Lightning strike or surge from electric company?
I had several electrical items go out during a storm, septic pump, pool heater & pump, water softener, a/c, one tv along with several roof leaks and ceiling falling in. The insurance adjuster said I have to prove it was from lightning (to cover electrical items) and not a power surge from the electric company. Is this true or are they just trying to get out of a claim. How can I tell and what is the difference and how do you know? Does underground utilities have anything to do with this?
There are companies that record lightning strikes and have a very small radius of error.
I work as an Electrical Engineer for a large chemical company and we use a company called Vaisala for strike reports. You have to give them a date and a time range
Note that just because they’re located in Arizona doesn’t mean a thing. We’re on the other side of the country.
It doesn’t cost too much like $100 or so. You just have to weigh how much your losses were and how confident you are in that you can prove lightning cause your loss.
thunderstorm.sales@vaisala.com
Without actually knowing the answer, one easy solution is to ask the utility company. Ask them, ‘did you record a change in line voltage on my branch circuit at this time?’. It’s almost certain that they will say their system did not detect a change. So then you can tell the adjuster ’since it wasn’t the power company, it must have been lightning’. If the adjuster disagree show him your letter from the power company and tell him he has to take it up with them. It may approve the claim rather than get involved with a big company that has lawyers on staff.