Wow that is pretty fast recovery. I think our local (Conn) power companies suck at restoring power, had 630K w/o power the day of the storm and still have 345K w/o power.
And we weren’t hit nearly as bad as your part of the coast.
When restoring power, all people are not equal. Lines to hospitals are first to save lives, next is lines to EMS service, fire stations and law enforcement, then government and on down the most important list. I was without power for five days after Ike. My section of town came back before others due to the fire department, sheriff's department and county government being in this close area. A water facility isn't far from me, either.
If one is in a rural area, you are fairly far down the list.