2002 NETWORKING® MAGAZINE’S DAVID AWARD HONOREE.

RICHARD KESSEL

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA)

Richard M. Kessel has been a driving force on Long Island for numerous years, focusing his energy on protecting the consumer through his quest for lower electric rates and his work as former executive director of the Consumer Protection Board.

Currently the chairman and chief executive officer of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), Kessel spends much of his time in the spotlight working tirelessly and loving his position as a public servant.

Getting involved in the community is of key importance to Kessel. "I truly believe that it is critical for each and every person to give back something to the community and to be an informed citizen. It not only helps make the world better but it also helps make us live longer," he said.

Kessel first served as LIPA chairman from 1989 to 1995, heading the successful effort to decommission the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant. The decommissioning project, completed in October, 1994, was the first ever decontamination of an NRC-licensed commercial nuclear facility in the United States.

The most important community issue he can remember in his tenure was when New York State and LILCO agreed to shut down the nuclear power plant because of community opposition and concern. "It amazed me how members of the public were able to organize and shut down a $6-billion project because of questions
regarding safety and evacuation. Had the public not been so active and involved, Shoreham would have operated and that would have, in my mind, jeopardized public health and safety," said Kessel.

The David Award winner helped negotiate the LIPA takeover of LILCO and considers the day when he joined with Governor George Pataki and others in formally acquiring it a high point of his career. "I was very proud to stand next to Governor Pataki and announce the formal acquisition of LILCO because I knew that it meant a bright and promising future for Long Island and its energy needs," he said.

Kessel first became involved in community activities back in 1974 when he formed his first consumer group, "Say No To LILCO." At the time, he was fighting for lower electric rates and for the shut down of the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant. He ultimately expanded his activities and became a consumer activist on Long Island for a number of years.

"I was active in a number of battles from utility rates to supermarket pricing and felt it was important to help organize and inform the community about important issues of the day," he said.

Kessel formerly worked as a consumer reporter for WBIS-TV, reporting on consumer and financial issues. As a consumer advocate, Kessel was instrumental in having the former Nassau County Board of Supervisors adopt consumer-oriented legislation including an item pricing law, a ban on multiple pricing and a requirement that all perishable food be marked with the last date of sale.

As executive director of the Consumer Protection Board, Kessel was an outspoken critic of rate increases filed by New York Telephone, Consolidated Edison, LILCO, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation and other public utilities. He was instrumental in developing legislation which retains the interest-free grace period for credit card users and provides comprehensive disclosure of interest rates for prospective card holders. He also fought several postal rate increases. He was in the forefront of the successful move to reregulate cable television and worked with local municipalities to challenge cable rates.

From 1981 until July 2000, Kessel served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Nassau Community College.

A 1971 graduate of New York University, Kessel also attended Colgate University. He received his masters in political science from Columbia University in 1974.

He has taught consumer studies courses at Five Towns College in Dix Hills and has taught consumer economics at Brooklyn College. He has developed course outlines for the courses including; Introduction to Consumer Studies, Consumer Behavior and the Consumer and Energy.

In June 2000, Governor Pataki appointed him as a member of the Nassau County Interim Finance Authority for a term of four years.

Kessel is currently a public member on the Board of The Medical Malpractice Insurance Association and he formerly co-chaired Governor Cuomo's Kosher Food Advisory Council and served on the Board of Consumers Union.

NETWORKING® January 2002