The Office shall have the following powers and duties:(a) Educate, inform, and provide orientation and assistance to consumers on their rights and responsibilities with regard to the electric power service and the public policy on savings, conservation, and efficiency.(b) Evaluate the impact that the rates, electricity bills, public policy on energy, and any other issue may have on electric power service consumers in Puerto Rico.(c) Defend and advocate for the interests of customers in all matters brought before the Energy Commission or been addressed by CEPPO with regard to electric power rates and charges, the quality of the electric power service, services provided by electric power service companies to their customers, resource planning, public policy, and any other matter of interest for customers;(d) File complaints or legal recourses with the Energy Commission on behalf and in representation of electric power service customers who have no other legal representation, with regard to disputes in connection with the electricity bill, rates and charges of PREPA or independent power producers, the public policy on energy, environmental issues, disputes regarding customer service to disputes in connection with the electricity bill, rates and charges of PREPA or independent power producers, the public policy on energy, environmental issues, disputes regarding customer service of electric power service companies, or any other matter that may affect the interests or rights of electric power service customers. Prior to filing complaints in representation of electric power service customers, it shall verify that said customer has complied with the provisions of § 1054z of this title. In the event of a conflict of interests between the different types of customers with regard to any cause of action or dispute, the priority of the ICPO shall be to represent and defend residential and small-business commercial customers.(e) Participate in PREPA’s rate adoption or modification process in accordance with § 196a of this title, and the rate review process before the Commission in accordance with § 196b of this title.(f) Make independent recommendations to the Energy Commission regarding rates, electricity bills, public policy on energy, and any other issue that may affect electric power service consumers in Puerto Rico.(g) Request and advocate for just and reasonable ssion regarding rates, electricity bills, public policy on energy, and any other issue that may affect electric power service consumers in Puerto Rico.(g) Request and advocate for just and reasonable rates for the consumers represented by the Office.(h) Participate or mediate in any action brought before a government agency of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or agency of the Federal government with jurisdiction, in connection with rates, electricity bills, public policy on energy, and any other issue that may affect electric power service consumers and/or customers.(i) Participate and appear as petitioning party or mediator in any action before the General Courts of Justice or a Federal court in connection with the rates, electricity bills, public policy on energy, and any other issue that may affect electric power service customers.(j) Sue and be sued.(k) Have access to documents, records and information to which the Commission and the Commonwealth Energy Public Policy Office have access except for privileged documents, records and information, as provided in the Rules of Evidence.(l) Conduct, on its own motion or through contract, studies, surveys, or investigations, or hear access except for privileged documents, records and information, as provided in the Rules of Evidence.(l) Conduct, on its own motion or through contract, studies, surveys, or investigations, or hear expert testimonies in connection with matters that affect the interests of electric power service consumers.(m) Review and issue comments on any proposed legislation or regulations that affect electric power service consumers.(n) Submit on or before March 1st of each year to both Houses of the Legislative Assembly of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico an annual report stating the tasks undertaken by and the achievements of the Office in favor of consumers.(o) Adopt regulations, norms, and rules as necessary to properly conduct its internal operations. History —May 27, 2014, No. 57, § 6.44; renumbered as § 6.43 by § 27 and amended by § 28 on Feb. 16, 2016, No. 4.
Puerto Rico Legal Code