Long Island Seeks Gov't Help To Avoid Blackouts

-- The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), fearing soaring energy demand could trigger blackouts, urged the federal government to lift restrictions blocking use of a new undersea cable to bring in much-needed electricity.

The line has not been cleared for use because its owner, Cross Sound Cable Co., says the contractor did not trench it deeply enough across the bottom of Connecticut's New Haven Harbor, across Long Island Sound.

LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel said in a statement the group has asked the Department of Energy to intervene to force the company to immediately transmit energy over the line.

"The Cross Sound Cable, which has been improperly prevented from operating, could mean the difference between continued service and blackouts on Long Island, Southwestern Connecticut and the entire region," Kessel warned.

The company in charge of building the line, Canadian transmission company TransEnergie, said the contractor it hired to lay the cable did not trench it deeply enough to avoid damage from ships dragging their anchors in New Haven Harbor.

The cable is supposed to be six feet below the seabed.

Power supplies in the New York City suburbs of Long Island and Connecticut are some of the tightest in the nation because construction of power plants and transmission lines has not kept up with the region's economic and population growth.

Temperatures in and around New York City have broken the 90 degree Fahrenheit mark every day since Sunday and are expected to continue breaking 90 degrees through Monday.

LIPA, in its request to the DOE, asked that the Cross Sound Cable Co. operate the line and accept schedules on a day-ahead basis when LIPA forecasts that its generation reserves will be less than 600 megawatts.

The 600 MW margin, still less than the statewide required reserve of 18 percent of forecast load, is equal to the capacity of one of the existing transmission cables between Long Island and mainland New York.

LIPA is asking Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to exercise his emergency powers to order the line opened or face blackouts that could "jeopardize the health and safety of members of the public," the statement said.

LIPA, a state-owned utility, provides electricity to nearly 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens.

The Cross-Sound cable, which was delayed by a four-year, two-state legal battle, was previously expected to be available in time for peak summer demand.

TransEnergie is a subsidiary of energy firm Hydro-Quebec.

Source: Reuters