Protecting Utility Customers

Office of Consumer Advocate (Utilities)

John R. Perkins
Consumer Advocate
Office of the Iowa Consumer Advocate
310 Maple Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319

(515) 281-7021                           jperkins@mail.oca.state.ia.us

John R. Perkins was appointed Consumer Advocate for the state of Iowa in October 2001 by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller.  His appointment was confirmed by the Iowa Senate.  The office of Consumer Advocate is a division of the Iowa Department of Justice.  He oversees a staff of seven attorneys and twelve technical specialists, as well as support personnel.  The office is responsible for representing the public generally in matters within the jurisdiction of the Iowa Utilities Board. 

Mr. Perkins received his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1968.  In 1970, following a two-year tour of duty with the United States Army, he was appointed an assistant Polk County attorney in the state of Iowa, prosecuting felony cases.  In 1972 he was appointed an Iowa assistant attorney general in the special litigation division, specializing in antitrust and securities fraud matters.  In 1979 he was appointed head of that division.  In 1985 he was appointed a deputy attorney general, overseeing a number of divisions in the office.  In 1993 he left the attorney general’s office for private practice, where he continued to practice in antitrust matters, as well as other types of corporate litigation, until his appointment as Consumer Advocate.

Mr. Perkins is past president of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA).  He has been active in testifying on utility legislation before the United States Congress and the Iowa legislature, as well as speaking to groups and associations interested in utility matters.  He is also a member of several energy related groups including the State Energy Council, the Public Interest Advisory Council of the Gas Technology Institute, the Financial Research Institute Advisory Board and the New Mexico State University Center for Public Utilities Advisory Council.