11
QUEENS WEEKLY, JULY 28, 2019
Con Ed faces backlash following power outages and subway delays
BY MAX PARROTT
Con Edison suffered
its second widespread
power outage on Sunday
night in the course of a
week. At the tail end of
the heat wave rippling
through the city this
weekend, 19,000 residents
were left without power
citywide, including some
in Far Rockaway, where
the power outages caused
subway disruptions.
Nearly 1,400 customers
in Southeastern Queens
reportedly experienced
power outages Saturday
evening. As a result
of the outages, the
MTA reported that A
train and Rockaway
Park shuttles service
lost power Saturday
evening, causing service
to be disrupted until
after 10 p.m.
The utility reportedly
restored all power to
Queens customers
around 6:15 p.m., but
the company’s concerns
in the borough didn’t
end there.
It also issued a note
to residents in Woodside
and Sunnyside on
Sunday urging them
to conserve energy
reducing the usage of
non-essential electronic
devices and appliances,
such as clothes washers,
dryers, dishwashers and
unneeded lighting.
At a press conference
on Monday, July 22 in
Mill Basin, Brooklyn,
where the majority of the
outages this weekend took
place, Mayor de Blasio
blasted the company’s
refusal to provide a
substantial explanation
of what both of its
latest debacles.
“I’m calling for a full
investigation and further
that we examine whether
we need a new entity to
handle this situation
going forward. Because
at this point I do not have
faith in Con Ed.
He continued to
vent his frustration,
suggesting that a public
agency would be more
effective at providing
energy to the city than
the private company,
which has been in service
since 1823.
“I think we have to
look at this from scratch
now. They’re not doing
their job and they’re not
giving real answers. Is it
now time to do something
different,” de Blasio said.
Mayor de Blasio is not
the only one considering
alternatives to the energy
provider. Councilman
Costa Constantinides will
join the New York City
Democratic Socialists
of America tonight to
host a town hall on Con
Edison’s current request
to raise electricity and
gas prices.
The forum, which will
collect public testimony
Photo by Jenna Bagcal/QNS
on the rate hike, will
begin at 7 p.m. at P.S. 22
in Astoria.
Reach reporter Max
Parrott by email at
mparrott@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
(718) 260-2507.
unday, November 13th, 12 to 3 PM
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