PLAINVIEW, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — PSEG Long Island customers are not happy with the utilities policy allowing them to be reimbursed for food and medicine that spoiled during the power outages following Tropical Storm Isaias.
The Long Island power company this week said it would begin to reimburse customers whose food and medicine spoiled due to their power being out for over at least 72 hours.
Residential customers can be reimbursed up to $150 without receipts, but for a claim over $150, the customer must show proof of purchase and proof that the food had spoiled.
Marc Laykind, of Plainview, tells WCBS 880 he lost two refrigerators full of food because his power was out for nine days following the storm. He says needing to provide receipts is nearly impossible for all the food he lost.
“What they should be doing is asking for receipts going forward. Because obviously if your power is out for nine days, you lost the food in your refrigerator,” he said.
Those who do provide receipts and photos will have claims addressed within 60 days, according to the company. However, the top amount that will be paid out will be $250.
State Sen. Jim Gaughran says the entire situation is ridiculous.
"They should just give everybody the money,” he says. “First of all, it's inadequate what they're doing in the first place in terms of the monetary amount. They should give everybody the money who sends in any sort of document that said we lost food x dollars.”
A spokesperson for PSEG Long Island says for a person to receive up to $150, the customer would just have to turn in an itemized list of what they lost.