Nassau County Exec. Demands PSEG Long Island Pay Back Customers For 'Botched' Storm Response
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Almost one week after Tropical Storm Isaias hit, it still feels like the tropics in some Long Island homes. No power means no air conditioning, and health concerns are mounting, CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported Monday.
Nassau County officials are demanding that PSEG Long Island pay back customers for their power problems.
They want the utility to refund people for their bills and reimburse them for spoiled food and medications that had to be thrown away.
"We are calling on PSEG Long Island to help right now, right some of the wrongs from their botched and inadequate storm response," County Executive Laura Curran said Monday. "This is vital - this reimbursement for the more than 140,000 customers who were left without electricity for more than 24 hours."
"I believe that the heads of PSEG Long Island and [LIPA] need to resign," said State Sen. Jim Gaughran.
Power lines sizzled in Williston Park and caught fire in the storm.
Rose Marie Ferrar, 90, was stuck in her house because of the downed wires and said crews are still trying to restore power to Collins Avenue.
"Wires were all here and if I had gone near them, I could have gotten electrocuted. So, what they had to do was they had to take me out the back door and into my granddaughter's car," said Ferrar.
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The Greenbergs, of Roslyn, said they sent dozens of messages to the utility, but no one has checked downed wires around their home.
"We were expecting this to be two to three days... and they notified us yesterday that it will be another couple of days," said Drew Greenberg.
"I don't really have the money, but we've been staying in a hotel because I don't have a choice. I have to give my kids air conditioning, a place to take a bath," said Amy Greenberg.
The Obler family shares similar frustrations.
"We are going out to eat when we wouldn't normally, every single night," said Gary Obler.
"The whole block has very young children. We're all suffering, we're all sweating, we're taking cold showers," said Jennifer Obler.
"Our state legislature, a week from today, will be calling on the heads of these utilities, including our phone utilities, which completely failed, and LIPA to the carpet," said State Sen. Todd Kaminsky.
The utility is holding daily zoom briefings, apologizing for delays, saying crews are working hard in miserable conditions. PSEG LI is in discussions with LIPA regarding payer reimbursement.
New York's attorney general's office has reportedly launched an inquiry into PSEG Long Island. Newsday reports the utility company received a letter requesting documents and information related to last week's tropical storm.
The attorney general's office is neither confirming nor denying the probe.
"Long Islanders deserve better. I am concerned about how PSEG prepared for this storm and how it served customers in the storm's aftermath," a spokesperson told CBS2 in a statement. "These problems must be solved with long-term solutions that take into account the issues that climate change presents."
