Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

How to call a legislator

Calling your legislators is one of the easiest and quickest ways to make an impact.

To leave a telephone message for your State Representative or State Senator, call 1-800-282-0253. Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

After these hours, you can find the phone number for your State Representative by visiting the website of the House of Representatives at: www.house.state.oh.us  and the phone number for your State Senator by visiting:  www.ohiosenate.gov.

Tips for calling your legislator

Calling your legislators is easy. Here are a few tips to ensure your success:

• Ask to leave a message for the legislator

Very rarely will you actually speak to the legislator who you are calling. More likely you will speak to an aide who should pass your message on to the legislator. When calling a legislator, you can either ask for the legislator to call you back or leave a message for the legislator.

• Keep the call short and sweet.

Each call should take only a minute or two. Make sure to include in your message:

• Who you are (name and occupation, if relevant);

• Why you are calling (if you know the number of the bill, you should include it. If not, make sure you state what issue you are calling about and your position on the issue); and

• What you would like the legislator to do (i.e. vote for or against a bill).

• Speak slowly and clearly

It is likely that the person who answers the phone has been taking lots of messages all day long on a variety of issues. It is unlikely that they are an expert on the issue that you are calling about.  You will have a better chance of making an impact if you speak slowly and clearly so the legislator’s aide can communicate an accurate message to the legislator.

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.