On Tuesday, October 13 at the Southampton Town Board Meeting, the Town Board voted unanimously on a resolution in support of Assembly Bill A.08936 and Senate Bill S.06868, which would provide the Public Service Commission (PSC) with the authority to order and enforce audit recommendations made to the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and its providers, such as PSEG Long Island.
The PSC regulates and oversees the electric, gas, water and telecommunications industries and their service providers. The PSC has the authority to order the industries it regulates and oversees to comply with its recommendations, but their authority currently does not extend to LIPA. Assembly Bill A.08936, sponsored by Assemblyman Fred Thiele, and Senate Bill S.06868, sponsored by Senator James Gaughran, would amend the public authorities law to extend the PSC’s authority to include LIPA and its service providers. The bills have been approved by the NY Senate and the NY Assembly and will soon be forwarded to the Governor for signing. If the bill becomes law, the amendments will also allow the PSC to issue civil penalties to LIPA and its service providers for failure to comply with PSC audit recommendations when the audits indicate a finding of fraud, abuse or mismanagement.
“This is a very important piece of legislation. LIPA’s ratepayers need to know that the PSC has the same degree of regulatory authority over LIPA as it does over utilities elsewhere in New York State,” said Councilman John Bouvier, the lead sponsor of the legislation.
For more information, contact John Bouvier at 631-287-5745.