Is it possible to claim compensation for damages caused by the power outage?

The electrical chaos that engulfed Spain this Monday has affected consumers and businesses, potentially resulting in millions in losses. In light of this situation, and while awaiting clarification on the causes and duration of the power cut, experts remind that all affected parties have the right to claim compensation for the damages incurred.

Initially, according to regulations, the Insurance Compensation Consortium (CCS) does not cover such interruptions in electricity supply. However, if it is ultimately due to a weather phenomenon, there might be a possibility of coverage. For now, users can only turn to the distribution or supply companies for potential damages, such as food spoilage due to the broken cold chain. It is also advised to review home insurance policies, as some may cover these types of damages. The challenge? Everything must be well-documented.

Generally, unexpected interruptions are those lasting more than three minutes. In the Community of Madrid, for instance, it is established that supply companies must restore service within a maximum of three hours when the incident affects 70% of the market, and within six hours when it affects 100% of the market.

If any of these thresholds are exceeded, either in number or duration of the interruption, the company must apply a discount of up to a maximum of 10% on the annual bill, as well as compensation for damages caused to food or electronic devices due to a blackout.

If damage has occurred to electrical appliances or if all the food in the refrigerator has been lost, a claim can be filed, and compensation for these damages can be demanded. In such cases, the electricity company has the right to verify that the damage was caused by the outage.

Therefore, it is advisable to keep all receipts or invoices for appliances, as well as documents that can verify the damage or loss, such as purchase receipts for the food that was in the freezer or refrigerator.

Regarding home insurance coverage, Nationale-Nederlanden states that "it is very important for the insured to correctly prove the cause of the breakdown covered by this policy." This can be done with a report from a technician, the electricity company responsible for the area's distribution, or an expert. "The insurance company will review this documentation and the damages incurred to approve the repair or compensation," experts point out.