New York state governor Andrew Cuomo warned utility companies Thursday against price-hiking after superstorm Sandy, as he announced further reopening of subway lines and trains servicing the suburbs.
“Do not try to take advantage of New Yorkers,” he said, stating that if the state believes public energy and transport companies are not being diligent or doing the right thing, they could lose their certification.
“It is not just restoration of power, families are living in hardship,” Cuomo said, encouraging locals to check on their neighbors.
“Most utility companies are working very hard… but it is not about a good faith effort, it is about getting the job done,” he added.
Several lines connecting Manhattan to Long Island and northern areas will reopen or return to normal service late Thursday or early Friday, along with subway lines between the Queens area and Manhattan.
The Holland Tunnel, a highway tunnel under the Hudson River that links the Manhattan to Jersey City, will also reopen Friday, but for buses only.
Tunnels under the East River that had been flooded after the devastation were finally cleared and will be reopened once power returns, Cuomo said.
New York is slowly bringing its subway system back online after water gushed into much of the network, and traffic jams have snarled the city’s streets.
But transport remains impossible on the southern tip of the island, where there are still power cuts.
After US storm, governor Cuomo warns price-hikers
