New Yorkers pay the highest residential electric rates in the continental United States. New York is one of the few states without adequate consumer representation before rate-setting utility regulators.
Cause and effect?
Residential ratepayers are no match for the deep-pocketed utilities and large commercial energy users that send well-lawyered armies of highly-paid staff to make their case before New York's Public Service Commission.
Average New Yorkers need their own champion. Residents in more than 40 other states have one, and it works.
Yet state residents need protection from sky-high rates now more than ever.
Utilities are clamoring for approval to spend billions of dollars on post-Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts. Consumers, not shareholders will pay the lion's share.
Meantime, a Moreland Commission investigation ordered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo is developing recommendations to improve power-providers' performance.
Before state lawmakers finish their legislative session, they should send Cuomo a bill sponsored by Sen. Diane Savino. D-Staten Island, and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, D-Bronx, to create an independent utility consumer advocate office with the authority to sue over unfair rate hikes.
That would give consumers a meaningful seat at the table when regulators consider rate hike proposals — and could help erase New York's dubious distinction as tops in residential electric prices.
Neal Lane is New York State President of AARP and a former director of the state Office for the Aging.