united-kingdom damages compensation
Who is liable for property damage compensation caused by a power surge?
<p>One of my friends just got hit by a power surge and it damaged a lot of electrical equipment. Could my friend collect compensation to replace the damaged items?</p>
<p>The entire street was also hit in case that is relevant.</p>
<p>The power network is owned by UK power networks.</p>
<p>The cause of the surge is unknown, however it did not happen during a storm making us think that it was not lightning. A few theories are rodents in the transformer or trees causing the lines to touch, both of which would suggest poor maintanance.</p>

<p>You either need insurance (mine bought me a new iMac once) or you need someone whose fault the damage is. That may be hard to find.</p>

<p><a href="/questions/tagged/australia" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;australia&#39;" rel="tag">australia</a></p>
<h2>The electricity distributor is responsible for damage caused by the grid</h2>
<p>There is long established (30+ years) case law that a power surge or sag is a failure by the distributor to provide a product (electricity) that is “fit for purpose” in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law (which replaced the Trade Practices Act as it was at the time). Their liability is limited by contract to physical damage and not consequential loss - if you don’t back up your data, that’s your problem.</p>
<p>As a result, they hardly ever happen because the low voltage grid is extremely well protected against them.</p>
