Blackout in Queens - The Second Week
- Update - Con Ed Crossed Its Fingers and Made the Wrong Choice [NY Times]
- Update July 26- Power Returns to Queens, but Fails in Staten Island [NY Times]
The Mayor expects a report from Con Ed by August 3 on the blackout, but we'll be more interested in what Queens District Attorney Richard Brown has to say. And wish that Elliot Spitzer would launch an investigation, as he did for a blackout in Moringside Heights in the 1990s.
Con Ed has said grocery receipts are not necessary when claiming reimbursement for spoiled food. The maximum, however, for residential customers to claim is $350 ($7,000 for businesses.). I can only imagine that most people will need to claim the max. Here's the Con Ed claim form (PDF) (and more claim info). Or you can make your claim in a letter to Con Ed sent to: Con Edison, Claims Department, P.O. Box 801, New York, NY 10276.
While people are still without lights at night, the politicos are all chomping. Mayor Bloomberg -- unbelievably - praised the Con Ed CEO Kevin M. Burke. I can see praising the men and women working round-the-clock in the ground to get the juice going again, but the CEO? The guy ultimately responsible for the whole mess? Still 4,00 customers -- 11,000+ people -- are still without any power, a week after this began.
What do you think about the blackout? Are you one of the 11,000 without power? Have you filed for a claim with Con Ed? Do you dare put a peach in your fridge? Let's hear it in the comments.
- Con Ed Claim Form (PDF) (and more claim info)
- Mayor Continues to Defend Chairman of Con Edison [NY Times]
- Power Failure [Astorians.com]
- Previously - Con Edison Phones It in While Astoria Swelters
- Previously - Power Out in Western Queens and Long Island City
Comments
Prediction:
Con Edison will try to shed the blame ( or part of it ) to New York City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and its head Mr. Bruno.
On Monday, during an interview on Channel 2 TV, OEM representatives revealed that Con Edison and the OEM were monitioring the electric problems in northern Queens from day one. They went on to say they tried to keep the power on in the electric network by shedding various governmental customers ( Rikers Island Prison, etc. ).
Those within Con Edison and OEM who had this concern and ‘attempted’ to ‘keep the power on’, without any knowledge of how to operate an electrical network, caused the meltdown of the network in northwest Queens out of their ignorance.
They will try to hide behind their ‘good intentions’ to avoid accepting responsibility. And when they try to sell this emotionalism to the public, the public, as forgiving as they are, may buy it, unfortunately.
The meltdown is the reason why it is taking so long to restore service.
The meltdown should have been minimalized by shutting off the network much earlier than those of Con Edison and OEM decided. Con Edison should never have ‘coordinated’ their operational reponsibilities with the OEM.
Con Edison failed to follow long standing Electric Utility operational procedures. Such actions constitute
negligence on the part of Con Edison.
Because of the Con Ed fiasco, RCN has been unable to supply us with Cable. We have been without television and internet use since last Wednesday and we can’t get a clear answer from RCN – they say they have no idea when the service will be restored.
Time Warner isn’t interrupted…
While I am not affect by the blackout, I am a RCN customer and my cable and internet went out early this morning 7/25 in Fresh Meadows area of Queens. Everything has been working fine up until today. Makes no sense what-so-ever but I guess I should not complain since I do have power . . . for now.
Don’t let Con Edson nor the Mayor Snowball you in July.
The New york Times reports ” Con Ed Crossed Its Fingers and Made the Wrong Choice [NY Times] “.
Con Edision, as the one entity that is mandated by law to provide electric service to their service territory,
did not have a “choice” to make regarding the electric problems that effected northwest Queens.
The only ‘option’ was the very real requirement to shutdown the network before the overloaded network started to consume itself with fires and explosions.
Con Edison’s failure to protect the electrical distribution system ( by shutting it down ) was an act of Gross Negligence that caused pain, suffering and finacial loss to more than 100,000 northwest Queens residents.
I hope our local politicans ensure that Con Edision will not talk itself out of its responsibilty for this disaster.