Problem Solver: Duke Energy Pays Surge Claim

Power surges into your home can mean big damages to your pocket. One Upstate family was left without several appliances for months when the power levels became too much to handle but they couldn't figure out who was to blame. Dianne Derby gets to the bottom of their dilemma and tells you how to protect your home in this 7 On Your Side Problem Solver.

Barbara Black says a power surge that came into her Spartanburg home in October damaged several electronics and appliances. Since then her landlord, Randall Lark, replaced her stove but she's been living without the rest.

"This is the TV it won't do anything," said Black as she pointed to her TV now sitting by her front door.

Black says not having her TV has been the toughest part because she's disabled and spends most of her days at home. She says her landlord spent months trying to figure out who was to blame since the damage happened the same day as a tree cutting service sent by Duke Energy was on the property. When he couldn't get answers we got involved.

"That did the trick," said Lark. "Two days after your response I heard from (Duke Energy) and less than 6 days later the small portion of the claim that was mine I got the check and they are in the process of resolving it with the tenant."

Duke Energy spokesperson Mary Kathryn Green told us, "The initial investigation noted ABC as doing work along the line and causing the neutral line to break but upon additional investigation, it was determined that the damaged neutral line was pre-existing. We'll be honoring the claim so the customer (landlord and tenant) can be compensated."

"I appreciate your help," said Lark. "It was like magic."

So what can you do to protect your home? We found out you can install a surge protector on your electrical panel and it will protect all the appliances in your home. We found them at Lowe's in Spartanburg for about $84. It's something you might agree is worth the cost.

"It mounts at the beginning where power comes into the house and when it comes into the house it has to go through (the surge protector) first," said Lowe's electrical expert Preston Wood. "If it's too much of a load for the house to handle then (the surge protector) tips the power therefore protecting everything in the house from appliances to computers."

Advice that may keep something like this from happening to you.

If you are concerned about possible surges coming into your home you can contact Duke Energy through your local number.