New York’s Energy Transition Faces a Staffing Shortage
The state’s energy regulator has more work than ever — and far fewer employees than it did three decades ago.
“We need to make sure that people are getting the right amount of benefits so that they can afford their utilities.”
“Our tax dollars pay for experts to be on staff at DPS. Why do we have to go out and raise private money, and then hire a private company?”
“I don’t think that any of us, when we’re putting bills in … are saying, ‘I wonder if they have enough staffing for this?’”
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that John Howard was Public Service Commission chair until this spring. In fact, his time as chair ended prior to that, though he remained a commissioner until this spring.
The governor promised to fill the chronically understaffed Board of Parole. Nearly half of her nominations have ended in disaster.
Hundreds of Child Victims Act cases have been filed against New York schools, some over accused serial offenders that could leave districts with tens of millions of dollars in liability.
New York’s consumer advocacy groups struggle to compete with well-funded utilities and corporations. Lawmakers want to level the playing field.
The retiree says a local rooftop solar company and its partners forged her signature to sign her up for a loan she could not afford.
Hochul says she’s working with the legislature to replace congestion pricing, but key legislators say they aren’t aware of any conversations.
As the state has backpedaled on congestion pricing, it has made no progress on nearly half of its other transit-related climate goals.