Our local NYSEG guys did a heroic job... BUT

Dear Bob (hope you're feeling better)

During the last snow storm we were out of power for almost 5 days...many households were out equally as long in last one as well. Our local NYSEG guys did a heroic job  , as usual, but the problem is, we now have very few local workers. NYSEG was purchased several years ago by a Spanish Company called Iberdrola.They have done what a lot of companies have been doing and that is slashing services as cost cutting measures. They also purchased Rochester Gas and from what I understand the situation is the same in that community. Iberdrola, I have heard, has cut over 60% of the  local service and has set up a complicated corporate structure not located in Columbia County for emergency response. Instead of locals who know where everything is and can fix a pole or power line on the spot...the response time has slowed to days...not hours. I don't know about you, but with all of this cost cutting, my utility prices have not been reduced...how about yours? Are we outsourcing important emergency responsiveness? A friend in Rochester suggested we make sure to purchase a generator as this is just the beginning.

Iberdrola is a Spanish utility company. The company is engaged primarily in the generation, transmission, distribution, and marketing of electricity and natural gas. 
Iberdrola acquired international energy company Scottish Power in November 2006, giving access to new markets and augmenting its generation capability along with other benefits. The combined entity operates in Spain, the UK, the US, Mexico, Brazil, Greece, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Guatemala, Bolivia, and Chile.