CALL HOCHUL RELAY: Support the LIPA Public Power Act.
We need you! Please invest a few minutes by by calling Gov. Hochul at 877-559-7809 to tell her we need the LIPA Public Power Act passed.
Time is short to pass the LIPA Public Power Act (A.8894). It ends the 3rd party model, currently contracted to PSEG, that is bedeviling our efforts to achieve our climate goals and receive the reliable, accountable electric service we deserve. As we move into an all-electric future, we need a much more reliable, resilient, and affordable electric system.
PSEG is failing us. The latest Department of Public Service audit concluded PSEG doesn’t know how to “evaluate the reality of implementing” the state’s climate law and that PSEG’s future energy plan “does not meet the requirements” of CLCPA's 2030 mandates. PSEG's communication systems are also not ready for the next storm.
The Governor seems to think this 3rd party model can be fixed. It can’t. She needs to understand that without a fully public LIPA, we will not meet our climate goals, and that by keeping PSEG in power she's jeopardizing the safety of the region.
PSEG and their advocates are lobbying against this act to keep their lucrative $80M contract.
Here’s how to place your call:
- Call 877-559-7809. Press 2 to talk to a staffer; press 1 to leave a recorded message (give your phone number at the end of the recorded message).
- Here is a sample script:
"Hello, my name is [NAME] from [TOWN & ZIP CODE]. I am calling to urge Governor Hochul to support the LIPA Public Power Act. We need a fully public Long Island Power Authority to meet her climate goals. LIPAs current model, with its service provider PSEG, is falling short of implementing our state's climate law and failing to protect residents from climate-fueled storms. The Governor needs to understand that without a fully public LIPA, we will not meet our climate goals and that by keeping PSEG in power, she's jeopardizing the safety of our region. Long Island and the Rockaways deserve a renewable, reliable, and accountable electric utility, which we'll get with the LIPA Public Power Act." Provide your telephone number.
Thank you for investing your time in this important action.
RALLY: Senator Thomas: Secure Your Legacy, Pass the LIPA Public Power Act!
Join our rally on Tuesday, April 30th at 12pm outside his district office to deliver that message, along with a packet of materials demonstrating the widespread support for the LIPA Public Power Act.
PSEG is not our electric utility.
LIPA owns all the electric assets In Nassau, Suffolk, and the Rockaways. As a nonprofit public authority, the public (us) owns the grid. LIPA contracts with PSEG to RUN it. This contract costs LIPA ratepayers $80M/year.
The LIPA Public Power Act would make our electric utility fully public. It would run the grid itself, resulting in millions in annual savings on management costs, lower rates, increased reliability, greater public involvement and accountability, and a utility better equipped to meet the mandates of New York's climate law. The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Legislative Commission has drafted this act, and it has been introduced to the Assembly by AM Thiele.
However, it's been over four months and Senator Thomas has still not introduced it to the Senate. This despite the Senator being Co-Chair of the LIPA Commission that developed the legislation; the hundreds of constituents who have weighed in with their support; and the 100+ organizations who are backing this effort.
A recent state report found that PSEG-LI, the contractor that runs the grid for LIPA, is
- unprepared for the next storm,
- underperforming on customer service,
- performing poorly on project management leading to higher rates, and
- is not capable of meeting New York's climate goals.
As the Chairman of the Committee on Consumer Protection, it's disappointing that Senator Thomas has failed to move on this. We need him to introduce and champion the LIPA Public Power Act to deliver for the ratepayers in LIPA territory so they can save money, have more community oversight, and be better prepared for the impacts of climate change.
Click here for details and to RSVP.
We have a brand new toolkit for you to use to support the LIPA Public Power Act! Although not yet introduced, it is important to start supporting this bill.
Our goal is to pass this legislation in early 2024. Your representatives need to hear from you over the objections of for-profit utilities. Please help us by emailing your state representatives to tell them you want to end the failed public-private partnership with PSEG and have LIPA to run the grid itself.
From Montauk to the Rockaways, PSEG LI is failing our communities. It is unreliable and untrustworthy. It provides poor service as it shuts off electricity for our most vulnerable community members, all while raking in huge corporate profits.
But we have good news! Because of the work of our Reimagine LIPA campaign, a New York State Commission has created legislation, the LIPA Public Power Act, to fire PSEG LI and put control of our electric system in the community's hands.
Will you use and promote this outreach toolkit? With it, you can email your reps, call the Governor, post on social media, and more. Together, we can make sure our state electeds and Governor Hochul know this is a priority for our region.
Long Island and the Rockaways will do better with regional management of LIPA, where our communities make decisions, instead of being on the receiving end of bad decisions from unaccountable PSEG LI managers. This switch will mean huge annual savings, lower rates, and greater public involvement and accountability.