Cuomo Appoints Commission to Probe Utilities

This is good. Utility companies do not spend enough on upgrading antiquated equipment, and ratepayers end up sitting in the dark as a result:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced the creation of a new commission with far-reaching subpoena powers to investigate utility companies' handling of superstorm Sandy and a pair of tropical storms that ravaged New York last year.

Cuomo signed an executive order to establish the 10-member commission under the Moreland Act, a century-old law giving the state power to investigate private entities. The commission will investigate the preparations and response to the storms by New York's major utilities, and make recommendations to improve regulations and oversight by the state.

"From (Tropical Storm) Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, to Hurricane Sandy, over the past two years New York has experienced some of the worst natural disasters in our state's history," Cuomo said in a statement. "As we adjust to the reality of more frequent major weather incidents, we must study and learn from these past experiences to prepare for the future."

The number of days we've been without power in this area over the past couple years is far higher than it should be. Hopefully, this will be mitigated in the future by better planning and investment by our utilities -- even if we have to force them to do this.