Consumer
Services
Information
Systems
Project
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 the CSIS Project does
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Designs and operates computer-based information systems for the
PUC/BCS. |
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Assists in the design and implementation of consumer education
programs and in the dissemination of consumer education information. |
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Conducts policy and applied research, including the review of
regulations and proposals/suggestions for new programs and
regulatory policies. |
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Produces analyses and reports from Project databases for use in the
regulatory process and for routine and special PUC/BCS reports. |
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Maintains a variety of databases on customer complaints and opinions
regarding utility service. |
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Provides special studies on selected aspects of consumer knowledge
and complaint behavior. |
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Conducts State and National surveys regarding consumer issues and
utility regulatory matters. |
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Analyzes energy conservation and low-income weatherization programs. |
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Provides assistance in evaluating policy and program performance. |
