What you need to know about power surge insurance cover during load shedding

AS the country enters the height of the winter season in July, load shedding interruptions as a result of the pressured electricity grid are a reality.

Identified by Google as South Africa’s most searched term in the past decade, load shedding continues to bring about a huge amount of frustration, inconvenience and increased short-term insurance risk for many South Africans.

Through the introduction of various load shedding notification apps, people can now see load shedding schedules in advance and can ensure that they are prepared.

However, there are still times when load shedding occurs in the early hours of the morning or overnight, leaving many household items at risk of being damaged through power surge.

When electricity comes back after a few hours of load shedding, it can cause a power surge which in turn can cause instant damage to one’s electrical appliances where plastic and metal parts can melt and often burn circuits.

Elizabeth Mountjoy, Private Wealth Manager at FNB Insurance Brokers warns: “With load shedding occurring more regularly, it is vital that you ensure you have cover available should you require it. You should contact your short-term insurer or broker and confirm whether the power surge benefit has been added to your policy. If this benefit is not included and your home appliances are damaged due to a power surge, you will not be able to submit a claim for the damaged appliances.”

ALSO READ: 8 tips and tricks to help you handle load shedding

Apart from ensuring that you have the right kind of insurance cover for power surges, another comprehensive way to protect your appliances is to have surge plugs or an arrestor installed to protect all the electrical circuits in your entire house.

The surge arrestor is installed at the point where the power comes into your house, and protects you against surges in power, usually up to around 6000 volts.

You can get a surge arrestor for up to as much as 20,000 volts.

To avoid loss as a result of load shedding in your household, make sure you check your policy to see what cover is provided in the event of a power surge.

Also check your policy to see what the conditions are around your alarm being incapacitated due to load shedding.

ALSO READ: #Loadshedding: Check your security system before the lights go out

In the case of automated garages and gates, ensure that you can access your property safely and keep override keys in a safe yet accessible place. Instead of candles or paraffin lamps invest in solar or battery powered lights.

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