The move to require PSC management audits of LIPA and the Consumer Protection Agency involvement in customer complaints may be reasonable if a compromise must be struck.

It should be recognized, however,this is still not as effective as full regulatory oversight of LIPA by the PSC. And there is a question on how LIPA will respond to complaints championed by the Consumer Protection Agency, a body with no say on the utility’s rates.

In the end, the effectiveness of this alternative to regulation will depend on how seriously LIPA reacts to the observations and recommendations of the two state agencies. Something may be better than nothing.