National Grid displaces LIPA in responsibility

As we are faced with another record breaking storm, this time snow and wind, National Grid has taken charge of the major decisions and planning to deal with the inevitable power issues on Long Island.  My guess is that Governor Cuomo forced this decision given the Long Island Power Authority's(LIPA) complete incompetence in dealing with Hurricane Sandy.

National Grid is a public company that supplies and manages gas consumption to many areas in the Northeast, as well as handling electric power as well in much of upstate New York.  This seems like an almost unprecedented move, and it is so welcome.

LIPA is saddled with a corrupt union that has been aided and abetted by corrupt politicians for years.  The work rules are ruinous, the salaries and benefits unusually high with seniority being the main variable rather than competence, and the trustees of LIPA are almost totally, if not totally, patronage appointees with none having any extensive experience with utilities, most actually having none at all.

As a public company National Grid has been held accountable by shareholders, a competitive environment, and a regulatory regimen not run by lazy bureaucrats under political pressure.  They will not be able to control mother nature, but the preparation for this storm is already light years ahead of what LIPA did with Sandy.  LIPA is still involved of course, but they effectively report to National Grid.

Here we go again, with a snow storm and blizzard of a size that has apparently not been seen seen on Long Island since the 1970's.  Whatever happens, at least there will be an element of competent and experienced management involved.