Long Island's two county executives and other officials are among those who testified before a state commission investigating utilities in the wake of Sandy.
The Moreland Commission on Utility Storm Preparation and Response held a public hearing Tuesday at 6 p.m. at SUNY College of Old Westbury. Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and his Suffolk County counterpart, Steve Bellone, testified at the meeting.
The hearing focused on utilities' preparedness and response and recommendations for restructuring utilities.
"I repeatedly made a simple request for LIPA to adequately relay pertinent information to Nassau County residents and I urged LIPA to establish information sites in the affected areas," Mangano said.
Members of the public also testified.
Edward Newman, a licensed electrician from Bay Shore, said he wants LIPA to be shut down and to make it a "coop owned by customers."
Pedro Quintilla of Westbury said, "We feel government failed to deliver."
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Complaints about things like communication problems could lead to changes in how state utilities are organized and coordinated.
Another hearing is set for Dec. 20. That will focus specifically on the Long Island Power Authority and National Grid's storm response. A location for that hearing has not been announced.
