What is the name of your state?
What is the name of your state? Delaware
First time poster:
I will start here, because an auto accident started this mess, though I may need to move the issue to another part of the forum.
Several days ago, and automobile accident about five or six city blocks from my house creamed a power utility pole causing a ~60,000 volt line to land on a lower ~15,000 volt line. The next pole in the line carried the 15,000 volt line into the electric distribution grid for my 500 home development. The result was 2 massive surges separated by just several seconds.
The manifestation in my house was a series of loud popping sounds, followed in short order another more violent series of pops and anything within my sight showering sparks. The house quickly filled with smoke and and acrid smell of burned electric items. No fire ensued.
My own damage list includes a Verizon fios TV cable DVR box, 6 surge protectors, several power strips and a 6month old VCR. All these items show signs of severe electrical stress by was of blackened plugs, wires and outlets. My precious, and expensive computer system was on at the time and behind an expensive surge protector, and was saved. The surge protector was toast, however.
Through out the neighborhood, it seems if anything electric was on, it's now dead. This includes central A/C units, refrigerators, stoves, TV's, computers, stereos, etc. Being an officer in the local civic association, I've talked to several residents that are facing thousands of dollars in repairs and replacements. Damage has been reported as far away as a mile and a half from the accident site.
I filed a claim for damages through the power utility's customer service line and in less than 24 hours turn around, I had a written denial in hand through the US Mail. I figure they invested less than 4 business hours to what they termed a "complete investigation" of the incident.
Apparently, the utility is given a pass via the state's PSC regulatory tariffs. They clearly state that the utility shall be absolved of any liability caused by any irregularity in the delivery of electricity, for whatever the reason.
So we're left with home policies and the driver's insurance. Some home policies don't electrical hazards, mine does. But the driver's insurance coverage for property damage not involving the vehicle at the accident site is $30,000. How do I know? I have the same underwriter and I have the top limit for that coverage.
My contention is that this event was so massive and widespread that the local grid infrastructure was inadequately protected to trap this event before it essentially entered a dead end circuit in my community.
If this is not the appropriate place for this matter, where would that place be?
Thank you
HankJS
What is the name of your state? Delaware
First time poster:
I will start here, because an auto accident started this mess, though I may need to move the issue to another part of the forum.
Several days ago, and automobile accident about five or six city blocks from my house creamed a power utility pole causing a ~60,000 volt line to land on a lower ~15,000 volt line. The next pole in the line carried the 15,000 volt line into the electric distribution grid for my 500 home development. The result was 2 massive surges separated by just several seconds.
The manifestation in my house was a series of loud popping sounds, followed in short order another more violent series of pops and anything within my sight showering sparks. The house quickly filled with smoke and and acrid smell of burned electric items. No fire ensued.
My own damage list includes a Verizon fios TV cable DVR box, 6 surge protectors, several power strips and a 6month old VCR. All these items show signs of severe electrical stress by was of blackened plugs, wires and outlets. My precious, and expensive computer system was on at the time and behind an expensive surge protector, and was saved. The surge protector was toast, however.
Through out the neighborhood, it seems if anything electric was on, it's now dead. This includes central A/C units, refrigerators, stoves, TV's, computers, stereos, etc. Being an officer in the local civic association, I've talked to several residents that are facing thousands of dollars in repairs and replacements. Damage has been reported as far away as a mile and a half from the accident site.
I filed a claim for damages through the power utility's customer service line and in less than 24 hours turn around, I had a written denial in hand through the US Mail. I figure they invested less than 4 business hours to what they termed a "complete investigation" of the incident.
Apparently, the utility is given a pass via the state's PSC regulatory tariffs. They clearly state that the utility shall be absolved of any liability caused by any irregularity in the delivery of electricity, for whatever the reason.
So we're left with home policies and the driver's insurance. Some home policies don't electrical hazards, mine does. But the driver's insurance coverage for property damage not involving the vehicle at the accident site is $30,000. How do I know? I have the same underwriter and I have the top limit for that coverage.
My contention is that this event was so massive and widespread that the local grid infrastructure was inadequately protected to trap this event before it essentially entered a dead end circuit in my community.
If this is not the appropriate place for this matter, where would that place be?
Thank you
HankJS