Res. No. 1026
Resolution calling upon the appropriate committee of the Council to hold hearings and report on the status of the electric power supply to City residents and businesses and to ensure that the demand for electricity is satisfied by the appropriate electric utility companies.
By Council Member Addabbo, Jr.
Whereas, Electric power to City residents and businesses is supplied by a number of companies, including the New York Power Authority, Long Island Power Authority, Keyspan, Con Edison, Reliant, and NRG Energy; and
Whereas, Although the sweltering heat created the second-highest demand for electricity in the City’s history on June 14, 2005, Con Edison officials told the New York Daily News that there was enough power to avoid power outages; and
Whereas, According to Con Edison officials, the City’s electrical output peaked at 12,138 megawatts at 5 p.m. on June 14, 2005, due to the high 94 degree temperatures, the City’s population growth and its housing boom; and
Whereas, According to the New York Daily News, nearly five hours after power output peaked, a blackout occurred for nearly 5,000 Con Edison customers in Howard Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park and the Rockaways in Queens; and
Whereas, Twelve apartment buildings in Harlem were also affected by an overnight blackout on June 14th and 15th, and a number of homes and businesses on Staten Island also went dark for most of the afternoon on June 14, 2005; and
Whereas, Smaller outages occurred during the night of June 13, 2005 on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and according to New York Newsday, Con Edison was not able to determine the cause of that outage; and
Whereas, Over a two-day period, beginning June 8, 2005, three electric feeder cables went off-line on Staten Island, blacking out almost one-tenth of Con Edison's 167,000 Staten Island customers, with the power not fully restored until the morning of June 10; and
Whereas, Although Con Edison was able to identify the cause of the Staten Island power outages, according to a New York Post report, Con Edison officials were not able to identify the cause of any of the other power outages that occurred on June 14, 2005; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the appropriate committee of the Council should hold hearings and report on the status of the electric power supply to City residents and businesses and to ensure that the demand for electricity is satisfied by the appropriate electric utility companies.
THC - LS #3160
6/15/05