ROYERSFORD − January 16, 2025 − State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks) released the following statement in response to resignation of Pennsylvania consumer advocate Patrick Cicero has been serving as Consumer Ombudsman since December 2021.
“Since taking office, protecting consumer rights in SD44 and throughout the Community has become my priority. One of the strongest allies in this fight was consumer advocate Patrick Cicero. With his departure, Pennsylvanians lose an important, nonpartisan voice that was willing to stand up to corporate greed and price gouging. In At a hearing before the Senate Democratic Policy Committee last year, Mr. Cicero highlighted the work of his office and state laws that were much more favorable to private entities than to consumers. Private acquisitions of public water and sewer systems – directly related to the Fair Market Value provision of Act No. 12 of 2016, which allows the dollar value of water systems to include not only the pipes and facilities, but market factors such as their value to communities, allowing them to be sold at much higher prices – cost or will cost consumers at least $85 million more each year for water and wastewater services than they would have without this law. These are the battles the Consumer Ombudsman has fought, and I hope whoever is nominated by the new Attorney General will continue to fight them.”
“It is critical that the public remain engaged and have their voices heard as water, sewer and other utility rates continue to rise across the Commonwealth. Under Mr. Cicero’s leadership, the Office of the Consumer Advocate has made an extraordinary effort to protect voters from exploitation by large utility corporations by fighting for fair and equitable rates. I want to thank Mr. Cicero for his tireless efforts to advocate for all ratepayers in Pennsylvania and for his willingness to provide his input and expertise at several of our Policy Committee hearings over the past few years.”
“Mr. Cicero’s resignation is a stark reminder of how the influence of profit-seeking entities can hinder the process of good governance.”
Under Section 201(b) of Pennsylvania Act 164 of 1980The consumer advocate is appointed by the Attorney General and must be confirmed by a majority vote of the Pennsylvania Senate. The Consumer Ombudsman, operating within the General Prosecutor’s Office, is the voice of consumers in disputes regarding their electricity, gas, telecommunications, water and sewage services. The Consumer Advocate represents the interests of Pennsylvania utility consumers before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), federal regulatory agencies, and state and federal courts.
