Electric utility helps those affected by prolonged power outage

IRVINGTON, NJ — Earlier this month, powerful Tropical Storm Isaias left many without power, causing dark homes for days. While power came back for some within 24 hours, many residents went more than three days — some up to a week in parts of the state — without power. This resulted in a lot of spoiled food and expired medication. PSE&G has decided to step in to help as many customers as the utility company can.

PSE&G recently announced that it is expanding its claims policy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so that customers whose electrical service was interrupted by Tropical Storm Isaias for at least 72 hours can be reimbursed for lost food and medication.

According to an official media release from PSE&G, the tropical storm knocked out power for more than 575,000 customers in New Jersey, making it the fifth-most-destructive storm in the company’s 100-plus year history.

PSE&G spokesperson Rebecca Mazzarella gave an overview of this initiative.

“I can speak holistically to the efforts that we’re doing,” Mazzarella said on Aug. 24. “We’re hoping this new policy is effective. This is just in relation to customers who lost power for 72 hours due to Tropical Storm Isaias, and it has to be within a certain date frame, and residents would have to submit their claim by the middle of September. We’re doing this for our whole service territory.”

According to the release, PSE&G 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 12 because of Tropical Storm Isaias.

According to the release, for residential customers, food spoilage claims of $150 or less must include an itemized list. Food spoilage claims of more than $150 must include an itemized list and proof of loss, such as cash register tapes, store or credit card receipts, canceled checks or photographs of spoiled items. All commercial customers applying for reimbursement must supply an itemized list of spoiled food and proof of loss, which includes invoices, inventory lists and bank statements.

Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss is elated that PSE&G is moving forward with the program.

“I think it’s great that PSE&G will be addressing the claims of our Irvington residents,” Vauss said on Aug. 24. “They have been a tremendous partner with us as we try to move the township forward. We’ve had several conversations about this and other projects coming to fruition. I’m just happy that they decided to move forward with the program.”

According to the release, separate from food reimbursement, customers will be reimbursed for losses of prescription medications that spoiled due to lack of refrigeration; reimbursement has a maximum of $300. Customers must provide an itemized list of the medications and proof of loss, such as prescription labels or pharmacy receipts identifying the medicine.

According to the release, customers can apply for reimbursement at www.pseg.com/claims; reimbursement claims cannot be processed over the phone. Customers will have until Sept. 16 to file claims; reimbursement is expected to take up to 60 business days after a proper claim form is completed and submitted to PSE&G.

  FEATURED, Mayor Tony Vauss, PSEG