Trusted Trustee Drew Biondo Resigns from LIPA Board

The Reimagine LIPA campaign was stunned to learn that Drew Biondo, the most outspoken voice of oversight on the LIPA Board of Trustees, resigned on Monday, February 24^th. The timing couldn’t have been worse. Two important items are coming up for a vote.

At their next meeting on March 26^th, the Trustees will be voting to approve a new long-term contract called the Operating Service Agreement (OSA). In addition, acting chief executive John Rhodes is expected to leave when a new CEO is named and voted on before the summer.

The LIPA Board seats are appointed: 5 by the governor, 2 by the Assembly Speaker and 2 by the Senate Majority Leader. Although Drew’s Assembly-appointed term technically expired in December, it has been "customary" to allow board members to serve on a holdover basis, sometimes for years.

Drew, assistant deputy commissioner for intergovernmental relations for the Suffolk County Police Department, wrote in his letter "it is apparent to me that rigorous oversight is no longer valued." He further stated he had "significant concerns about the undue influence of PSEG lobbyists" and others in "shaping decisions regarding the governance and operation" of LIPA.

Lobbying by PSEG Long Island is against state law [Legislative Law Article 1-A § 1-c. (c) (i) and (v)].

This PSEG lobbying is especially egregious as one of our members who spoke at the December 18^th LIPA Board meeting was shut down by the LIPA General Counsel for “lobbying.” The speaker was simply asking for two functions to be restored to LIPA in the new OSA contract:

1. LIPA would be responsible for creating and updating all planning reports (Utility 2.0, Energy Efficiency, and Integrated Resource Plans), not the new service provider. These plans need a fresh new look and be written so that they can be understood by real ratepayers, not industry insiders.

2.    LIPA should have more direct involvement in the day-to-day operating activities so their customers can receive the level and quality of service they deserve.

Drew spoke for most of the people who are served by LIPA. He kept the customers’ wants, needs, and benefits in mind when he spoke and voted. He was critical of the whole concept of another company running our public electric utility. For example, he was frustrated that the current service provider met only 54% of the service standards required in their contract and that LIPA didn’t do more to make it abide by these performance measures in it. Shouldn’t we as ratepayers expect LIPA to be more vigilant of its subcontractor?

Drew will be missed as he was the only independent voice on the Board!

Come to our presentation “What They’re NOT Telling You About Our Electric System!” on Thursday, March 27 at 7pm at the Huntington Library Station branch. We will include the latest updates from the LIPA Board of Trustees meeting held the previous day.