Who We Are:

CSIS is a policy research, development, technology transfer, and education unit at Penn State in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's Bureau of Consumer Services.  It focuses on regulated public utilities, consumer complaints,  education and low income utility consumer issues. Weatherization, energy conservation, and statewide surveys of utility consumer issues are also topics of interest. The primary focus is on regulated telecommunications, natural gas, electric, and water utilities.

The CSIS Project and the Bureau of Consumer Services (BCS) of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) have collaborated since 1978 to acquire and improve the quality of information used in regulating and managing the resolution and analyzing of consumer inquiries and disputes presented to the PUC, and to increase the quality of consumer input in utility regulatory matters. The CSIS Home Page provides access to summaries of research results, PA Public Utility Commission information, PUC reports, the Bureau of Consumer Services, and CSIS project personnel. The CSIS is located in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at Penn State University.

What  We Do

• Designs and operates computer-based information systems for the PUC/BCS.

• Assists in the design and implementation of consumer education programs and in the dissemination of consumer education information.

• Conducts policy and applied research, including the review of regulations and proposals/suggestions for new programs and regulatory policies.

• Produces analyses and reports from Project databases for use in the regulatory process and for routine and special PUC/BCS reports.

• Maintains a variety of databases on customer complaints and opinions regarding utility service.

• Provides special studies on selected aspects of consumer knowledge and complaint behavior.

• Conducts State and National surveys regarding consumer issues and utility regulatory matters.

• Analyzes energy conservation and low-income weatherization programs.

• Provides assistance in evaluating policy and program performance.