Lancman leaves offi ce to serve as Cuomo’s new Ratepayer
Protection at the New York State Public Service Commission
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | NOV. 6-NOV. 12, 2020 5
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
Councilman Rory Lancman,
who’s represented his native
Council District 24 since 2014,
has left office to take on the new
position of statewide Special
Counsel for Ratepayer Protection
as of Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced
the new appointment
on Friday, Oct. 30, after announcing
earlier in the week
that the state Senate and Assembly
would introduce legislation
to make a slew of reforms to the
way utility companies are penalized
after failing to provide
service to consumers.
“Utility companies do not
have a God-given right to operate
in New York, and when they
abuse and bully consumers
they must be held accountable.
I am creating a new position of
Special Counsel for Ratepayer
Protection at the Department
of Public Service to help ensure
that happens,” said Cuomo.
“Rory Lancman has a long record
of public service and his
background makes him ideally
suited to help protect the
interests of New Yorkers and
ensure they get the service they
deserve.”
In his new role, Lancman,
who is term limited, will represent
the interests of residential
and commercial customers of
New York’s regulated electric,
gas, water and telecom companies.
He will participate as a
party in Public Service Commission
proceedings, conduct
hearings and investigations,
undertake discovery to compel
documents and testimony,
and otherwise marshal the resources
of the Department of
Public Service to safeguard the
interests of ratepayers and hold
accountable those utilities and
telecoms which fail to meet their
contractual and regulatory obligations
to their customers.
“Every New Yorker should
be able to turn on the lights,
heat their homes and open their
faucets to clean water because
their electricity, gas and water
providers are meeting their
obligations to provide safe, reliable
and affordable service as
the law requires,” said Lancman.
“I’m honored by the governor’s
appointment and grateful
for his commitment to holding
New York’s utilities and telecoms
accountable to their most
important constituency — the
rate paying public.”
As Special Counsel, Lancman
will work to enhance and
strengthen the department’s
existing protections of utility
consumer interests.
His primary role will include
determining whether
utilities are making the investments
required, whether utilities
are performing as required,
whether utilities are responding
adequately to consumers both
in residential and commercial
settings, and whether utilities
are complying with renewable
energy goals and standards.
In his role, he may make presentations
to the New York State
Public Service Commission at
its monthly meetings on findings
and file regular reports to
the Commission assessing the
operations of such utilities. The
Special Counsel may also issue
reports, hold forums with consumers
and stakeholders in the
community and various industry
sectors, make recommendations
regarding the necessity
of legislation, and will have a
dedicated website landing page
that will refer complaints from
consumers for investigation by
the Special Counsel.
Lancman took to Twitter on
Friday to express his gratitude
of the new role.
“The governor gets things
done. I like that. It’s what New
Yorkers expect, and deserve,”
wrote Lancman. “I’m grateful
to @NYGovCuomo for this opportunity.
I’m grateful to my
constituents for their trust & I
look forward to serving their
interests in this new way. And
I’m proud of the work I’ve done
@NYCCouncil building a fairer,
more accountable justice system
in NYC. Excelsior.”
Councilman Rory Lancman File photo/QNS
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