State to Cover Costs to Elevate LIPA Poles

Gov. Cuomo announced Saturday that the state will apply a portion of $30 billion in Hurricane Sandy-related aid to cover the costs of raising and relocating electrical poles for homeowners who must elevate their storm-damaged houses.    

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Previously the Long Island Power Authority had informed homeowners who had already raised their homes that they must pay to install taller electrical poles to reach their elevated homes, at costs ranging from $20,000 to $80,0000 per home.

Starting in January, the Federal Emergency Management Agency required homeowners in flood zones such as Long Beach to elevate their houses that FEMA inspectors deem substantially damaged, or face higher flood insurance premiums. The cost to elevate a home is a minimum of $75,000, and homeowners who opt not to raise or demolish their houses could ultimately pay a much as $9,500 a year in flood insurance. Hundreds of  homes in Long Beach will need to be elevated.

After some Long Beach homeowners took their frustrations over the situation to a meeting hosted by FEMA and state and city officials on at City Hall on May 1, City Manager Jack Schnirman said the city was advocating “very strongly” against LIPA’s proposal.

“It’s simply unreasonable to ask our residents who are doing the right thing in reconstructing their homes to pay for LIPA’s infrastructure,” Schnirman said at the May 7 City Council meeting.

Echoing Schnirman, Council President Scott Mandel wrote a letter to LIPA CEO John McMahon, dated May 9, calling the proposal and unreasonable demand and expense to already cash-strapped and displaced homeowners trying to rebuild after Sandy.  

“The people of the City of Long Beach deserve your help and consideration,” Mandel wrote. “They deserve to live in safe new homes without being kicked by LIPA when they are down. Any fee levied by LIPA against a homeowner in Long Beach for the removal and relocation of what is LIPA property is unfair and extreme. The City Council of the City of Long Beach urges you to withdraw these burdensome fee requests immediately.”

The state estimates it will spend approximately $30 million to relocate the power lines, a figure that could change based on site conditions.

Elizabeth Flagler, a LIPS spokesperson, told Patch the power company is working closely with the state and local municipalities to provide a timely plan to address the need to raise or relocate utility poles in the newly defined flood zones and strengthen the electric infrastructure. “Thanks to the Governor’s efforts in securing federal assistance, it is expected that the utility work involved in this effort can be accomplished at no cost to customers, which is good news for everyone involved,” Flagler said.