Two LIPA customers are suing the inept utility for less than the cost of two Starbucks lattes — just to send a message.
The Long Island men have filed a federal class-action lawsuit demanding that LIPA reimburse them $9.72 for the 36-cents-a-day service fee they were charged when they didn’t have juice after Hurricane Sandy — but it could end up costing LIPA big bucks.
“This isn’t about money,” said Harry Friedman, of Woodmere, who spent 12 days in the dark with his wife, two daughters and a son.
“These little fees — this is how they make their extra money off of people instead of giving them a break.
“It’s just all about greed.”
Friedman and Lazar Gozenpud, of Valley Stream, went to court a week ago on behalf of all of LIPA’s 1.1 million customers. If they win, LIPA would have to pay millions.
Friedman, a 46-year-old stockbroker, said that in the wake of Sandy, “We were freezing cold. My kids got sick, and we had to sleep next to the fireplace for the whole time. It was a nightmare.”
LIPA later billed him $4.32 for that time. Gozenpud, a 70-year-old retiree, was powerless three days longer, and his total was $5.40. Like the Friedman family, the Gozenpuds are still trying to recover from Sandy.
“We had a lot of damage from the storm,” Gozenpud’s wife, Anna, told The Post yesterday. “Our whole first floor was flooded.”
LIPA deceived its customers, said the families’ attorney, Andrew Bell. “This lawsuit is about companies not cheating people,” he said.
Friedman and Gozenpud are also angry that LIPA is being so petty, Bell said.
“They want LIPA to be punished for nickel-and-diming,” he said.
LIPA spokeswoman Elizabeth Flagler would not comment on the lawsuit but said board members are set to discuss a waiver of the fee at their meeting Monday.
A source at the company said officials have been flooded with complaints about the basic service charge.
Bell acknowledges his clients aren’t asking for much money, but noted LIPA would end up ponying up big-time if a jury rules for them.
Around Thanksgiving, LIPA sent its Sandy-soaked customers a big turkey — bills based on estimated rates, with no mention that they didn’t even have power for half of the 30-day cycle.