From: Mon 8:30 PM Subject: Victory for Ratepayers: LIPA Puts Power Plant Purchase on HoldTo: citizens@suffolk.org Thanks to you and all who contacted Governor Pataki to urge that LIPA not buy the aging KeySpan power plants, LIPA today announced that it has decided not to purchase the plants at the moment. KeySpan and LIPA have negotiated a 2 1/2 year extension of the purchase option. "This is a victory for ratepayers", said Gordian Raacke, executive director of the Citizens Advisory Panel (CAP), a LIPA watchdog group and consultant to the Legislature. "As a result of our efforts and those of many others, common sense has prevailed and a hasty decision to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on old and polluting fossil plants was avoided. We now have an opportunity to work with LIPA and KeySpan to amend the agreement to include issues such as determination of purchase price before a decision is made, a repowering of the existing facilities, and a comprehensive master energy plan for the Island." For more information visit CAP's website at and click on 'News'. Thanks again for all your efforts. Gordian Raacke Executive Director Citizens Advisory Panel (CAP) Long Island's Energy Watchdog 631-537-8282 631-537-4680 fax capli@optonline.net www.energymatters.org> CAP Inc. assists the Suffolk County Legislature in providing LIPA oversight for the residents of Suffolk County. CAP was established by order of the Federal Eastern District Court to advise Long Island's public concerning ways to improve electrical service, to mitigate rate increases, to control energy costs and to assist LIPA ratepayers to conserve energy.