For as bad as the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy was, LIPA’s response to the Island-wide power outages has been equal parts disgraceful and embarrassing. Governor Cuomo has already labeled the power authority’s efforts a failure, outraged citizens have picketed outside a Hicksville utility office and according to Bloomberg Businessweek, as of Monday, Nov. 12, “The state-owned authority’s customers accounted for about 58 percent of an estimated 136,936 still without power today, including homes and businesses with property damage unable to reconnect.” Stories of customers still without power receiving LIPA bills only rubs more salt in the wounds of those who’ve had to endure darkness, cold showers and plummeting temperatures at night. Although the likelihood is slim of this monopolistic entity prorating its billing so customers aren’t asked to pay for services they’re not receiving, we can only hope LIPA is sent packing sooner than later and a far more responsive power authority is brought in to serve some of the nation’s most highly taxed citizens.
– Dave Gil de Rubio
