Throne-Holst Urges LIPA to Ramp Up Power Restoration on East End

Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst is calling on the Long Island Power Authority to step up efforts to restore power to the East End in advance of Labor Day weekend, saying the lack of electricity will be devastating to businesses already suffering through a sluggish economy. 

The latest estimates say 10,000 are without power in Southampton Town.

“With Labor Day approaching and so many of our merchants relying on at least one more busy week, the local economy will suffer yet another major setback if power is not restored and businesses cannot open,” Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst was quoted as saying in a town statement Monday afternoon.

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., Sag Harbor, on Tuesday followed Throne-Holst in also urging LIPA to increase the number of LIPA and out-of-state contract service repairs crews dispatched to the East End.

"Local restaurants, shops and business have already suffered massive losses from the power outages," said Thiele in a media statement. "Labor Day is the last profit generating period of the 2011 summer season. If power outages extend though the holiday weekend, the economic impacts could be devastating for many of our local businesses."

The statement relayed information from LIPA, saying LIPA reported that more than 200 workers are on the ground in Southampton working 16-hour shifts to address more than 60 damaged sites. LIPA said that the number of contractors available to help in Southampton is limited, because workers have been called upon to assist up-state and in New England as well.

"We understand people's frustration and assure you we are doing all we can as quickly and safely as possible,” LIPA said Monday afternoon on its Twitter account.

“I certainly appreciate all of their efforts, but power has been very slow to return and the idea that it might take another four of five days is unacceptable – there is simply too much at stake for our resort economy,” Throne-Holst said. “I’ve spoken with our state and federal representatives and they too are urging LIPA to ramp-up power restoration efforts on the East End.” 

“Our phone lines have been flooded with calls from residents who want to know approximately how much longer it will be before they get power,” the supervisor went on to say. “They want some kind of timeline.  We’ve asked for neighborhood by neighborhood estimates, but the information has not been made available. They have committed only to updating us about work that has been completed.”

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