Following Tropical Storm Isaias earlier this week, Long Island has suffered widespread power outages, with local politicians and officials expressing outrage over PSEG LI’s problematic power outage reporting system.
Numerous customers without power and calling PSEG LI for updates have reported not being able to get through or to obtain any information whatsoever. In addition, the company’s outage map was not updated correctly and texting app and online outage reporting portal not usable.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran today sent PSEG Long Island leadership the following message demanding answers regarding correction of system failures and review of protocols. The message is as follows:
I am deeply concerned by PSEG Long Island’s widespread communications failures during and in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias. By all accounts, these failures extend to every portion of Nassau County, leaving many ratepayers in the dark, struggling to find answers.
At this time my efforts are squarely focused on making sure residents are getting reconnected to the power grid and receiving the vital information they need to make critical decisions regarding the health, safety and welfare of their families.
As a public utility company, I call upon the leadership team of PSEG to announce plans for a post recovery review of communications protocols and devise backup plans. A repeat of the same mistakes is simply unacceptable. These problems should have been corrected after Superstorm Sandy, not faced again with Isaias.
Please respond with PSEG Long Island’s plans to fix system failures and a timetable to implement these changes. In the height of a very active hurricane season, PSEG Long Island must not delay.
