Power surge damaged your appliances: how to seek reimbursement

Save the evidence before you replace the appliance.

The answer in 2 lines. Disconnect damaged appliances only if you can do so safely. Photograph them, record when the problem happened and keep receipts and damaged equipment. Contact your homeowners or renters insurer about possible coverage, and notify your electric utility if you suspect a supply problem. Neither a neighborhood outage nor an appliance failing when power returns automatically proves utility responsibility. Claim procedures and deadlines vary by utility and state, so check the applicable requirements promptly.

The first steps

Stop using damaged equipment. If a plug and outlet are cool, dry and undamaged, disconnect the appliance. Leave scorched or hot equipment alone and keep others away.
Build a record. Photograph damage and model labels. Write down when the outage or unusual electrical behavior occurred, which appliances failed and whether neighbors noticed similar problems.
Ask before repairing or discarding anything. Contact your insurer and the utility's claims department through the contact information on your own policy and electric bill. Ask what evidence they require and whether they need to inspect the items.

Stop: danger

Smoke or fire: get everyone outside and call 911. Give the address and describe the emergency. Do not stay inside to collect claim evidence.
Sparks, a burning smell or damaged wiring: shut off the electrical system only if the panel is dry and safely accessible. Otherwise stay away. See the CDC electrical hazard guidance for warning signs and precautions.
Unusually bright or dim lights across the home: stop using appliances and report the symptoms to your utility. Arrange an electrical assessment rather than repeatedly resetting breakers.

Insurance or utility: where should you start?

Contact both when the cause is uncertain, explaining that another claim may also be pending. A utility damage claim and an insurance claim follow different rules. Reporting one does not necessarily satisfy the other's notice requirements.

Possible lightning damage: ask your insurer whether the event and damaged belongings are covered. Lightning is a commonly covered peril, but exclusions, limits and deductibles still matter. The Missouri insurance department's homeowners FAQs explain typical coverage; use them to identify questions for your own insurer.
Suspected utility equipment or service failure: ask the utility how to submit a property damage claim and request an incident reference.
A problem inside your home: arrange a qualified electrician's assessment. Ask your insurer about resulting damage without assuming it will pay to correct the underlying defect.

What not to do

Repeatedly powering up an appliance that smells burned or trips a breaker.
Writing that a surge definitely caused the damage when the cause has not been established.
Discarding damaged equipment before asking whether an inspection is needed.
Assuming an outage credit, if available, also reimburses damaged property.

Prepare a clear claim

Create an itemized record with each appliance's description, purchase information, condition, damage and repair estimate. Include photographs, receipts and relevant messages. If a repair technician examines an item, request written findings that distinguish observed damage from a suspected cause. Keep copies of everything submitted and proof of delivery.

A public utility example is the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power claims page. Customers can use its filing instructions and claim-form links to submit incident details and supporting documents. It explains that responsibility generally depends on negligence; filing is not a promise of payment. Its deadlines apply to that utility, not nationwide. Check the current page before submitting because older downloaded forms may contain different mailing details.

Ask your insurer whether belongings have actual cash value or replacement cost coverage. Actual cash value accounts for depreciation; replacement cost coverage has its own payment conditions. Use the NAIC coverage explanation to compare those terms with your policy.

If your claim is denied

Request the decision and its policy or legal basis in writing. For an insurance dispute, use the NAIC insurance department directory: select your state under File a Complaint, then follow your department's instructions and attach the claim correspondence.

Utility complaint jurisdiction also varies. For example, the California utility complaint page explains how customers of regulated utilities can seek help after contacting their provider. It expressly excludes municipal utility complaints. Read the eligibility information before using its online complaint route; a service complaint does not itself guarantee damages.

Good to know

Renters should notify the landlord about building wiring or landlord-owned appliances and contact their own insurer about personal belongings.
Ask about deductibles, coverage limits, inspection requirements and filing deadlines before assuming replacement costs will be reimbursed.
For future outages, disconnect sensitive equipment when safe. Review our storm protection guide and ask a qualified electrician about suitable surge protection.

Illustrative example: after a neighborhood outage, Maya finds that her television and refrigerator no longer work. She photographs both, saves the outage message and asks her insurer what documentation is needed. She also reports the incident to the utility, describing the timing without claiming that the outage proves fault. She keeps the appliances available until she receives disposal instructions.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on November 4, 2026, for the United States. Confidence: high for evidence preservation and the distinction between insurance and utility claims; medium for any individual coverage or liability outcome, which depends on the policy, utility and state.