Lawmakers demanded answers from PSEG Long Island's top officials about their response to Tropical Storm Isaias.

PSEG LI President and COO Daniel Eichhorn got an earful from Nassau lawmakers and residents Monday, who wondered why the recovery from Isaias took so long.

Over 420,000 customers were left in the dark in the wake of Isaias, and it took over a week for all restorations to be completed.

Dr. Cynthia Paulis, of Massapequa Park, echoed the frustration of thousands in front of the Legislature's Superstorm Sandy Review Committee.

PSEG LI to reimburse customers for food, medicine spoiled during Isaias 

"I kept trying your company again and again and again ... couldn't get through," says Paulis.

Eichhorn says the company's communications systems were overloaded, its reporting technology broke down and the workload ended up being more than expected. He tried to assure that something like that won't happen again.

"So the assurance that I can give you is that we admit we were not happy with our communications, we are not happy with the impact it had on customers and your constituents. It's not the level of service we expect to provide and we are going to fix it," he says.

After the hearing, PSEG LI announced it would reimburse residential customers for up to $250 for spoiled food and $300 for medication because of lost power. Businesses can claim up to $5,000.

In the end, Nassau has little authority over PSEG LI because it is primarily managed at the state level. But soon, Eichhorn will be answering questions from state lawmakers on what happened as well.