Consolidated Edison CEO Kevin Burke has given his assurance that workers will not be diverted from Westchester into other regions hit by Hurricane Sandy, Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino said Wednesday.
The county executive announced Wednesday that he met with Burke as well as NYSEG CEO Mark Lynch to discuss the recovery effort following Hurricane Sandy.
“We have been assured that Con Edison is not diverting any resources from Westchester to New York City or other parts of the region. We will hold the company to its promise.”
Consolidated Edison is tasked with restoring power to hundreds of thousands of people from Westchester to lower Manhattan and Queens. The utility company reported Wednesday that 176,000 Westchester customers remained without power. That number was down only 7,000 from the day before. NYSEG reported restoring power to only a few hundred customers since Tuesday.
The company leaders told Astorino that the storm damaged critical substations and transmission lines and that repairs must be made to those areas first. Both companies have also struggled to reach affected areas because of downed trees and other debris.
“Our biggest priority is working with Con Edison and NYSEG to get power restored and to assist our municipalities in removing the fallen trees,” Astorino said.
Hospitals, nursing homes and other critical-care companies that have been without power since Monday will be the highest priority, Astorino said.
Astorino, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand toured the region during a helicopter flyover Wednesday. Astorino said the tour revealed extensive damage and power outages throughout Westchester County. The officials also toured some of the areas hardest hit by floods, including parts of Long Island and Breezy Point, Queens.
“While other communities suffered more substantial flood damage, Westchester was hardest hit by downed trees that are blocking hundreds of streets in our county," Astorino said.
More than 48 hours after the worst of the storm passed through the region, Astorino said the county's emergency operations center also remains active around the clock and that conference calls with local municipalities will continue on a daily basis.
Astorino also said he is confident that the county will qualify for federal disaster relief through FEMA. The county must document about $3.2 million to qualify for federal relief while the entire state must accrue about $25 million in damage.
“There’s no doubt we will be able to meet that threshold for a disaster declaration,” Astorino said. “We are working with our municipal partners to assemble the information we need.”
Mr Astorino start making some noise to Con Ed.
Gov. Cuomo threatens to dump utility companies if preparations fell short http://newyork.newsday.com/news/sandy-aftermath-gov-cuomo-threatens-to-dump-utility-companies-if-preparations-fell-short-1.4176193?qr=1
Also as far as asking individual homeowners, to 'mea-culpa-up' and accept responsibility -- My utility bills are a fortune, my property taxes are a fortune -- What am I paying for? Putting my fate is someone else's hands? Stop waiting for con ed ??? What options do i have other than Consolidated Edison? So now, in addition to UNBELIEVABLY high taxes and utility rates, I have to provide myself with electricity! How about giving me utility company options? How about lowering my taxes so I can afford a generator? I am grateful that I didnt suffer personal loss so maybe I should just thank God and shut up but my neighbors are elderly, others have a new born baby to take care of -- we are helping each other but the least I expect for my taxes and utility bills is electricity!
Do you realize how close our fragile civilization is to the cusp of anarchy? Why have we lost our civility in the supermarkets and at the gas stations? It the aftermath of events like this, the humbling brought to us that provide the opportunities to appreciate the little things in life. Life, family, neighbors, hot food, warm beds, and the like. So people do not have these opportunities on a GOOD DAY. Nope instead we whine like babies and brats and shift blame from one bureaucracy to the next.
: http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/19981857/some-nonunion-ala-crews-turned-away-from-sandy-recovery
This spring lawmakers passed a bill to fine utilities up to 2.5 percent of yearly revenues for future debacles that leave customers in the dark for over 48 hours. Those monies would be rebated back to customers. Unfortunately this was passed to late for this storm but will help CT in the future. Lets see if other States follow
http://www.pgecurrents.com/2012/11/01/pg-work-to-begin-friday/
Ms. Hicks, you can feel free to take Mr. Rubin's comments with a grain of salt. He's notorious around these parts.