Cuomo orders National Grid to provide gas service hookups to those previously denied

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is demanding National Grid to connect hundreds of homes and small businesses that were previously denied service.

News 12 Staff

Oct 12, 2019, 2:36 AM

Updated 1,890 days ago

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo is demanding National Grid to connect hundreds of homes and small businesses that were previously denied service.
In August, Lynbrook business owners and elected officials rallied against the company for denying natural gas service to several new storefronts in the village.
The governor announced that the Department of Public Service is also launching an investigation into if National Grid properly prepared for customer needs and expected shortages during the winter months.
"It is the fundamental responsibility of our utilities to provide reliable service," Cuomo said. "National Grid has acted in bad faith throughout this process--first by denying over 1,100 eligible customers with service and now by failing to fulfill its core responsibility."
Dominic Natoli, owner of II Pozzo Wine Bar and Kitchen, says that he hopes that the order will provide relief to small business in Lynbrook.
"The landlord had three leases ready to sign and nobody would sign them until they knew they could get gas," Natoli said.
As News 12 has previously reported, National Grid denied gas service hookups new requests because plans for the Williams Pipeline were nixed and current supplies are low.
News 12 contacted National Grid and they have yet to respond.
Cuomo says if the company does not comply with the order, they will face millions of dollars in fines.