Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung announced the appointment of Annel Hernandez as New York City's Public Utility Advocate.
As part of the Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ), Hernandez will work closely with City agencies, community organizations and other stakeholders to protect utility customers, fight for affordable rates, expand access to energy affordability programs, increase public participation in utility rate proceedings and ensure the transition to clean energy delivers material benefits to the New Yorkers who need them most.
Hernandez's appointment comes as New Yorkers face some of the highest energy costs in the nation. Lowering utility bills is central to the Mamdani administration's efforts to confront the climate and cost-of-living crises facing working families.
"Gas and electricity are not luxuries - they are basic necessities. But too many New Yorkers are struggling to afford the energy they need to keep the lights on, stay cool in the summer and heat their homes in the winter," said Mayor Mamdani. "As Utility Advocate, Annel Hernandez will be a relentless fighter for working people. She will stand up to utility companies pocketing billions in profit at the expense of hard-working New Yorkers, push back against unjustified rate hikes and champion a clean energy future that lowers costs and improves people's lives."
"Our energy grid powers our every day, and yet most New Yorkers feel disconnected or disempowered from shaping that very system. NYC's clean energy transition should mean a modern grid, large renewable energy projects, resilient distributed energy, healthy efficient homes, community solar and lower energy bills. I look forward to collaborating with allies to uplift community voices as we advance our clean energy goals," said Public Utility Advocate Annel Hernandez.
"It's unacceptable that New Yorkers are forced to choose between putting food on their dinner tables and plugging in their AC on a dangerously hot summer day," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. "Annel Hernandez will lead the charge to challenge rate hikes, secure affordability and move our city toward a greener future. She will anchor this administration's commitment to holding wealthy utility companies accountable to the people they serve, and I look forward to the wins she will deliver for the working families of our city."
"Every month, New Yorkers facing high energy bills are confronted with the reality that the climate crisis is inextricably linked to the affordability crisis," said Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung. "Annel Hernandez is a dedicated climate justice leader and public servant who not only understands that reality but also knows how to deliver climate solutions. In her new role as Public Utility Advocate, Hernandez will fight to keep energy affordable for working-class New Yorkers to make sure no one is left behind in a just and equitable transition to clean energy."
"With utility costs skyrocketing, New Yorkers need someone like Annel who can fight greedy utility companies and help reduce costs for working class households," said Council Member Sandy Nurse. "There is no one more ready for this role: she has dedicated her life to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, expanding renewable energy capacity and was instrumental in implementing the Council's Zero Waste Act and the Public Solar bill. I can't think of anyone more deserving or qualified for this role, and I am so proud to call her my Public Utility Advocate."
"Annel Hernandez is a champion for environmental justice and energy equity. Annel has advanced climate, environmental and energy policies that have made our city healthier and more equitable. She is rooted in the communities she has worked to support, from Brooklyn to the Bronx," said Eddie Bautista, Executive Director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. "She will continue to represent New Yorkers and advance our collective clean energy future as Public Utility Advocate."
"PULP congratulates Annel Hernandez on her appointment as the NYC Public Utility Advocate. Ms. Hernandez has deep experience in environmental justice policy work that makes her well-positioned to be a strong and effective voice for utility consumers across New York City," said Laurie Wheelock, Executive Director of the Public Utility Law Project ("PULP").
About Annel Hernandez
Annel Hernandez has dedicated her career in public service to advancing climate policy with a focus on equity, environmental justice and clean energy. She currently leads the clean energy team at the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice.
Previously, Hernandez served as the Director of Climate and Environmental Policy for New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse and as Associate Director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. She also held roles at the Mayor's Office of Economic Opportunity and the Urban Climate Change Research Network at Columbia University's Earth Institute. She began her public service career as a New York City Urban Fellow.
Hernandez teaches environmental justice and climate resiliency at Columbia University. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science and Latino studies from Fordham University and a Master of Public Administration in Energy and Environment from Columbia University. A lifelong New Yorker, she lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
