In the last week, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has taken two actions which are major steps forward in protecting the interests of Long Island ratepayers.

First, LIPA has initiated a $70 million lawsuit for the grossly negligent performance of PSEG-LI during Tropical Storm Isaias. The suit accuses PSEG of "corporate mismanagement, misfeasance, incompetence and indifference, rising well beyond the level of simple negligence." PSEG failures were termed "willful" and "in bad faith." I agree.

PSEG-LI gets an “F” for its performance during the tropical storm. Their failure resulted in great hardship and great expense to its customers because of its inferior performance. The stockholders of PSEG, not the ratepayers, should bear the cost and responsibility for the company’s failures.

Second, LIPA has released an “Options Analysis” surveying the future alternatives for the management of Long Island’s electric utility. The report looks at privatization, a reformed contract with PSEG-LI, a new provider to replace PSEG-LI, or municipal management.

Privatization was a failure under LILCO. The breach of trust exhibited by PSEG-LI cannot be repaired. The model for contracting out LIPA’s responsibilities to a private company is a two-time loser. There is no reason to think it would be any different a third time.

The preferred option is a public power company. LIPA estimates this option could save between $65-$75 million a year.

In 1986, when LIPA was created, the vision of its sponsors was the creation of a public power company to replace Long Island’s unaccountable, profit driven, private utility (LILCO). We should return to that vision.

LIPA has been a political football and Long Islanders have been pawns in that game. Long Islanders deserve a power company that is accountable to directly to the ratepayers. Further, we must take direct responsibility for the company’s operation and our energy future. After decades of failure, let’s return to the original mission of the 1986 LIPA Act, a public utility accountable directly to Long Islanders. Transparency, accountability, and oversight.

I commend LIPA for these actions and urge them to pursue them with all deliberate speed.