New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today issued the following statement in response to the complaint filed by the New York City Corporation Counsel on behalf of the City against Con Edison:

“This action is in the best interests of the city. My review of this matter determined that Con Edison was responsible for the water main break that caused major disruption and inconvenience to residents and businesses, and caused the City to incur steep costs to clean up and remedy the problem. Con Edison should step up and ensure that the City is properly compensated.”

On September 22, Thompson asked Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo to take legal action against Consolidated Edison Company of New York for $300,000 in costs incurred while cleaning up a massive Washington Heights water main break on Oct. 16, 2003.

At the time, Thompson explained that Con Edison rebuffed his efforts to have Con Edison reimburse the City for costs incurred in repairing the water main and surrounding infrastructure at the site at Amsterdam Avenue and 178th Street.

Thompson maintained that, based on a cost figures to date, Con Edison should pay the City approximately $300,000 in costs and related expenses incurred by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other City agencies that assisted the DEP in cleaning up the site.

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