Bruce Weston

Ohio Consumers’ Counsel and Agency Director

Bruce Weston serves Ohioans as the Consumers’ Counsel (agency director), by appointment of the Consumers’ Counsel Governing Board in March 2012. Previously, he served as the Deputy Consumers’ Counsel and directed the agency’s Legal Department. His career spans more than 40 years in public utilities law, which provides experience that he draws upon in his public service to the agency and to Ohio residential consumers. 

Bruce is committed to giving Ohioans a voice in their government’s regulatory and legislative processes for regulation of essential utility services, among the powerful corporate interests and undue influence of public utilities. In general, he seeks affordable rates and reliable utility services for millions of Ohio consumers. His consumer protection priorities include: Reforming the process for selection of PUCO commissioners so as to increase sensitivity to consumer issues and for more transparency; repealing or improving the ratemaking in Ohio’s 2008 energy law that favors electric utilities over consumers; enabling competitive markets instead of monopolies for providing lower prices and greater innovation for consumers where competition can be effective – such as for power plants and for new electric grid services on the customer’s side of the meter; changing the system that has denied refunds to consumers when the Supreme Court overturns a PUCO rate order; and protecting consumers from a smaller segment of energy marketers that has deceived them and/or charged them unconscionable rates. 

Prior to joining the agency for a second time in October 2004, he was in private law practice where he served as legal counsel for clients in cases involving utility rates, service quality, industry restructuring and competition. Bruce received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Cincinnati. He earned his law degree from The Ohio State University College of Law. He served the agency as a legal intern and then, upon graduation, began a 12-year tenure as an attorney for the agency. He served as the chair of the Public Utilities Law Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association for two years beginning in June 2010. 
 

Larry Sauer

Deputy Consumers’ Counsel and Legal Department Director 

Larry Sauer serves Ohioans as the Deputy Consumers’ Counsel, by appointment of the Consumers’ Counsel Governing Board in September 2014. As Deputy, he performs the duties of the Consumers’ Counsel during any times of the Consumers’ Counsel’s unavailability. Larry also serves as the Director of the Legal Department. He joined the Agency in 2003 as an Assistant Consumers’ Counsel. He has served as counsel in electric and natural gas cases, and he has advised the Agency on consumer issues involving competitive markets for utility services. Prior to joining the Agency, he worked for 24 years as an accountant, analyst, and attorney for American Electric Power (AEP).

Daniel Duann

Analytical Department Co-Director – Traditional Regulation

Daniel Duann has worked at the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel since January 2008 as a senior regulatory analyst. Daniel analyzes, reviews, and prepares testimony on electric and natural gas cases and other regulatory proceedings and legislation in Ohio. Daniel was a senior research specialist for nine years at the National Regulatory Research Institute at The Ohio State University and was an economist with the Forecasting Section of the Ohio Division of Energy (which became part of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio)  for two years. He has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in energy management and policy and a doctorate in public policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Michael Haugh

Analytical Department Co-Director – Markets and Competitive Services

​Mike Haugh joined the OCC in July 2021 as the Analytical Department Co-Director – Markets and Competitive Services.  He previously worked for OCC from 2004-2007 as a Regulatory Analyst and 2014-2018 as the Analytical Department Assistant Director. He provides leadership, support, and analysis concerning energy markets, regulatory policy, and strategic planning, among other projects. In addition, he will be advocating OCC’s position on behalf of Ohioans in various proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, PJM and FERC.  Mike has a long history working on utility issues. He has been an Energy Trader at Enron and AEP Energy, a Regulatory Analyst at Integrys Energy Services, and the Regulatory Affairs Manager at Just Energy and most recently as a consultant on regulatory issues at his own private consulting business.  Mike earned his bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University’s Max M. Fisher College of Business.

Lisa Lyman

Operations Department Interim Manager

Lisa Lyman serves Ohioans as the Interim Manager of OCC’s Operations Department. The Operations Department provides services to the Agency for information technology (IT), fiscal matters and human resources. Lisa joined OCC as its fiscal manager in 2015. Prior to joining the Agency, Lisa held positions in fiscal and contract management with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and worked for the Department of Administrative Services in its Real Estate Division.  Lisa received her Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Ohio University in 1985.

J.P. Blackwood

Public Affairs Department Interim Manager

J.P. Blackwood serves Ohioans as the Interim Manager of the Public Affairs Department. The Public Affairs Department supports OCC’s efforts in communications, outreach and education, and legislative services. J.P. joined the Agency as a Public and Legislative Affairs Specialist in 2018. He served the public for 20 years with the City of Columbus Department of Public Service where he led a communications program for road construction and was part of the Department’s public relations team.  J.P. earned a Bachelor’s degree in economics and public relations as well as Master’s degrees in Public Policy and Management and political science.