OntheWilderSide

LIPA was supposed to become the people’s power authority. That has not happened. When LIPA was first set up, there were supposed to be elected members of the LIPA board. Though, that never happened, they are all appointed, with no accountability to the public. (Though, in NY State Law there are still vestiges of that election procedure on the books, so that a person could submit petitions for the position of LIPA Board Member and see what happens.)

Vetoing a bill that the legislators passed to try to give some accountability is just another step backward.

(excerpt) from Newsday
Paterson vetoes LIPA review bill
BY MARK HARRINGTON
September 6, 2008

Gov. David A. Paterson on Friday vetoed a bill that would have required the Long Island Power Authority undergo regulatory review for rate increases above 2.5 percent, dashing hopes for greater oversight of the utility.

In vetoing the bill, Paterson said it would cost the Public Service Commission more than $5 million annually to implement it, and the PSC “lacks the resources.” He also expressed concerns it would “impair and diminish” the value of financial agreements LIPA made with its bondholders, among other concerns.

The veto follows unusual bipartisan support for the legislation after it languished for years in Albany.

Critics point to increases in homeowners’ LIPA bills created by “fuel surcharges” exceeding 30 percent over the past five years, with virtually no scrutiny of the utility.

Filed under: elections, Governor Paterson, local, long island, Long Island Politics, rants Tagged: | David Paterson, energy, Governor Paterson, LIPA, Long Island Power Authority, New York State, NY