The proposed customer refund rules were required by lawmakers following Tropical Storm Isaias in 2020, which left more than a million customers without power — in some instances, for more than a week.
Some utilities did provide reimbursements to customers. Consolidated Edison, New York State Electric & Gas, and Orange and Rockland reimbursed customers for food and prescription medicines when they lost power for at least two consecutive days or more, according to the PSC. PSEG Long Island, a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group, reimbursed customers after three days.
