Impact of Load Shedding on Appliances

It’s become evident that the rotational power outages currently being experienced in  South Africa are expected to stay around for a while. There is no better time than now to start thinking about the best ways to protect your household and business appliances. In this section we will be looking at the amount of damage caused by power surge, do insurance companies provide cover for power surge and what are the best ways to protect your appliances during load shedding.

What Is A Power Surge ?

  • 4 Hours (roughly)
  • 1000 Homes/Businesses
  • R700-million per stage per day (estimated)
The concept of Load Shedding has really intensified over the last 2 to 3 years, but it is reported that the unstable power utility dates back to 2008. The state owned utility Eskom has issued rotational power outages and blackouts where households and businesses are left in the dark for hours in some parts of the country even days without electricity. According to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in the year 2019 there was a total of 530 hours of load shedding and that these blackouts will continue over the next 2 to 3 years depending on how soon the government can react.

Power Surge usually happens in three main ways: An interruption in the electricity flow for short intervals; an increased delivery of power is interrupted when the electricity is sent flowing back into the system; or when a sudden increase in voltage is sent through a power system from external or internal forces. Truth is there are several causes for a power surge but electrical overload, faulty wiring, lightning strikes and restoration of power after a power outage or blackout are the main reasons.

Who Pays for Power Surge Damage Caused by Load Shedding?

Payment for power surge damage is dependent on what caused the surge, and the type of insurance plan you have. Insurance policies for homeowners, particularly those with personal property coverage, generally cover damages from power surges caused by lightning strikes or excessive voltage from external events.

If the surge damage to your devices or appliances was caused by known faulty wiring, overloading circuits or unexpected load shedding, you will most likely be responsible for covering those expenses.

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