Appliances damaged by a power surge: can you claim?

Keep the damaged appliances. Your evidence may matter as much as the fault.

The answer in 2 lines. Stop using the affected appliances and unplug them if safe. Photograph the damage, record when it happened and contact your home insurer before arranging disposal or permanent repairs. If several appliances failed together, report a suspected supply problem to your electricity network operator through 105 and request an investigation. A payment for a lengthy power cut is separate from a claim for damaged appliances. Neither the timing of the failure nor a neighbourhood outage automatically establishes liability.

Start with these steps

Make things safe. Stop using affected appliances. Unplug them only if the plug and socket are cool, dry and safe to touch.
Record what happened. Photograph the appliances, damage and identifying labels. Make your own inventory with purchase dates, receipts where available and the time you noticed each failure.
Contact your insurer and report the fault. Ask what evidence is needed before paying for a repair report. For a suspected network problem, call 105; Ofgem explains how the reporting service works.

Stop: danger

Smoke or fire: get out, stay out and call 999. Do not delay to collect receipts or switch off appliances. Follow the government’s fire escape advice.
Scorching, melting or a burning smell: stop using the equipment. Switch off the affected circuit only if you can safely reach the consumer unit. Have the installation checked before using it again.
Unusually bright lights or repeated simultaneous failures: stop testing appliances and report the symptoms to the network operator. Do not open the meter or incoming supply equipment.

Who should receive your claim?

Your home insurer: ask whether your policy covers the suspected event, such as lightning, electrical damage or accidental damage. Cover, exclusions and the excess depend on the contract. Damage to your belongings and damage to fixed wiring may fall under different sections. Use the policy’s claims contact and ask for a reference.

Your electricity network operator: report a suspected supply fault and ask whether its investigation identifies an incident that could explain the damage. The operator maintains the local electricity network; your supplier handles your energy account. Ask the operator for its property-damage claims procedure and a written explanation of its findings.

If the cause is unclear, contact both and tell each about the other claim. Do not assume that you can recover the same loss twice.

Build a useful evidence file

Keep photographs, purchase evidence, repair estimates, outage messages and correspondence together. Record what stopped working and whether nearby homes experienced similar symptoms. Describe observations accurately: “the television stopped working when supply returned” is more useful than presenting an unconfirmed surge as fact.

Ask your insurer whether it wants a qualified repairer’s assessment, who should arrange it and whether the assessment cost is covered. A useful report distinguishes the failed component, the probable cause and whether repair is economical. Keep damaged items unless they present a safety risk or the insurer agrees to disposal. For storm claims, ABI’s guidance explains how to document damage and discuss temporary repairs with your insurer.

What not to do

Repeatedly switching on an appliance that smells burnt, or trying it in another socket.
Throwing equipment away before asking what inspection or evidence is required.
Assuming that power-cut compensation automatically includes the replacement cost of appliances.
Authorising expensive repairs without checking the insurer’s requirements and keeping an itemised invoice.

If your claim is refused

Ask for the reasons in writing, including any policy exclusion or evidence relied on. Explain precisely what you dispute and what outcome you want.

For an insurance complaint, complain to the insurer first. Then use the Financial Ombudsman Service’s complaint guide: follow its eligibility instructions and provide the policy, decision and supporting evidence.

Network complaints in England

Use the operator’s formal complaints process and retain the original complaint date. Ofgem’s complaints guidance explains the route for network disputes; Ofgem does not resolve individual compensation claims.

Check the Energy Ombudsman’s current process for eligibility, participating operators and when you can submit evidence. Use its dispute route once eligible. Network arrangements in Northern Ireland differ; this guide covers England.

Good to know

There is no universal appliance replacement payment: the cause, liability, evidence and insurance terms all matter.
If you rent, report damaged fixed wiring or landlord-provided equipment in writing. Use GOV.UK’s repairs guidance to check responsibilities and escalation options.
For electrical checks, follow the register link on GOV.UK’s competent person page and search for an electrician in your area.

Illustrative example: after a neighbourhood outage in Leeds, Amira finds that her television and freezer no longer work. She photographs them, reports the suspected supply fault and asks her insurer what assessment it needs. She keeps the equipment while the cause is investigated, without assuming that the outage alone guarantees reimbursement.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on 4 November 2026, for England. Confidence: high for reporting and evidence preservation; medium for individual claims, which depend on causation, liability and policy terms. No universal compensation amount or claim deadline is asserted.