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.