AP PHOTO/MEL EVANS, POOL
mate change and storm surges in
New York — but not yet ready to
spend large amounts of money
to counteract them. Since 2007,
the utility has spent $24 million
on precautions like submersible
switches that can keep power
flowing even when exposed to corrosive seawater.
But rolling out similar changes
across the whole system would
cost at least $250 million — a
cost that would likely be passed
along to ratepayers.
“Improvements to our systems
are covered by rates,” said Allan
Drury, a spokesman for the utility. “We seek to balance our obligation to maintain the most reliable utility service in the United
States with our obligation to keep
N.J. Governor
Chris Christie
surveys the
damage in
Mantoloking.