Actually, a fully public LIPA is not a done deal. While the Legislative Commission on the Future of LIPA is responsible for developing legislation to create a fully public utility, that legislation will still need to be passed by the NYS Assembly and Senate, and signed by the Governor.We already had a private electric utility—LILCO, the Long Island Lighting Company— that was happy and relieved to let a public corporation be established to take over the electric grid and its enormous debt of $7.3 billion at the time. LILCO was expensive, catered to its stockholders—not its customers—and failed as a business. LIPA bailed it out of deep debt—$7.3 billion dollars’ worth—that otherwise would have bankrupted the company.Three previous studies by LIPA, comparing the existing public-private model, full privatization and fully public systems, indicated customers would be better off with a fully public electric utility. This was confirmed in the newly released Draft Report issued by the LIPA Commission.Privatization would also be more expensive. Private corporations pay income taxes that are passed on to the customers. LIPA is non-profit and pays no taxes. Private utilities are not eligible to receive Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) funds. LIPA, as a nonprofit corporation, is eligible. Private investor-owned utilities issue higher-interest stocks. Public authorities, such as LIPA, use no state tax dollars and incur no state debt. Instead, they issue low-interest bonds to raise money.Either way, that interest payment is included in the ratepayer bill. Our electric rates are already as high as investor-owned utilities. With full privatization our rates will be higher.Considering all these factors, a fully public LIPA is the best and least expensive way to move into the future.