Lancman quits Council to become Cuomo watchdog
Councilman Lancman is resigning from his current gig to take a job in the Cuomo administration
Gov. Cuomo announced Friday he is appointing Lancman special counsel for ratepayer protection, a newly created role that will see the longtime lawmaker face off against utility companies.
“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 hold utilities accountable when necessary,” Cuomo said.
Lancman, a Democrat representing eastern parts of Queens including Kew Gardens and Fresh Meadows, was reportedly eying an exit from the Council as he is term-limited next year.
In his new position, the former attorney will review the performance of electric, natural gas, private water and telecommunications companies and determine whether they are fulfilling their obligations to ratepayers and making necessary investments.
The watchdog position will also have him make presentations to the New York State Public Service Commission, which oversees the state’s utility companies and their contracts, at its monthly meetings, and file reports to the panel and the public.
According to the governor’s office, the special counsel will have the ability to “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 utility companies accountable.
“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 in a statement. “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 move is the latest in an ongoing salvo that the governor has fired at power companies in the wake of service disruptions and slow recovery efforts following major storms.