Boiler damage after power surge

auntyS

A few days ago an electricity substation was broken into and cables were stolen resulting in a power surge which knocked out electricity to hundreds of homes in the area.

Since reconnection many people have found problems with boilers , modems , chargers etc., and I would like to ask if anyone knows whether the electricity company should be held responsible for repairs and replacements. It does not seem right that people should have to claim ontheir insurance , losing future no-claims benefits, for something which they had no resposibility for.

Can anyone offer any advice?
Thanks.

Wywth

auntyS wrote: »

A few days ago an electricity substation was broken into and cables were stolen resulting in a power surge which knocked out electricity to hundreds of homes in the area.

Since reconnection many people have found problems with boilers , modems , chargers etc., and I would like to ask if anyone knows whether the electricity company should be held responsible for repairs and replacements. It does not seem right that people should have to claim ontheir insurance , losing future no-claims benefits, for something which they had no resposibility for.

Can anyone offer any advice?
Thanks.

If you can prove the failure was due to a power surge, then you can get compensation.

As you say many people have been affected, then proof (if required as it is probably known about) will be easier.

If you have insurance, you can claim on that and tell the insurer of the power surge event. If they accept your claim, they should then claim from those responsible so protecting your no claims bonus

spiro

Wywth wrote: »

If you can prove the failure was due to a power surge, then you can get compensation.

As you say many people have been affected, then proof (if required as it is probably known about) will be easier.

If you have insurance, you can claim on that and tell the insurer of the power surge event. If they accept your claim, they should then claim from those responsible so protecting your no claims bonus

As the surge was caused by criminal activity not negligence I would be suprised if the distributor could be held liable.

DUTR

spiro wrote: »

As the surge was caused by criminal activity not negligence I would be suprised if the distributor could be held liable.

And even if it wasn't the power company won't be responsible, the OP possibly didn't take all necessary measures to prevent the symptoms eg anti surge protectors.

Wywth

spiro wrote: »

As the surge was caused by criminal activity not negligence I would be suprised if the distributor could be held liable.

Maybe, in which case the criminal could be held accountable.

auntyS

Thanks for all your replies.

Wywth, the electricity company have sent out a letter saying it's not their fault and everyone has to claim off their own insurance, which most already have. In an ideal world, if and when the culprit is caught they should be made to pay but that is not very likely.

Spiro, I thought that perhaps the fact that a person was able to break in to their property would make them liable due to not making the substation more secure. I know...a crazy idea.

DUTR, I didn't know anything about surge protectors. I will have to look further in to that as it would appear that the onus falls on the consumer rather than the supplier.
Surely this is something the electricity companies should be able to instal at the supply end of the chain to prevent surges being transmitted .

Obviously I don't know much about these things, but thanks again for giving advice and opinions.

JC_Derby

auntyS wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies.

Wywth, the electricity company have sent out a letter saying it's not their fault and everyone has to claim off their own insurance, which most already have. In an ideal world, if and when the culprit is caught they should be made to pay but that is not very likely.

AGREE

auntyS wrote: »

Spiro, I thought that perhaps the fact that a person was able to break in to their property would make them liable due to not making the substation more secure. I know...a crazy idea.

it doesn't matter how secure they are, they get broke into by scumbags, because they know there is copper in there

auntyS wrote: »

DUTR, I didn't know anything about surge protectors. I will have to look further in to that as it would appear that the onus falls on the consumer rather than the supplier.
Surely this is something the electricity companies should be able to instal at the supply end of the chain to prevent surges being transmitted ..

Of course they could, but what do you think this would add to your bill? cheaper and easier to buy your own

DUTR

auntyS wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies.

Wywth, the electricity company have sent out a letter saying it's not their fault and everyone has to claim off their own insurance, which most already have. In an ideal world, if and when the culprit is caught they should be made to pay but that is not very likely.

Spiro, I thought that perhaps the fact that a person was able to break in to their property would make them liable due to not making the substation more secure. I know...a crazy idea.

I remember a few miles away from here, on the news, a cable theif tried to steal cable from a sub station, trouble is the the thick thief tried to steal a live cable and was fount burnt to a frazzle.


DUTR, I didn't know anything about surge protectors. I will have to look further in to that as it would appear that the onus falls on the consumer rather than the supplier.
Surely this is something the electricity companies should be able to instal at the supply end of the chain to prevent surges being transmitted .

Obviously I don't know much about these things, but thanks again for giving advice and opinions.

Surge protectors are not cheap, if you don't often have powercuts then the benefits may not cover the costs, a fridge freezer will hold out for 12hrs or more after a power fail, so an insurance claim may not be worthwhile as the excess maybe more than the value of the stored food.

southcoastrgi

boilers aren't normally "plugged in" so therefore aren't connected to a surge protector

Ich_2

The problem with this sort of theft (and some faults on the network) is not due to "surges".
The system generally doesn't produce them but you can get issues in the home with appliances switching on or off.
What actually occurred would have been a sustained over voltage to affected customers caused by the loss of the neutral connection in the affected substation. A simple surge protector would not prevent this, nor would any device installed in substations protect for faults between the substation and the customer.

Wywth

auntyS wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies.

Wywth, the electricity company have sent out a letter saying it's not their fault and everyone has to claim off their own insurance, which most already have. ...

It's a shame you didn't include this material fact in your OP.
I can only advise based on the quality of information provided at the time