Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

About the OCC Directors

Analytical Services

Aster Rutibabalira Adams joined the OCC in November 2005 as director of the Analytical Services Department. He is responsible for overseeing the review of the accounting, economic and financial analyses associated with utility rate filings and other regulatory proceedings. He provides advice and recommendations concerning technical and policy issues related to utility regulation and legislation.

Before joining the OCC, Dr. Adams was chief of the Economic Analysis Division/Competitive Markets and Policy Division of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. He was responsible for investigating and making recommendations about cost, pricing, rate design and allegations of anticompetitive practices. He also identified and analyzed market trends, including monitoring and evaluating the impact of agency decisions on market outcomes in the electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water and wastewater industries.

Prior to moving to the United States from Rwanda in 1990, he was an assistant professor at the National University of Rwanda where he taught econometrics, macroeconomics, microeconomics, statistics, monetary theory and industrial organization theory. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a licentiate degree in economics from the National University of Rwanda. He earned a master’s degree in economic development and a doctorate in economics from Vanderbilt University. His dissertation was titled “The Impact of Deregulation on Cost Efficiency, Financial Performance, and Shareholder Wealth of Electric Utilities in the United States.” In it, he argued any evaluation of the effectiveness of deregulation of electric utilities in the United States must consider the selection bias implicitly embedded in the data and the input and output price differentials evident across utilities.

Communications

Beth Gianforcaro joined the OCC as director of Communications in October 2007. She held a similar communications position at the OCC from 1986 – 1992. She manages a staff of communications experts in the planning and implementation of public and media relations activities, outreach and education efforts, the development of printed materials and the OCC website.

Ms. Gianforcaro has more than two decades of experience managing award-winning communications programs for several State of Ohio government agencies, including the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and the Office of the State Treasurer.

She is active in professional communications organizations, including the Central Ohio Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators, and serves on the board of directors for the Central Ohio Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She holds bachelor’s degrees in English-journalism and speech communications from Miami University, Oxford, and is completing a Master of Science degree in journalism from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.

Government Affairs

Amy Kurt joined the OCC as director of Government Affairs in October 2009. She serves as liaison between the OCC and the Ohio General Assembly and the United States Congress. She represents the agency in all legislative hearings and communicates OCC policies and positions on utility issues and pending legislation.

Prior to joining the agency Mrs. Kurt was program director and acting state director for Environment Ohio, which she helped launch in 2006. At Environment Ohio, she worked to advance environmental and energy programs and policies throughout the state. . Mrs. Kurt has worked in development and policy positions for several other non-profit organizations in Ohio and around the country.  Mrs. Kurt received a Bachelor of Arts in earth and environmental sciences from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn.

Operations

Charles Repuzynsky joined the OCC as director of Operations in July 2005. He oversees the Operations Department. His area of responsibilities includes finance, budgeting, strategic planning, human resources, information and technology.

Prior to joining the OCC, Mr. Repuzynsky served as the chief financial officer for the Ohio Historical Society, a non-profit quasi-government organization. He also is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, the American Payroll Association, the Association of Government Accountants and the Society for Human Resource Management. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting from The Ohio State University.

OCC has had to cancel many of its services, including its consumer call center, due to recent budget cuts. We realize you may continue to need assistance with your utility services. OCC's website provides free access to publications and resources.

You may seek assistance with utility complaints from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio:
800-686-7826. For complaints about non-utility related services, you may call the Ohio Attorney General
at 800-282-0515.