NEW YORK (1010 WINS)  -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg said most northwest Queens residents should get their power back Friday or Saturday -- after several days without electricity. Bloomberg went to Astoria Thursday night to be briefed on the situation.

Con Edison says it has more than 500 splicers, troubleshooters, mechanics, and support personnel working around the clock to restore power to customers in northwest Queens. However, residents in Queens don't care about the numbers.

They just want to know when will the electric be turned on. Con Edison says some electric will be restored Friday and Saturday, but some stragglers could be out until Sunday.

Con Ed customers affected by power outages in northwest Queens can file for reimbursement for food spoiled during the blackout.

Residential customers can apply for up to $350 in lost groceries. Business customers can claim a maximum of $7,000.

Residential customers must provide Con Ed with a list for claims for anything more than $150.

Commercial customers must file all records of purchase.

The blackouts have been occurring since Monday evening in a handful of Queens neighborhoods, and have taken place over a span that included two of the hottest days of the year.

The problems were at their worst Wednesday, when ten of the 22 feeder cables that supply the area with power were down simultaneously.

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Photo taken by 1010 WINS reporter Steve Kastenbaum