Household

Load shedding: Take back the power and be effectively Insured

Load shedding hit South Africans again in 2019 and is expected to remain a possibility, so it’s best to check that your short-term insurance cover is in order. In addition to monitoring the news and load shedding schedule, there are also many preparations you can make at home and work to take back the power as much as possible.

You must always comply with your insurance policy

Insurers will only honour claims that arise during load shedding if you can prove you complied with the terms and conditions in your short-term insurance policy and the cover provided caters for such an occurrence. This is among the reasons why it is so important to keep your policy up to date and to be aware of what you have agreed to.

For example, your policy may state that you are a client of an armed response company. If a burglary takes place during load shedding, you must ensure your alarm remains connected to the alarm company via a battery for the insurance claim to be considered.

Take a load off

While no one enjoys load shedding, it can be a particularly costly disruption for a business. However, you can take measures to keep the lights on. We’ve outlined some ideas below that could help to make your working life easier when load shedding strikes. Most of these will apply at home as well.

Size matters

Depending on the size of your business, investing in an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) can go a long way. A UPS can provide power for anything from a few minutes (allowing you time to shut down your computer safely) to several hours. You might even consider a generator if uninterrupted power is critical to operations. Remember that it is essential to maintain your generator and look after any power supply additions, and to insure them at the correct replacement values.

Surge central

Consider adding surge protection to your plugs. This can help to limit damages from sudden power losses and provides added fire protection.

Powering through congestion

Power outages are usually coupled with power congestions, which can destroy electronic equipment. By installing power congestion isolators on your main power distribution board, you can limit or prevent damage to items like computers, fridges or gate motors. Power congestion isolators can even reduce lightning damage, which can be especially useful if you are based on the Highveld. Coverage for power congestions is not standard on insurance policies, so it is best to check if you can add it.

Don’t be alarmed

Battery life is crucial when it comes to your alarm or other systems and devices that have a battery back-up. Make a point to frequently check that any alarms, garages or gate systems are fully charged. Most batteries can keep the system going for at least 8 hours, while some could have back-up power for as long as 24 hours.

Your insurance policy may state that you need to service your alarm, which would include checking that back-up batteries are working. Proof of maintenance may also become important, so it’s worth noting any call-outs or check-ups accordingly.

Assess the alternatives

Solar power can give you freedom from relying on the grid. It can be costly to install (depending on the power needed) but can bring much relief during power shortages. Remember to factor replacement costs into your insurance and keep record of any solar panels or systems purchased to prove ownership.

More power to you

It will be essential to prove you kept up your side of your policy if you need to claim, so be sure to check you comply with all agreed terms. Also take note of your Accidental Damage section to see if you can add additional protection you may need – for example, extended cover for pool pumps or gate motors.

Working closely with your adviser to keep all your insurance details up to date is the first step to fully protecting your business and home. Remember that having the right insurance in place is a much smaller cost than not having cover when you need it most.

[Bertus Visser, Chief Executive of Distribution, PSG Insure]

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