After a massive power surge in rural Flamborough scorched electronics and left homeowners with thousands in damages last month, residents want Hydro One to explain the burst of electricity that hit their homes – and pay for it.
Hydro One says it has increased patrols in the area and replaced some power line components, but Flamborough councillor Judi Partridge says the number of her constituents who are dealing with damage is "absolutely unacceptable."
Patricia Kozowyk lives on Huisman Lane near Centre Road and Concession Road 6 East. She is one of a group of residents who say a power surge struck their homes on the afternoon of Feb. 23.
"Honestly, I'm surprised nothing burned down," she said. "Safety questions are at the top my list. How did this happen? Communication from Hydro is non-existent."
According to Kozowyk, the surge happened around 3 p.m. Her husband was home at the time, and was in their windowless main floor bathroom when the halogen light bulb in the room went "as bright as a lightning strike" before shorting out, leaving the room in total darkness.
Thousands of dollars worth of electronics ruined
Once the power returned, they took stock of the damage. Their furnace heat box was burned out, and a new desktop computer, dehumidifier and a wired-in smoke detector were all fried. All told, their home sustained about $7,000 in damages.
Paul Prno lives on Huisman Lane too, and he returned home that night to find his thermostats burned out and his electrical panel scorched. "I had surge protection, but it burned out all the power bars," he said. "That surge was incredible."
This power bar was singed from the power surge, Prno says. (Adam Carter/CBC)
His home suffered about $2,500 in damages, he says – but that number could climb thousands higher if his induction stove can't easily be repaired.
According to Hydro One, the surge occurred because an insulator that holds high voltage lines away from low voltage lines in the area broke, causing the two lines to touch. That sent a power surge into the low voltage line, which then ran into customers' homes.
There are 1,438 residents in the central Flamborough area who could have been affected by varying degrees because of the surge, says spokesperson Tiziana Baccegarosa.
"Crews are always out and inspecting the lines," Baccegarosa said. "Since this has happened, crews have increased patrols." In recent weeks, workers have replaced 12 wire cross arms and 36 insulators for "preventative maintenance," she says.
Who pays for the damage?
Partridge says she's heard from residents on Huisman Lane as well as John Martin Crescent and Garden Lane about the surge, and has heard stories about ruined furnaces, freezers and smoke inside residents' homes.
"These people are scared and they have every right to be," she said. "They're worried about leaving their homes."
Partridge has sent a "lengthy email" to Hydro One outlining her resident's concerns, she says.
"It details that it was absolutely unacceptable how many homes were involved and what was experienced."
So who pays for all this damage? Hydro One customers can submit claims to Quelmec Loss Adjusters in an effort to get reimbursed for the damage – if the company is deemed responsible.
Prno isn't holding out hope for that, noting a statement on Hydro One's website that says "We cannot guarantee a continuous or constant supply of power and will not be liable for any damages caused by a lack of power, a power outage or a power surge."
Customers will hear back within 30 to 60 days of their claims being submitted, Baccegarosa says.
adam.carter@cbc.ca | AdamCarterCBC
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