Ball Adds Voice to Those Calling For Nyseg Inquiry

Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) has joined the chorus of state officials calling for an investigation into what they say were poor response times and communication failures with utility companies following Hurricane Irene.

Ball said that more than five days after the storm, some utility companies claim to still be assessing the damage and have failed to properly communicate estimated restoration times with customers.

“This is not a third-world country,” said Ball, who is the Chairman of the Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee. “These companies need to begin to more immediately respond to abandoned customers, struggling for basic answers and information”

The senator said that a suggestion of two weeks without service is unacceptable and begs for an independent hearing and investigation into New York's apparent struggle to recover and respond.

Ball was planning to hold a meeting with local officials, including Somers Supervisor Marybeth Murphy and Carmel Supervisor Ken Schmitt, along with NYSEG customers, Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Putnam Valley Senior Center at 117 Town Park Lane to discuss a possible investigation into the power company’s handling of the storm’s aftermath.

Earlier this week, Assemblyman Robert Castelli R, C – Goldens Bridge) had also called for hearings into the way NYSEG responded to power outages in Pound Ridge, Lewisboro and Katonah.

“Thus far, the response by NYSEG has left much to be desired,” Castelli said. “While we all understand that this is an unprecedented situation. In the months ahead a task force should look into why NYSEG was not adequately prepared for this situation, their protocols and procedures, and measure their response and efforts to restore their transmission and distribution lines following the storm.”

 

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