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NY Governor Investigates PSEG-LI Over Alleged Mockery of Customers with Debts
🇦🇷 Argentina /Economy & Trade

NY Governor Investigates PSEG-LI Over Alleged Mockery of Customers with Debts

From La Nación · (41m ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • New York Governor Kathy Hochul is investigating PSEG-LI, an electricity provider, for allegedly mocking customers with outstanding debts.
  • The investigation was prompted by a news report detailing callous remarks made by company supervisors about shutting off power to vulnerable customers.
  • Consumer advocacy groups have called for legislative hearings and a review of consumer protection laws in response to the alleged mistreatment.

Governor Kathy Hochul has taken a firm stance against PSEG-LI, launching a statewide investigation into the company's alleged mistreatment of customers struggling to pay their energy bills. The governor's office issued a strong statement condemning the reported mockery of individuals facing power shut-offs, labeling such behavior as 'completely unacceptable.' This decisive action follows a scathing investigative report by Newsday that exposed deeply insensitive comments from company supervisors, including one who suggested that people 'think much better in the dark' as a means to motivate debt payment.

Hacer bromas sobre cortar el suministro eléctrico a clientes vulnerables es completamente inaceptable.

— Kathy HochulGovernor Hochul's direct condemnation of the alleged behavior by PSEG-LI employees.

The revelations have ignited outrage among consumer advocacy groups, such as the Public Utility Law Project (PULP) and AARP. These organizations have formally requested the governor's intervention and are pushing for legislative hearings to assess the need for stronger consumer protection laws. They have characterized the employees' conduct as a display of 'insensitive contempt' and emphasized that such disrespect towards customers, particularly the elderly, has no place in New York.

piensan mucho mejor en la oscuridad

— PSEG-LI supervisorA reported quote from a PSEG-LI supervisor suggesting that lack of light motivates debt payment, as revealed by Newsday.

Governor Hochul has directed the Department of Public Service to thoroughly investigate whether these offensive remarks are isolated incidents or indicative of a systemic problem within PSEG-LI's operations. She stressed that utility companies have a fundamental obligation to prioritize their customers and that power shut-offs should be a last resort. The governor's office made it clear that the difficulties faced by citizens in paying their energy bills are 'not a laughing matter.'

Hola, abuela. Iremos para allá si no te encargas del pago

— PSEG-LI employeeAnother alleged quote indicating harsh treatment towards elderly customers regarding payments.

Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), which owns the electric grid managed by PSEG-LI, has also released an official statement in response to the controversy. This situation highlights a critical tension between the operational demands of utility companies and their responsibility to serve the public with empathy and fairness, especially during challenging economic times for many New Yorkers.

desprecio insensible

— PULP and AARPConsumer advocacy groups' description of the employees' actions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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