NYSEG: Blasted by State Officials, Praised by Industry Group

Electricity restoration work by New York State Electric and Gas in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy was criticized by some top state government representatives. But the utility's efforts following the devastating storm are being hailed by the Edison Electric Institute.

The association of shareholder-owned electric company's awarded NYSEG and sister utility Rochester Gas and Electric with its Emergency Recovery and Assistance Awards.

In the days after Sandy, Howard Glaser, the Cuomo administration's director of operations, fired off angry emails to Mark Lynch, president of the Iberdrola-owned utilities.

Glaser wrote NYSEG seemed "utterly unable to communicate with local officials or residents" regarding the status of power restoration efforts.

In another note, Glaser concluded NYSEG was "by far the poorest performing utility" in dealing with the damage caused by Sandy.

But Edison Electric Institute president Tom Kuhn said the Iberdrola utilities showed strong commitment, advanced planning and great execution.

Kuhn said NYSEG and RG&E are "great examples for the nation's electric power industry."

Utility president Lynch said company employees "did a tremendous job repairing damage" to facilities across the state.