UI estimates Sandy costs at up to $40 million

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP/WTNH) -- United Illuminating's parent company says the cost to restore power following Superstorm Sandy is between $35 million and $40 million, which it will seek from ratepayers in a request to Connecticut regulators.

It's Heavenly Taste Cuisine's first few weeks of business and the owner was surprised as she opened her first bill from United Illuminating, after losing money during Hurricane Sandy.

"It's 800 dollars and I can just imagine what it's gonna look like," Hannah Hanrahan of Heavenly Taste Cuisine said.

That's because UI is estimating a 40 million dollar cost following Sandy and customers will likely absorb the cost.

The business next door is also not happy to hear this based on monthly bills.

"It's pretty high, very high," Ninfa Cruz Garcia of Garcia Mini Market said.

News 8 asked her what she thought of it going up.

"It's not very good. I don't like that at all," Garcia said.

New 8 took their concerns straight to UI.

"Just the sheer magnitude of the damage that came throughout the state was something we haven't seen in a number of years," Mike West a UI spokesperson said.

UI said this cost is higher than all storms from 2009 through the end of June 2012.

"They say crap runs down hill so you know," Hanrahan said.

UI says this cost won't be noticed for year. For example, they haven't even filed for a rate request for Tropical Storm Irene.

"That's an entire process that involves office of consumer council, attorney general's office, UI, the utilities," West said.

"So, then my kids are going to end up paying for this, who knows," Hanrahan said.

West said based on the weather Mother Nature has been bringing us, the state may consider following the lead of others who have severe weather more often.

"Many states have what's called a storm tracker where you can pay a little throughout the year and sometimes it's a penny or a penny and a half and those funds are used for these type of catastrophic events," West said.

"They don't try to work with you. It's stupid and it boiled down to the bottom dollar," Hanrahan said.