State lawmakers grilled Long Island Power Authority CEO Kevin Law about the company?s high electric rates at a meeting in Lynbrook Friday.

Long Islanders pay the second highest electric rates in the country. Lawmakers told Law their phones ring off the hook every time there's a LIPA rate increase, demanding to know why.

"There was tremendous opposition whether or not they were able to get to your hearings at the time,? Republican Assemblyman Joseph Saladino (R-Massapequa) says of his constituents.

Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Jr. (R-Sag Harbor) wanted to know why the drop in oil prices hasn?t been reflected in customers? bills. Law explained that every time LIPA?s costs of operating go up, rates go up.

"Every time property taxes go up on the Island, LIPA rates go up,? Law told lawmakers. ?Every time interest rates go up on our debt, LIPA rates go up. Every time [a] new environmental law is passed with new regulatory requirement on plants, LIPA rates go up.?

Law says there could be some relief for ratepayers if LIPA gets a chunk of the federal economic stimulus package. The authority would use that money for renewable energy products and to pay down the debt on the defunct Shoreham nuclear plant.