Nassau County and state officials called on PSEG Long Island to refund utility bills and reimburse residents for perishable items lost in the power outages due to Isaias.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran called PSEG Long Island's response "botched and inadequate."

Officials say the reimbursement is vital for more than 140,000 customers left with no power for more than 24 hours.

In addition, officials say customers were not able to get answers and that they continue to not get answers after PSEG Long Island's widespread communication failure.

"PSEG Long Island was not prepared to respond to a storm that was predicted to be much worse than it was and they must be held accountable," says Curran.

PSEG says it is in discussions with LIPA about a possible reimbursement program.

Officials say they find it incomprehensible that PSEG Long Island announced it would have full service power back by Saturday, but as of Monday, thousands were still in the dark.

Officials stressed that they are thankful for hardworking men and women cleaning the mess, but the company's leadership must pay and it must be done by not passing the buck to ratepayers.

Russel Yerkes, from East Meadow, is recovering from having a tumor and his spleen removed last week. He has no power and says six crews have come to look at the pole down in his area, but each says they can't fix it.

Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he's disappointed in PSEG Long Island. Cuomo specifically referenced residents on Long Island who are fed up being without power for so long. Cuomo also put the utilities on notice that their franchises can be revoked.

"Your franchise can be revoked, I am not bluffing," says Cuomo. "I do not bluff, your franchise can be revoked."

Some Long Island senators are set to hold a hearing next week with PSEG officials. Cuomo and state Attorney General Letitia James have also called for an investigation into several state utilities, including PSEG.

"We were told after Sandy things would be different, and now we know they are not," says state Sen. Todd Kaminsky.

 

PSEG LI gives News 12 inside look into how crews are restoring power