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State Commission Subpoenas Con Ed, LIPA Over Sandy Response

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Moreland Commission launched earlier this month by Gov. Andrew Cuomo has issued subpoenas to utilities in a probe of their response and recovery operations during Superstorm Sandy.

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State spokesman David Neustadt said the commission issued the subpoenas Wednesday for Consolidated Edison Co. and the Long Island Power Authority.

Both Con Ed and LIPA confirmed their companies received the subpoenas, but would not comment further.

Cuomo established the commission on Nov. 13 to investigate the response, preparation and management of the utility companies during Sandy, as well as the other major storms that have hit the state in the past two years – Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

The commission will review the actions taken by the power companies, and will also be able to make specific recommendations about how to reform and modernize the way New York delivers power to its residents.

Cuomo has been a harsh critic of the power companies – particularly LIPA – in the wake of Sandy. A week after the storm, he accused Con Ed of restoring power to Lower Manhattan in a timely fashion, but blowing other areas off.

The state could take actions "from sanctions to revocation of franchise," he said.

Cuomo was even harsher toward LIPA a couple of weeks later, suggesting that the power company should be shut down.

According to Newsday, Cuomo also said LIPA "has to end" because it "hasn't worked in a long, long time."

Cuomo also wants the commission to evaluate other utilities serving the New York City and suburban areas, including New York State Electric and Gas Corp. and National Grid, which operates under LIPA.

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has also subpoenaed Con Ed and LIPA for plans and performance records on restoring power, communicating with customers without power and other aspects of the utilities' responses to the storm.

Do you think action should be taken against Con Edison and LIPA? Leave your comments below...

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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