Chester Water Authority (CWA) honored former Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate, Patrick Cicero, for his outstanding public service with the first Public Water Warrior Award at their board meeting on February 27. This award honors an individual or organization for their heroic efforts in safeguarding Pennsylvania’s public water from privatization. It celebrates an unwavering commitment to improving access, affordability, and water quality, leaving a lasting, positive impact on communities across the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) was established by the General Assembly in 1976 to represent the consumers of Pennsylvania in matters involving their utility service. Patrick Cicero was appointed Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate by Attorney General Josh Shapiro on December 13, 2021, and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate on June 7, 2022. As head of the OCA, he represents Pennsylvania utility consumers before the Public Utility Commission, federal agencies, and courts. Prior to this, Cicero served as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN, Inc.), overseeing advocacy, fundraising, and management for legal aid services to low-income Pennsylvanians. He also led the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (PULP) for nine years, advocating for low-income utility consumers, and worked as a staff attorney at MidPenn Legal Services, focusing on consumer and housing issues. Cicero received his Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law and began his legal career as a judicial law clerk to Judge Sylvia H. Rambo of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
“CWA exists to serve our ratepayers with award-winning, affordable, and reliable water. For-profit companies, however, prioritize shareholders and profits over service. If it’s not profitable, they won’t do it—plain and simple. This is why we created this award—to honor those fighting for the ratepayers of Pennsylvania,” says Noel Brandon, CWA Board Chair. “Water is life, and this distinction impacts communities across the Commonwealth. Pennsylvanians deserve strong advocates, like Patrick Cicero, who stand with us for public utilities.”
“Mr. Cicero always stands solidly on the side of the public. He fearlessly champions what’s right, even when it means going against powerful corporations, lobbyists, and elected officials. His dedication to serving the people, regardless of opposition, is truly commendable,” explains Brandon. “On behalf of CWA, its board, employees, and ratepayers, we are deeply grateful for his exceptional service.”
The Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate is a position under the direction of the Pennsylvania Attorney General. Under political pressure, Patrick Cicero was forced to resign from his position in January. The public fears that he will ultimately be replaced with an individual who is corporate and privatization friendly. This will have a negative impact on the Commonwealth including directly affecting the East Whiteland case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court; OCA and Aqua Pennsylvania have been involved in a legal battle over Aqua’s acquisition of East Whiteland Township’s wastewater system.
