"Altice-Optimum apparently did not follow its emergency plan pertaining to generator deployment and communications protocols, among other failures.
Officials are also ordering utility companies statewide to take corrective actions that include:
Add crewing capacity via retainer contracts from private contractors or utilities located outside of New York, with a goal to be able to secure in advance of a storm double the level of internal linemen and tree crews;
Test capabilities at all command centers, call centers and back-up command centers to ensure capability to handle an event that affects 90 percent or more of their customers in their service territory and provide confirmation back to the Department regarding the results of this test within 10 days;
Refine coordination plans with municipalities tailored to each county (road clearing, local liaisons, etc.) and provide to the Department within 20 days a written confirmation from each county Emergency Operations Center that they understand and accept the plan; and
Update life support equipment and critical infrastructure lists to remove or add customers as identified during Tropical Storm Isaias and file such updated lists to the Department within 10 days.
The department also found several potential violations related to Altice-Optimum's storm response on Long Island, including a failure to coordinate emergency response with local officials, communications failures, and insufficient generator capacity for their network.
The department’s letter demands that Altice-Optimum promptly remedy those issues and provides notice that the investigation will include a review of whether the company is in violation of a 2016 order approving its acquisition of Cablevision."