Vote Solar Congratulates Annel Hernandez on Appointment as New York City’s Inaugural Public Utility Advocate

New York City’s Mayor Mamdani appointed Annel Hernandez as the first-ever Public Utility Advocate. Hernandez, an energy expert, will advocate for clean, affordable energy for New Yorkers and encourage greater public participation in Public Service Commission hearings, which are where utility rate hikes and other major energy decisions are made.  

Vote Solar’s Mid-Atlantic Regulatory Director, Kartik Amarnath, issued the following statement:

“At a time when New York’s energy landscape is in desperate need of transformation to deliver affordable, reliable, community-centered clean energy, we commend the Mamdani administration for appointing Annel Hernandez, a proven champion of justice, as New York City’s inaugural Public Utility Advocate. As an energy and environmental justice leader, Annel’s commitment to frontline communities makes her the ideal candidate to spearhead the City’s revitalized effort to hold utilities accountable. Her visionary leadership is especially needed as New York City continues facing skyrocketing utility bills, increasingly frequent extreme weather, and an energy shortfall. 

“Vote Solar congratulates Annel, and we look forward to working with the City of New York to hold monopoly utilities accountable, build a resilient grid, and expand clean energy access while realizing an affordable and reliable energy future that prioritizes communities over utility profits.”