Today, members of the Long Island Assembly Minority Delegation held a public meeting regarding Long Island Power Authority’s (LIPA) poor response in the wake of recent natural disasters, highlighted by Superstorm Sandy. Following the recent storms, countless residents expressed the need for reform that included, but is not limited to, contractual improvements, management audits and privatization.

During the meeting, Assembly members heard testimony from experts and residents on corrective actions taken by LIPA and additional actions taken to improve the Authority.

“After receiving countless calls from private citizens, businesses, chambers of commerce, and labor unions about the shortcomings of LIPA in the days and weeks after Superstorm Sandy, it's clear that this hearing was long overdue. Long Islanders deserve efficient and affordable power and the public's input on this issue is absolutely critical,” said Assemblyman Andrew Raia (R,I,C-East Northport).

“Electric rates are of paramount importance to all of Long Island. We must find a way to make electricity more affordable for businesses, homeowners, municipalities and schools. The first step in remedying this situation is to listen to our communities and heed their call,” said Assemblyman Joseph Saladino.

Those providing testimony during the meeting included Irving Like, an original board member for LIPA. Also appearing before the meeting was Sheldon Sackstein, a member of Suffolk County LIPA Oversight Committee and a former LIPA Board of Trustee; Neal Lewis, Executive Director for the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, and a member of the Stakeholder Committee for the study being conducted by LIPA and National Grid on the repowering of the Northport and Port Jefferson power plants. Also represented were the Long Island Metro Business Action and Renewable Energy Long Island.

The Long Island Power Authority is a public authority which provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. During Superstorm Sandy, roughly 90 percent of customers experienced power outages. Following the storm, Gov. Cuomo convened a special investigative panel which urged the state to beef up the power of the Public Service Commission to regulate utilities and to penalize poor-performing utility providers. The panel also recommended LIPA be replaced by a private, investor-owned utility.

“There’s no denying LIPA’s repeated failure at dealing with major weather events on Long Island – first nor’easters, then Irene and now Sandy. LIPA’s sustained outages for days upon days and their inability to properly plan caused mass disruptions: gas lines, no LIRR service, homes going without heat for days, and sustained traffic signal and home alarm outages. It is simply unacceptable; working families and seniors of Nassau County deserve better. Now is the time to have an open, honest and frank conversation about LIPA, its responsibilities to its customers and how we can ensure that which has caused much discomfort and angst never happens again,” said Assemblyman Brian Curran (21st AD – Lynbrook).

“The utility costs on Long Island put a tremendous burden on our local taxpayers and the goal of this hearing is to ensure that the people, businesses and families most affected will be heard going forward. While incomes have decreased or stayed flat, utility costs continue to rise; Long Islanders need effective and affordable utilities,” said Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino (R,C,I-Sayville).

“Our constituents have been shut out of the critical discussion on LIPA's future, and no plan can be considered complete without their input,” said Assemblyman Al Graf (R,C,I-Holbrook). “Electricity rates affect every aspect of Long Island's economy, including job creation, property taxes and the cost of living. This hearing is meant to provide a voice for the families and businesses that deserve to have their voices heard. There are a couple of different proposals aimed at restructuring LIPA, and Long Islanders must have a seat at the table and take part in creating a new entity that will supply our electricity. We need to ensure that this new entity will have the ability to provide exceptional utility service for Long Islanders at a reasonable price.”

“Our residents deserve to have the best services available, and I think we need to be willing to look at a variety of proposals to best meet the needs of all involved. No one can fully anticipate the effect a natural disaster may have on a community. Today’s hearing is an important step toward insuring the long-term safety and affordability of power on Long Island,” said Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station).

“For years, LIPA has been operating without accountability or transparency,” said Assembly Tom McKevitt (R,C,I-East Meadow). “Their management structure has repeatedly caused a wide array of problems in the delivery of electricity to Long Island residents in a cost-effective and customer-responsive fashion, which was only magnified in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. LIPA may need to be dissolved or, at the very least, undergo an extensive overhaul. We cannot afford a repeat of their failures.”

“LIPA has failed Long Island residents time and again when it comes to delivering services effectively, efficiently and reliably. There needs to be a serious discussion as to how we can provide power at an efficient and affordable level for Long Island residents,” said Assemblyman Michael Montesano (R,I,C-Glen Head).

“The events of Superstorm Sandy only highlighted the issues troubling LIPA. This hearing will help discuss the best means to provide low-cost, efficient power to our residents, while ensuring any new entity can adequately meet the challenges of future storms and other disasters,” said Assemblyman Edward P. Ra (19th Assembly District).