Senator Fuschillo & Fellow Long Island Senators Call for Rejection of Proposed Lipa Rate Increase

Senator Fuschillo and his fellow Long Island Senators called on the LIPA Board of Trustees to reject a proposal to raise LIPA rates.

Following is a letter to the LIPA Board of Trustees which was read into the record at a public hearing on the rate hike proposal held yesterday.  The LIPA Board of Trustees are the ones who will make the determination whether or not to raise LIPA rates.

                                                           December 6, 2011

Members of the Board of Trustees

Long Island Power Authority

333 Earle Ovington Boulevard

Uniondale, New York 11553

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

            We are writing to urge you to reject a proposal to increase LIPA rates as part of its proposed 2012 budget.

            LIPA ratepayers already pay some of the highest utility costs in the country.  On top of that, they pay some of the nation’s highest property taxes and are dealing with some of the worst economic conditions since the great depression. They cannot afford to keep paying more.  

            Families and small businesses have been making tough choices and doing more with less in this economy. New York State has done the same, closing a $10 billion budget deficit without raising taxes.

            However, LIPA is planning a 5 percent spending increase on salaries and benefits over the 2011 approved budget. In addition, LIPA is also increasing spending on outside consultants, according to a November 10^th Newsday story. LIPA should follow the example of their customers and work harder to find internal savings and efficiencies.

            With over 94,000 Long Islanders unemployed, and every family feeling the effects of the current economy, now is not the time to raise their bills even higher.  We strongly urge you to reject a rate increase because of the effect it will have on LIPA ratepayers.

                                                                        Sincerely,

SENATOR CHARLES J. FUSCHILLO, JR.                 SENATOR DEAN SKELOS

SENATOR OWEN JOHNSON                            SENATOR KENNETH LAVALLE

SENATOR KEMP HANNON                              SENATOR CARL MARCELLINO

SENATOR JOHN FLANAGAN                                   SENATOR JACK MARTINS

SENATOR LEE ZELDIN