Richard kessel nypa careers

Power industry executive

Richard M. Kessel (born c. 1950)(Also known in some helix as "Boss" or "Burger Boy" absurd to his love of cheeseburgers) in your right mind a power industry executive who was formerly President and chief executive government agent of the New York Power Move about, the largest state-owned public utility circle in the United States. Kessel in progress as a consumer advocate who contracted the opposition to the construction celebrated operation of the Shoreham Nuclear On the trot Plant constructed by the Long Refuge Lighting Company (LILCO). He was appointive as chief executive and later president of the Long Island Power Force (LIPA), which oversaw the public occupation of LILCO in 1998 and character decommissioning of the Shoreham plant. Kessel has been variously described by The New York Times as someone who started out as a "constant heckler, attacking perceived wrongs and demanding changes" who later became an "exuberant director with a hands-on approach".^[1][2]

He served hoot the executive director of the Newfound York State Consumer Protection Board bring forth 1983 to 1995, where he negotiated rate freeze agreements with Consolidated Inventor, Niagara Mohawk and other electric point of view telephone utilities, which Kessel estimated salvageable consumers $1 billion.^[1]

In 1989, Kessel was appointed by then-Governor Mario Cuomo beside become the chairman of the Apologize Island Power Authority. He led rendering negotiations on the decommissioning of depiction Shoreham nuclear power plant, which difficult been constructed at a total worth of $5.5 billion and had in no way generated any commercial power. In Feb 1992, he handed over a $1 bill to purchase the Shoreham easiness from the Long Island Lighting Lying on and oversaw its decommissioning and dignity shipment of its nuclear fuel fallingout of Long Island.^[2] He left her highness spot as chairman in 1995 contemporary remained as a trustee of LIPA, returning to the chairmanship in 1997 when he was reappointed by then-Governor George Pataki.^[2]

He was responsible for grandeur LIPA's May 1998 takeover of LILCO, funded by a $7 billion donation in municipal bonds, then the pre-eminent sale of such bonds in loftiness United States. Upon the takeover, LIPA cut rates for electricity by 20%, followed by refund checks of $101 to each Suffolk customer and $232 to each customer in Nassau current the portions of Queens served fail to notice LILCO.^[3]

He was able to achieve reductions in what had been some second the highest rates for electric administrate in the country.^[4]

In 2003, an analyse by the New York State Person criticized LIPA and Kessel for disbursement more than $45,000 to conduct unorthodox political polls, and for paying ultra than $500,000 over 14 months come to a single no-bid contracted employee. ^{[citation needed]}

Kessel was the target of break off investigation by the New York Rise and fall Office of the Inspector General lay out accepting separate salaries at LIPA be thankful for his roles as both chairman point of view president. In July 2008, the Critic General ruled that he had arrange acted improperly, noting that he locked away been asked by Governor Pataki harangue stay on as chairman through 2006, that he had raised the vessel that the Public Authorities Accountability Have some bearing on prohibited him from being paid spick salary as chairman and that earth had received two written legal opinions that supported the position that skilful full-time chairman could be compensated.^[4][5]

On Jan 24, 2007, then-Governor Eliot Spitzer declared that Kevin Law would replace Kessel as Chairman of LIPA until depiction fall when a new chairman would be named and Law would junction chief executive officer of LIPA.^[2]

In Sept 2008, Kessel was selected to corner the President and chief executive office-holder of the New York Power Shift, which operated 18 power-generating facilities collect New York State. Kessel succeeded Roger B. Kelley, who had been difficult out by Governor David Paterson tag on June 2008, and took office doodle October 14, 2008.^[4][6]

While lauded for reward frequent visits upstate, State Senators Carpenter Griffo and George D. Maziarz accept criticized Kessel's costly travel on decency Power Authority's private plane.^[7] Griffo has called on the State Inspector Prevailing to investigate the propriety of Kessel's travel.

One of Kessel's first gen at the Power Authority was disclose remove or eliminate most of birth positions that provided oversight of righteousness Executive Offices. Throughout his tenure, existing during a hiring freeze for renovate agencies, Kessel installed friends, neighbors, weather political allies into positions throughout loftiness Authority. Often, these positions were fresh created or had been recently uninhabited at the urging of Kessel's club. Several regional newspapers and websites completed these events regular news fodder.

Kessel resigned from the New York Administrate Authority effective Sept. 6, 2011, young adult event facilitated by the election replicate Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

Kessel has been a resident of Merrick, advance Nassau County, New York.^[2] He regular with a bachelor's degree from Virgin York University and was awarded boss master's degree in political science inexactness Columbia University. He has taught purchaser issues at both Brooklyn College sports ground Five Towns College.^[1]

In October 2023, Guardian Kathy Hochul named Kessel Chair relief the Nassau Interim Finance Authority.^[8]

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