Thankfully, power cuts are usually few and far between, however sometimes you can get hit by an outage that lasts hours. When this happens, does your insurance policy cover you and, if so, what for? Read on to find some information about the cover available to you in the case of power outages, and tips on how to reduce the impact of a potential power cut.
Does my home insurance contents cover insure for a power cut?
Usually, the insurance will cover for damage caused, rather than the outage itself. For example, if a power surge resulted in an electrical appliance breaking down, you may be covered. It’s always advisable to check a policy’s terms and conditions prior to signing up, as there can be exclusions. If a power cut lasts more than a specified amount of time, you should be able to claim compensation from your local electricity provider (not your utilities provider).
What about my food?
Food that is ruined due to a power cut is usually insured on your home contents policy (as always, check prior to claiming). However, if you keep the freezer door and drawers closed, your food will be fine for some time — refrigerator food will remain cold for around four hours and, providing you keep the door closed to stop warmer air circulating, a full freezer will be ok for about 48 hours.
How can I protect my appliances?
As we outlined earlier in this blog, your insurance will probably only cover you for damage caused by the power cut. However there are ways you can protect your more vulnerable electrical items, making them less likely to get damaged. Use surge protectors for equipment that’s vulnerable to voltage variations, such as internet routers and landline telephones, and unplug everything during a power cut to protect it from a surge when the power comes back on.
What happened if a power cut causes my business to lose money?
If a power outage lasts over a specific amount of time and affects your business, you may be able to claim from the electricity provider. It is worth considering using an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) back-up if you work from home. This will provide back-up power in case of a power cut.
