This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on the creation of the Tompkins County Council of Governments, a new organization including all of the municipalities in Tompkins County - villages, towns, city, county. They "will meet on a monthly basis to discuss and recommend 'non-binding' resolutions for “more efficient and fiscally responsible delivery of government services." Caroline Supervisor Don Barber is the first chair of the organization, which takes an idea from Tioga County and uses it to formalize meetings that had been happening here already. They plan to focus on municipal health insurance costs as a first issue.
On the opinion page, the Journal's editorial calls for a complete investigation of recent allegations about NYSEG business practices:
NYSEG, as a provider of public utility, has a duty to provide gas and electric at the cheapest costs possible that will allow it to stay in business. It has a virtual monopoly on some utility services in the area, and “Voice Your Choice” and other programs designed to end that monopoly are smoke and mirrors at best. For most consumers, it wouldn't have been cost-effective to even try to figure out if it was worth switching providers.
It is our expectation that the PSC fully investigates Corbett's claims and at a minimum provides a detailed report that either absolves NYSEG or lets us know what happened.
Hear, hear.
Posted by simon at January 23, 2007 8:01 AM in Ithaca Journal , energy , public finance