Blogger: Is LIPA Lying to Smithtown?

I am one of the unlucky few. As I sit here at Starbucks LIPA still has not restored my power. But that is not the worst part. The communication from LIPA, both the lack of and truthfulness is disappointing.

I live in the storybook home section of Nesconset. I lost my power as soon as the storm started picking up. I woke up at 12:45 a.m. Sunday morning (Saturday night) to find my lights out. Looking out the window I see I wasn’t the only one.  Sunday morning I found my LIPA bill and called to report the outage.

Sunday evening after some cleanup, I ventured out to see the damage in the neighborhood. Their was widespread outages in my area. The traffic lights on 347 and Gibbs Pond Rd, Lave Ave, and Browns Rd were all out. By Tuesday evening, the light at Browns Rd was back on as well as some house at the other end of my street, closer to Browns Rd. 

Wednesday morning I called LIPA again and was able to speak to a customer service rep. I asked for information on when my power may be restored. I was told that the work is now out with the local substation in the area. The rep did not have an estimate of when power may be back but he told me probably within 48 hours, as that was the time frame LIPA was giving for the majority of customers to have their power restored. 

Driving back to my house Wednesday night from my in-law’s in St. James (whose power was restored Monday) I was hopeful. The light at Gibbs Pond Rd and 347 was now working, as well as the street lights on Gibbs Pond Rd. The side streets off of Gibbs Pond all had power. I turned off Gibbs Pond onto my street and drove into darkness. All the surrounding homes and blocks had power but mine.

Thursday morning I called for another update, and was again told the work was with the local substation, but the rep would not give me an estimate on restoration. She said they have not been in contact with the substation. I asked how 24 hours can go by without any communication between the linemen and the LIPA office. The rep said that since they had out of state linemen working, they do not have access to LIPA’s automated systems for communication. All communication is through paperwork (this is 2011, isn’t it?).

Friday morning I called again. I was told yet again that they did not have any information to give since the work is out with the substation, and that I might have power back by Saturday evening.

After hearing the 11:30 conference, I decided to call yet again, around 4:00 pm Friday. This time I was told my street has not yet been scheduled for restoration and they do not know when it will be scheduled. Flabbergasted, I said I have been calling since Wednesday and this was the first time I was told anything definitive.  The phone rep said I should have been told this Wednesday morning, the first time I spoke to somebody.

Amazing. With the news of LIPA’s lack of communication with its customers and its chief stating LIPA needs to do a better job, how LIPA could just sit there and say they have no information when they obviously did is beyond me. It is always worse when you lie about something.  Just tell the truth from the beginning, even if it is bad news. That is what we try to instill in our children. They always say that one never gets in trouble for the crimes; it is always the cover-up that gets them caught.

If you live in Nesconset or the surrounding area, please comment on your experiences with the power outage. When did your power return? What did LIPA say when they informed you your power was coming back. I was just told tonight by someone whose power was restored Thursday on Midwood Ave that LIPA stated that Nesconset was then 100 percent restored.

Well, not quite yet.