Newly created statewide special counsel for ratepayer protection

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday announced that, in the wake of what he has called repeated failures by utility and telecom companies to meet their obligations to New Yorkers, he has appointed Rory Lancman, a seasoned lawyer and legislator, as statewide special counsel for ratepayer protection.

In this role, Lancman will represent the interests of residential and commercial customers of New York's regulated electric, gas, water and telecom companies, with the ability to 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 Cuomo’s office said fail to meet their contractual and regulatory obligations to their customers. 

"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," Cuomo said. "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."

Specifically, as special counsel, Lancman will review the performance of all utilities in New York across all sectors – electric, natural gas, private water, and telecommunications. 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 residential and commercial; and whether utilities are complying with renewable energy goals and standards. As special counsel, Lancman will enhance and strengthen the department's existing protections of utility consumer interests.

"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," Lancman said. "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."

The special counsel 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, and make recommendations regarding the necessity of legislation. It will also have a dedicated website landing page that will refer complaints from consumers for investigation by the special counsel.

Department of Public Service CEO John B. Rhodes said, "The Department of Public Service applauds Gov. Cuomo for selecting such an outstanding public servant as Mr. Lancman to join the agency and to help ensure ratepayers' interests are protected. Mr. Lancman will be an invaluable asset in our efforts to oversee utilities in New York state."

A product of NYC public schools, Queens College and Columbia Law School, Lancman spent more than a decade representing workers in discrimination and workplace safety matters, litigating cases in state and federal court and before city, state and federal agencies, before being elected to the New York State Assembly in 2006 and the New York City Council in 2013.

Lancman currently chairs the New York City Council Committee on the Justice System, overseeing much of the city's civil and criminal justice system, including the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, the boroughs' five district attorneys, city-funded public defenders and civil legal services providers, and the courts. He has authored numerous laws reforming the criminal justice system and protecting women from domestic violence, conducted robust oversight hearings leading to further legal system improvements, and has been an outspoken advocate on civil rights and justice reform issues.

Prior to his election to the State Legislature, Lancman was an active grassroots community leader, and an officer in New York's own 42nd Infantry Division.