PSEG Long Island has announced it is expanding its claims policy due to the COVID-19 pandemic so that customers whose electrical service was interrupted by Isaias for at least 72 hours can be reimbursed for spoiled food and medication.

Tropical Storm Isaias knocked out power for more than 420,000 customers on Long Island.

“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 says it 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, 2020 due to the storm.

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 that can include store or credit card receipts, canceled checks or photographs of spoiled items.

In addition, customers will be reimbursed for losses, up to a maximum of $300, for prescription medications that spoiled due to lack of refrigeration. Officials say customers must provide an itemized list of the medications and proof of loss. For example, a 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 like invoices, inventory lists or bank statements.

State Sen. James Gaughran says PSEG should be more lenient in its food reimbursement policy after its abysmal response during the storm.

"I think they should be a little bit more flexible in letting the customers submit a general list of what they had in the refridgerator, generally what it cost and asked for the reimbursement," he says.

Customers can apply for reimbursement at www.psegliny.com/claims. The reimbursement claims cannot be processed over the phone. 

Customers will have until Sept. 16, 2020 to file claims. Reimbursement is expected to take up to 60 business days from when a proper claim form is completed and submitted to PSEG Long Island.

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