State to cover cost of elevating LIPA poles

After city officials and residents blasted the Long Island Power Authority for telling homeowners that they would be responsible for paying thousands of dollars to install new electrical poles to accommodate elevated houses, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Sunday that the state would allocate a portion of its federal disaster relief funds to cover those costs.

Cuomo said that the state would direct $30 million of the federal funds to raising or relocating the poles and power lines.

“We want to make sure that New Yorkers who are recovering from Hurricane Sandy do not face additional financial burdens or costs,” he said in a statement. “The state is footing the bill for these adjustments to our power lines to help our communities recover, and to make our state safer and more prepared for future natural disasters.”

The announcement came just days after City Council President Scott Mandel criticized LIPA in a letter on May 9 for its plan, as residents rebuild and elevate homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Speaking in front of the demolished home of Pennsylvania Avenue resident Sam Kinsley at a press conference on Wednesday, Mandel said that the city was recently informed that the “astronomical” fees would range from $20,000 to $80,000 per home.

“LIPA had reached out to homeowners, especially those that were impacted by the storm and are required to raise their homes due to new FEMA regulations, and required that any utility pole or power line be relocated at the homeowner’s cost,” Mandel said, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “This was unacceptable. Talk about being kicked when you’re down.”

Council Vice President Fran Adelson, a resident of the Canals, said that her neighbors were prepared to move ahead with elevating their home. “All of a sudden LIPA came and wanted to charge them for two poles, $80,000,” Adelson said. “On top of not getting enough money for your insurance, all of the frustration with everything going on, and then to be told by LIPA that the cost would be another $80,000. I thought my neighbor was going to have a stroke. It was unbelievable, and it was very sad.”