The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and National Grid are facing a class action lawsuit.
They are accused of breach of contract, gross negligence and fraud for their response to power outages caused by Sandy.
The lawyer filing the suit says the utility companies were unprepared, mismanaged and grossly negligent in their restoration attempts after Sandy.
The suit, unveiled at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon in Melville, claims that simple precautionary steps may have prevented long term outages.
Attorney Kenneth Mollins says: "There is no communication from LIPA. People are being threatened that failure to sign hold harmless agreements will result in no power and thousands of crews brought in from out of state are babysitting power lines and told not to touch. Lack of coordination and the failure to prioritization is not acceptable and lack of oversight is even more distressful."
Gov. Cuomo says that he is going to conduct his own investigation in the response by power companies across New York.
The president of Long Island Electric Transmission & Distribution Services for National Grid says the company has done everything that it could do.
John Bruckner says, "I feel we were prepared. We were prepared for the storm. We were certainly challenged."
LIPA provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and Queens.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:51 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:51:10 GMT
NY Post celebrity real estate columnist Jennifer Gould Keil dishes on NY Yankee Alex Rodriguez's Florida pad and actor Bill Murray's Greenwich Village duplex.
NY Post celebrity real estate columnist Jennifer Gould Keil dishes on NY Yankee Alex Rodriguez's Florida pad and actor Bill Murray's Greenwich Village duplex.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:00 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:00:47 GMT
Greg Kelly and Duke Castiglione are at it again. The on-going rivalry between the duo was played out on the hockey rink at Madison Square Garden. NY Rangers legend Adam Graves was on hand for the face-off.
Greg Kelly and Duke Castiglione are at it again. The on-going rivalry between the duo was played out on the hockey rink at Madison Square Garden. NY Rangers legend Adam Graves was on hand for the face-off.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:05 AM EDT2013-05-23 14:05:22 GMT
Playing with a hula hoops is making its way into the exercise regimes of some of the most enviable bodies in Hollywood. Rosanna and Greg gave it a go on Thursday.
Playing with a hula hoops is making its way into the exercise regimes of some of the most enviable bodies in Hollywood. Rosanna and Greg gave it a go on Thursday.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:07 AM EDT2013-05-23 13:07:03 GMT
The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police.
The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police. The incident Monday night involved two men, who police say, had met at the Bowery Mission and went out drinking together in the East Village. Roman Gornell, 39, was arrested on Wednesday.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:05 AM EDT2013-05-23 13:05:21 GMT
Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt made a trip to the birthplace of Frank Sinatra on Wednesday night to promote his new movie, "World War Z."
Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt made a trip to the birthplace of Frank Sinatra on Wednesday night to promote his new movie, "World War Z." Pitt stunned the crowd at the Clearview Cinemas when he walked in just before the start of the special screening.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:23 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:23:09 GMT
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:18 AM EDT2013-05-22 15:18:13 GMT
Oscar Romero, 32, desperately needed a bone marrow transplant. Two years later, he is healthy and grateful to the man who saved his life.
Oscar Romero, 32, desperately needed a bone marrow transplant. Two years later, he is healthy and grateful to the man who saved his life. Romero met U.S. Army Lt. Ryan Waldorf, 23, this week for the first time. The pair and the doctor who treated Romero visited the set of Good Day NY on Wednesday to discuss the successful operation.
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:28 AM EDT2013-05-23 10:28:29 GMT
The parolee shot and killed along with a Hofstra University student by police won praise from a state parole panel in 2011 before his conditional release from prison.
The parolee shot and killed along with a Hofstra University student by police won praise from a state parole panel in 2011 before his conditional release from prison.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:00 PM EDT2013-05-22 17:00:29 GMT
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police.
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police. Andrea Rebello's family followed the pastor Wednesday as he led her white cloth-draped coffin to the altar at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:32 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:32:24 GMT
As a family prepared for the funeral of a Hofstra junior killed by a cop's bullet during a standoff with an armed intruder, questions remain about how police handled the situation.
As a family prepared for the funeral of a Hofstra junior killed by a cop's bullet during a standoff with an armed intruder, questions remain about how police handled the situation.
Sunday, May 19 2013 3:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 19:14:07 GMT
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to freeze Long Islanders' energy rates for three years as part of a proposal to end operating control of the Long Island Power Authority.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to freeze Long Islanders' energy rates for three years as part of a proposal to end operating control of the Long Island Power Authority.