Latest news with #OfficeofConsumerAdvocate
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania Senate confirms new Consumer Advocate nomination
(WHTM) — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that the Pennsylvania Senate has unanimously confirmed the nomination of Darryl Lawrence as the state's Consumer Advocate. Lawrence has served as interim Consumer Advocate since February 4, after serving as the Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate. He has worked in the department for nearly 20 years and will now represent Commonwealth consumers in public utility service quality and pricing matters. 'I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed my appointment of Darryl Lawrence as Pennsylvania's Consumer Advocate, and am confident that Darryl will serve Pennsylvanians well in that capacity,' Attorney General Sunday said. 'Darryl dedicated his career to advocating on behalf of Pennsylvanians who may not have a voice in the regulatory, judicial, and legislative processes attached to public utilities. He has proven himself as an experienced, tough, fair, and honest advocate.' 'It has been an honor to work for the Office of Consumer Advocate and to serve the public utility customers of Pennsylvania for the past 20 years,' Consumer Advocate Darryl Lawrence said. 'I look forward to continuing this important work as the new Consumer Advocate of Pennsylvania. My heartfelt thanks to Attorney General Dave Sunday, the Pennsylvania Senate, and the incredible staff at the Office of Consumer Advocate who have provided support and encouragement throughout this process. I am deeply honored to take on this new role.' The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate was established by the General Assembly in 1976 to serve the interests of utility ratepayers in Pennsylvania. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Attorney General nominates Consumer Advocate after politicalization allegations
(WHTM) — Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has nominated Darryl Lawrence to be the Commonwealth's permanent Consumer Advocate. Lawrence is currently the Interim Consumer Advocate and was the Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate, and has worked in the department for nearly 20 years. If confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate, Lawrence will represent Commonwealth consumers in public utility service quality and pricing matters permanently. 'I promised I would have an open and transparent process to appoint a Consumer Advocate,' said Attorney General Sunday. 'We accepted numerous applications, held interviews with qualified applicants, and received extensive feedback from stakeholders. I am convinced that Darryl has all the tools required to advocate for the best interests of Pennsylvania consumers because that is what he has always done. Darryl has dedicated his career to advocating on behalf of Pennsylvanians who otherwise may not have a voice in the regulatory, judicial, and legislative processes. During his time with the Office of Consumer Advocate, he established a reputation for being tough, fair, and honest. I'm confident that the Commonwealth will be well served by his leadership for this important agency.' Lawrence has stepped in in the interim after the previous advocate, Patrick Cicero, resigned over what he said are Sunday's ties to utility companies. 'To be nominated for a permanent role as Pennsylvania's Consumer Advocate is indeed an honor,' Acting Consumer Advocate Darryl Lawrence said. 'I take on this new role with a profound sense of duty to always advocate for the best interests of Pennsylvania consumers.' The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate was established by the General Assembly in 1976 to serve the interests of utility ratepayers in Pennsylvania. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania Attorney General appoints interim Consumer Advocate amid dispute
(WHTM) – Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday named Daryl Lawrence as Pennsylvania's interim Consumer Advocate weeks after the previous Consumer Advocate resigned, citing concerns with Sunday's ties to utility companies. The Attorney General's office cited Lawrence's history as a Senior Assistance Consumer Advocate for nearly two decades. The Office of Consumer Advocates represents consumers in utility service quality and pricing matters. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'I am confident that Darryl has the experience, expertise, and commitment to public service required to represent the best interests of Pennsylvanians who demand and deserve fair pricing and high-quality when it comes to essential utilities,' Attorney General Sunday said. 'I am continuing the open process of engaging with qualified candidates for the permanent position as Pennsylvania's Consumer Advocate.' 'It has been an honor to serve the consumers of Pennsylvania for the past 20 years in matters involving public utilities,' Lawrence said. 'I look forward to continuing the important work of the Office of Consumer Advocate in this new role.' Patrick Cicero resigned as Pennsylvania's Consumer Advocate last month, blaming 'an open, vocal and public campaign led by various investor-owned utilities' seeking his removal who also donated to Sunday's campaign. Former Public Utility Commission Chairman Jim Cawley says companies wanted Cicero out and that they 'heavily lobbied, including campaign contributions to Dave Sunday to get rid of this guy because he's doing too good a job. That's essentially it.' Sunday responded to those concerns, saying the process for replacing Cicero would be 'open and transparent.' 'I've already reached out to people from all walks of life to help us with this, including groups that advocate for consumers specifically,' said Sunday after he was sworn in last month. 'So bring everybody's voices in, we listen to it, we let anyone apply, they're interviewed. They then have to go through questions that they receive from the Senate.' Lawrence would need to be confirmed by the State Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
