The Trump administration has denied federal disaster aid for individuals who sustained damage from this year's ice storm. But the door has not been fully closed on utilities to receive assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op has so far accumulated $150 million in costs from the ice storm. They recently began charging members an additional $20 a month to pay down the interest on several loans.
PIE&G CEO Allan Berg said he was disappointed they were denied category F funding from FEMA, which would have covered nearly all of their costs. But Berg said they will get other types of FEMA aid, it's just unclear how much.
"So with category F remaining denied we now have to be very, very specific and isolate costs," Berg said. "And its going to be a lot longer process and a much more difficult process."
Berg added it's unlikely members will receive any form of credit or refund for the extra $20 monthly charge due to FEMA's initial aid denial of category F funding.
"The scenario where it would be refunded is if we got all $150 million plus every penny of interest and with category F denied that's an extremely unlikely scenario."
