After a week of rolling blackouts‚ Eskom says it’s not anticipating further load-shedding – for now.
But how do you navigate the threat of future load-shedding in terms of your insurance policy? At this point, you may think you’re covered … until you need to claim.
That’s because most insurance policies don’t cover damage caused by power surges after load-shedding. This exclusion forms part of the standard wording of most home insurance policies. Lookout for the clause which states that the policy: “excludes any loss or damage which results from the deliberate withholding of power”.
TVs, fridges and computers are at particular risk of being damaged by power surges, which often occur when Eskom puts the power back on after a period of load-shedding.
To protect your appliances it’s worth installing surge protectors and UPS (uninterruptable power supply) systems in your house. A UPS device will allow you to shut your appliances down properly when the power goes off and to stop power surges from destroying your appliances.
Although damage to appliances from load-shedding power surges can’t generally be claimed for, you can often claim for losses related to the contents of your fridge and freezer, depending on the terms of your policy.
It’s also worth checking that your back-up batteries for your alarm system, electric fence and electric gate are all in good condition. You don’t want to be left at the mercy of opportunistic burglars when the lights go out.
If you’d like more information regarding load-shedding and your insurance policy, or if you’d like help reviewing your current policy, please give Melissa a call on 044 382 0550 or drop her a mail at info@grib.co.za.
