ID H0699

Creates the Office of Utility Consumer Advocate within the Office of the Attorney General, with a director appointed by the attorney general and confirmed by the senate for a four-year term.

Establishes a nine-member Utility Ratepayer Advisory Committee representing residential consumers, low-income consumers, energy efficiency advocates, small farmers, small commercial users, large commercial users, and industrial users, with staggered four-year terms.

Authorizes the office director to represent Idaho utility ratepayers before the Public Utilities Commission, Idaho Supreme Court, federal agencies, and courts regarding matters affecting natural gas, electricity, water, and telephone service rates and regulations.

Requires public utilities (except railroads and cooperative utilities) to provide the office copies of proposed rate changes, service modifications, correspondence, legal papers, and other documents served on the Public Utilities Commission.

Finances the office through annual legislative appropriations from the Public Utilities Commission fund to cover direct and indirect costs of operations.