Lawmakers Want Utility Companies To Reimburse Customers For Goods Spoiled During Power Outages

By Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey Monitor

June 4, 2022

As catastrophic storms become more common in the Garden State, lawmakers are scheduled to discuss two measures Thursday that would require public utility companies to reimburse customers for goods spoiled during extensive power outages.

The two measures — A1896 and A3313— would both require public utilities to reimburse customers who lose power for more than 72 hours, including for food and prescription medicine.

When a tropical storm rocked the state in August 2020, some people were kept in the dark for a week. At the time, PSE&G voluntarily reimbursed customers for up to $250 worth of spoiled food. During Hurricane Ida, electricity went out in 63,000 homes in New Jersey for days.

The bills would require customers to file a claim to the Board of Public Utilities detailing how long the outage lasted and including an itemized list of spoiled goods and proofs of purchase.

While the first measure doesn’t have a reimbursement limit, the latter limits the coverage to $500 for spoiled food.

The two bills are scheduled to be discussed in the Assembly Telecommunications and Utility Committee Thursday morning but are not expected to be voted on. Both measures were introduced during the last legislative session and did not move from committee.

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