"These are all costs that the consumer has paid all along," said Mr. Mazza, the Consumer Counsel.

"This is the most important regulatory achievement I've seen since becoming Consumer Counsel," Mr. Meehan said.

Water company customers will also be represented by the state's Office of Consumer Counsel.

Upon graduation in 1975, Cruz returned to Guam to work as Consumer Counsel in the Attorney General's Office.

THE Office of Consumer Counsel represents customers of the state's five regulated utilities - gas, electric, cable, water and telephone.

The Consumer Counsel's primary task is to keep those monthly bills reasonable.

"Generally we determine that what the company asks should be reduced," said Guy R. Mazza, who has been Consumer Counsel since June.

In 1997 the entire state building that houses the Office of Consumer Counsel and the Department of Utility Control was slammed.

Because these plants are not providing power and haven't for some time, the Office of Consumer Counsel has taken the position that they should be removed from rate base.

She opposed Governor M. Jodi Rell to eliminate the state's Office of Consumer Counsel.