Will Insurgent Democrats Change The Nation’s Most Hated Utlity?

July 22, 2012 - PRLog -- PRESS RELEASE

WILL INSURGENT DEMOCRATS CHANGE THE NATION’S MOST HATED UTLITY?

Suffolk County, NY, July 21, 2012 --- Three maverick Democrats to force Trustee Elections for LIPA --- the nation’s lowest rated utility with nearly the nation’s highest rates.

Elected trustees, as were first conceived when The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) was formed from the assets of the Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO), were petitioned by three independent Democrats who filed nine election petitions to be in the September 13th primary.

No other LIPA Trustee petitions were submitted and it is possible that the three Democratic candidates could sweep into LIPA Trustee positions unopposed.  This “Occupy LIPA” type of assault seems just fine with LIPA Ratepayers since LIPA is held in such low regard.

LIPA has the lowest customer satisfaction rating of any utility company nationwide, according to a new survey (News-12 Long Island, 07/11/12).   Critics such as NYS Assemblyman Fred Thiele (Bridgehampton) have worked feverishly to install a “16-member elected Board of Trustees” at LIPA; Assemblyman Thiele and has seen his legislation pass the NYS Assembly only to be blocked by the NYS Senate.

The three candidates point out that NYS Election laws defines the public office of LIPA Trustee and requires campaign finance reporting, for those who raise or spend money as candidates, or face criminal prosecution.  The candidates point out that the law requires them to file a petition with only one signature and thus their petitions meet validation requirements.  They also note that LIPA, which is defined as a municipal subdivision of the State of New York, is required to have elections by virtue of the NYS Constitution (Article1, Section 1) that forbids citizens from being disenfranchised from elected representation.  Lastly, the candidates assert that prohibition of LIPA competitors, and the blocking of open Trustee elections, are both contrary to Federal Law on deregulation and voting rights respectively.

The three insurgent candidates --- an energy expert, a business strategist, and an attorney --- claim their goal is to slash LIPA rates 40% or more through a combination of new efficiencies, open competition, and local municipal power authorities.  Their aggressive plan is modeled in part upon the lower costs offered by three Long Island based Municipal Power Authorities --- Greenport, Freeport, and Rockville Centre.

Surely opponents will commence both Board of Elections and court challenges.  The candidates note that there is a lot at stake; Long Island foreclosures, unemployment, and bankruptcies are all high and increasing.  However, they expect a fight from both LIPA and the political status quo.

In their platform, the candidates state that the rate cuts combined with the tax reducing effects of lower rates can provide an incentive to the Long Island economy that is over 5 times that of the Federal Stimulus Package.  The prospective Trustees have threatened a campaign to vilify those who oppose their efforts to cut electric rates via LIPA reforms and efficiencies.

Press contact: Greg Fischer, perfect100@hotmail.com or 631-727-9637