CUB), Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA), Ohio Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), Oregon Public Utility Commission - Consumer Advocate Section and Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC). Broad incumbents are Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
Does Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel.
What industry is Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel in?
Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel's product category is Utility Consumer Advocacy and Regulatory Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAJAIAJ, Stakeholder, Intervenor & Public Hearing Management. Its NAICS code is 926130 and its SIC code is 8111.