East Meadow, NY-July 18, 2000- As the height of the 2000 Hurricane Season approaches Long Island and the East Coast, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has voluntarily organized an independent Major Storm Review Panel to independently evaluate LIPA's response to severe weather events causing more than 300,000 service outages Islandwide. The panel will also be empowered to evaluate and comment on LIPA's emergency planning procedures in an effort to improve upon storm preparation techniques and outage restoration tactics.

The seven-member Major Storm Review Panel (MSRP) will be chaired by Edward F. Jacoby, Jr., who serves as director of the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO). He also serves as chairman of the New York State Disaster Preparedness Commission. Mr. Jacoby has more than 38 years of front-line experience in dealing with disasters and emergencies including 11 presidentially declared disasters. The remaining panel members have either utility, disaster planning, or consumer advocacy experience.

"This is the first time that a major electric utility in New York State has organized a group of experts to independently evaluate its own emergency planning procedures and storm response efforts," said LIPA Chairman Richard M. Kessel. "Should a major storm or hurricane impact Long Island causing significant and widespread outages we would like an independent evaluation of our planning and response efforts.

"The panel's report should also provide LIPA's customers with a level of confidence regarding major storm restoration efforts and the methods employed to anticipate and plan for significant weather events that could severely impact electric service on Long Island," said Mr. Kessel.

"I look forward to working with LIPA on this innovative program to ensure the safety and quality of life of its customers," said Edward F. Jacoby, Jr., panel chairman. "Under the leadership of Governor George E. Pataki, New York State has developed a strong public-private partnership of emergency management organizations to assist our citizens in their time of need. The formation of this review panel is a logical expansion of that partnership."

The MSRP will be activated if a severe storm impacts Long Island and:

• Causes outages for 300,000 (30%) or more customers; or
• Leaves at least 20,000 (2%) of LIPA's customers without service for more than 48 hours; or
• Leaves at least 1,000 (0.1%) of LIPA's customers without service for more than 72 hours.

After a major storm, MSRP members will convene within two weeks after the conclusion of the event and will interview key personnel at LIPA and KeySpan and hold public hearings in both Nassau and Suffolk counties. The panel will review their findings and issue a storm response evaluation report within three months that will provide guidance on improving storm response procedures where needed.

The MSRP will also be empowered to review all phases of LIPA's storm management program, which would include pre-storm preparation procedures and employee training.

In addition to Mr. Jacoby, members of the panel will include:

• Samuel J. DeRosa, Manager, Energy Delivery Services, Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation;
• David Dorsey, Manager of Distribution Operations, JEA, {Municipally Owned Electric and Water Utility Company in Jacksonville Florida);
• Douglas W. Elfner, Ph.D., Director, Utility Intervention Unit, NYS Consumer Protection Board;
• Stephen J. McGrail, Director, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency;
• Gordian Raacke, Executive Director, Citizens Advisory Panel; and
• Eric L. Tolbert, Director, North Carolina Division of Emergency Management.

Facilitating the panels work will be Peter Casale, Director, Training and Organizational Development, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

To assist their work, MSRP members will receive extensive briefings on existing emergency planning and storm response procedures. Additionally, panel members will have the opportunity to meet and interview the managers responsible for developing and implementing LIPA's emergency response efforts, as well as witness various drills and training exercises.

For example, LIPA and KeySpan conducted a tabletop hurricane response exercise earlier today that some MSRP members were able to attend. During the remainder of today and tomorrow, a series of briefings will be conducted to familiarize panel members with existing emergency response plans and personnel training conducted by KeySpan. The panel's orientation will also include a flight over LIPA's electric Transmission and Distribution System, which will provide a first hand view of Long Island's unique geography, topography and forestation.

"Emergency planning is a year-round effort," said Mr. Kessel. "Electric employees and others involved in emergency response should be commended for the extensive training that they undergo on a routine basis to sharpen skills, re-evaluate and improve upon existing plans and procedures, and anticipate unexpected circumstances.

"The MSRP will provide valuable insights that will help us improve existing procedures and will provide valuable recommendations after a major storm event," said Kessel.