PSEG Long Island said Monday that customers whose service was cut at least 72 hours by Tropical Storm Isaias will be able to claim reimbursement for spoiled food and medicine.
The Aug. 4 storm cut power to more than 420,000 customers on Long Island and the Rockaways, including many who said their refrigerators and freezers were packed because of the Covid-19 epidemic. The utility said it was the most destructive storm since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
“We recognize that losing power in August, together with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, was a hardship for many of our customers,” PSEG Long Island President and COO Daniel Eichhorn said. “Given the unique combination of circumstances, we believe the right thing to do is to expand our claims process to ease the burden on the customers most impacted by Tropical Storm Isaias.”
PSEG Long Island will reimburse residential customers up to $250 and commercial customers up to $5,000 for food spoilage if their service was interrupted for 72 hours or longer between Aug. 4, and Aug. 12 because of Tropical Storm Isaias.
For residential customers, food spoilage claims of $150 or less must include an itemized list. Food spoilage claims over $150 must include an itemized list and proof of loss (for example: cash register tapes, store or credit card receipts, canceled checks or photographs of spoiled items).
Separately, customers will be reimbursed for losses, up to a maximum of $300, for prescription medications that spoiled due to lack of refrigeration. Customers must provide an itemized list of the medications and proof of loss (for example: pharmacy prescription label or pharmacy receipt identifying the medicine).
Commercial customers applying for reimbursement must supply an itemized list of spoiled food and proof of loss (invoices, inventory lists, bank statements).
Customers can apply for reimbursement at www.psegliny.com/claims. The reimbursement claims cannot be processed over the phone.
Customers must file claims by Sept. 16. Reimbursement is expected to take up to 60 business days from when a proper claim form is completed and submitted.
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