An Act to provide a People's Counsel for the Public Service Commission in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.

(LATEST SUMMARY)

Establishes an Office of the People's Counsel within the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia to represent the people of the District of Columbia in all proceedings related to the rates or services furnished by public utilities under the jurisdiction of the Commission.

Stipulates that the expenses of any proceeding shall be borne by the public utility being investigated as a special franchise tax in addition to all other taxes imposed by law.

Provides that the People's Counsel: (1) may represent and appear for petitioners appearing before the Commission for the purpose of complaining in matters of rates or services; (2) may investigate the services given by, the rates charged by, and the valuation of the properties of, the public utilities under the jurisdiction of the Commission; and (3) is authorized to develop means to otherwise assure that the interest of users of the products of or services furnished by public utilities under the jurisdiction of the Commission are adequately represented in the course of proceedings before the Commission, including public information dissemination, consultative services, and technical assistance.

Authorizes to be appropriated for fiscal year 1975, such sum, not to exceed $50,000, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. States that for fiscal year 1976, and each fiscal year thereafter, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums, not to exceed $100,000 in any one fiscal year, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.