Community Corner
What's Next for LIPA?
Oyster Bay customers still without power as fallout mounts over LIPA's hurricane response.
Days of power outages, followed by gas rationing and general misery united residents and politicians of every stripe in a way that may be unprecedented on Long Island. They joined to form a chorus of anger aimed at the Long Island Power Authority.
In the nearly three weeks since Hurricane Sandy left an indelible mark on Long Island, LIPA has become the main target for all that’s gone awry.
Find out what's happening in Oyster Baywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In fact, LIPA reports the Town of Oyster Bay currently has 370 customers without power Thursday, with less than five in Oyster Bay, Upper Brookville, and Mill Neck. Oyster Bay Cove has seven reported outages. East Norwich and Bayville were down to no outages Thursday, LIPA said.
On the same day Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a statewide commission to hold the state's utilities accountable for their performance, LIPA Chief Operating Officer Michael Hervey announced Tuesday he would step down at the end of the year.
Find out what's happening in Oyster Baywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
, also announced Tuesday that as Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, he will head a set of hearings to investigate LIPA's response to Hurricane Sandy.
A coalition seems to be building against the utility.
And just as it happened to predecessor LILCO, the future of LIPA appears to be in doubt. A poor response to Hurricane Gloria in September 1985 led to its eventual sale.
What should happen to LIPA? Give us your thoughts in the comments.
