Local Assemblyman Criticizes PSEG

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) recently criticized PSEG-Long Island for ongoing, persistent power surges and service interruptions causing significant financial damages to small businesses and Southampton Village equipment along Jobs Lane.

PSEG-LI has denied claims submitted by businesses, claiming they are not liable, according to a press release from Thiele’s office.

Power surges and service interruptions occurred on September 8th, 2013, November 17th, 2013, September 22nd, 2014, December 8th, 2014, and December 30th, 2014.

The interruptions were caused by: defective bolt connectors, failing transformers and various other “unpredictable equipment failures”.

During these outages, equipment such as computers, furnace controls, credit card machines, lighting, restaurant food storage units, and surveillance cameras were damaged.

Director of Communications for PSEG, Jeffrey S. Weir, told 27east that PSEG reviewed and investigated the filed claims and is ”not liable for damages that arise from circumstances beyond its control”.

Single businesses have had damages amounting up to $60,000 and the Village of Southampton has had to replace nearly $10,000 in equipment, according to the release.

The businesses who have submitted claims to have damage reimbursed have received denial letters stating that PSEG-LI’s liability is precluded under LIPA’s Tariff for Electric Service, according to the press release.

“I’ve said it a thousand times, and I’ll say it again- The LIPA Reform Act did absolutely nothing,” Thiele said. “PSEG is not more accountable to its ratepayers or the small businesses that hold the East End’s economy together. PSEG-LI must grant these claims and pay for the damage they caused.”

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