PRESS INQUIRIES
New York City Council
Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection
Int. 372-2022 – Creating an office of the utility advocate within the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
Thank you, Chair Velázquez and members of the committee, for the opportunity to testify on Int. 372 which would create an office of the utility advocate within the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. The Partnership for New York City represents private sector employers of more than one million New Yorkers. We work together with government, labor, and the nonprofit sector to maintain the city’s position as the preeminent global center of commerce, innovation, and economic opportunity.
We oppose the proposal to create a city office to address utility customer complaints and provide education and advocacy on utility issues. In the past decade, city government has grown by more than 10% and its attendant costs by more than 30%, often as a result of bills that create new offices or programs rather than adjusting priorities and functions of existing agencies. We are heading into uncertain economic times when tax revenues are likely to be insufficient to support essential city services.
There are alternative mechanisms in place for consumers to resolve complaints with utilities and learn about services and programs. The NYS Department of Public Service (DPS), which oversees utilities, maintains a consumer hotline where a complaint can be filed. DPS also hosts a website to provide consumers with education and information about utility services and assistance programs. Many utilities direct consumers to these DPS resources. Every utility has a customer service hotline as well as online resources. Additional resources exist for certain types of utilities. For example, consumers can submit complaints about cable television franchisees to 311 and the NYC Department of Information, Technology and Telecommunications. The city could expand 311’s ability to record complaints to other types of utilities.
A new city office would require funding for staff and overhead. The average cost for a city employee was $ 144,331 in fiscal year 2021. The taxpayers cannot afford a new office to solve every problem. We urge the City Council not to move forward with Int. 372.
Thank you.