Lindy Residents Weigh in on LIPA's Future

A state panel reviewing the Long Island Power Authority’s (LIPA) handling of power restoration following Hurricane Sandy has recommended that a privately owned power company should replace LIPA.

Earlier this week, Newsday reported that the Moreland Commission said LIPA’s dysfunctional management structure hampered its efforts to restore power following Sandy and also led to poor communication with residents across Long Island, including Lindenhurst.

The panel, put together by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, recommended having a privately run company replace LIPA, with some panel members saying it is likely that the utility’s customers will never regain confidence in the power company.

Lindenhurst Patch, on its Facebook page, asked local residents their feelings on the panel’s recommendation.

Debbie Bennett Masching said, “only if the price comes down and we can afford to put the lights on!”

Michael Radzicki responded, “As incompetent and unprepared as LIPA is, the question the consumer should be asking is ‘which will drive my rates higher, fixing LIPA or replacing LIPA with a privately run company?’”

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DonnaMarie Hallahan felt LIPA’s management should be the ones being replaced. “Those lineman and women work their butts off. It’s the decision makers that cut costs (jobs) and are so understaffed to the point of the disaster we all just experienced. Companies need to start caring about their workers and the customers instead of making their wallets fatter,” she said.

Angela Vanleuvan Simpson said there needs to be a new system, or new company or companies put in place that fit the needs of Long Islanders and not the needs of management.

She said, “If you think about it, when we pay our bill we are paying them for a service and if that service is not what we requested should we not get a refund?”