Power surges can occur when there is a sudden increase in voltage to an appliance. Power surges can damage any appliance connected to an aerial, electrical or telecommunication wire and can be triggered by many different events including storms and lightning strikes.

Protect against power surges

There are some simple precautions you can take to protect your appliances from unexpected power surges such as:

• Unplugging and turning appliances off during storms. You can also disconnect the TV aerial.
• Connecting your appliances via surge protectors such as Surge Protector Power Boards.
• Purchasing appliances with inbuilt surge protection measures.
• Seeking professional surge protection advice from a licensed electrician.
• Having appropriate insurance coverage. The Insurance Council of Australia urges all households to check their policies to ensure coverage for damage caused by power surges.

If you have experienced damage to your property, you can lodge a claim for compensation with Ausgrid. We recommend first checking with your insurer to see if you are covered under any insurance policy. Please note that not all claims submitted to Ausgrid are eligible for compensation. If your property or appliances were damaged due to a power surge, you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation. For further information on eligibility and lodging a claim please visit our claims section.