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Cape Town - Eskom load shedding brings various risks and consumers must be vigilant in order to ensure that any resulting insurance claims will succeed, according to Lizette Erasmus, head of insurance expertise at IntegriSure.
"Currently in the insurance industry there has seen an increase in various types of claims due to load shedding - for instance a spike in claims due to burglaries," she told Fin24.
Electric fencing or an alarm system might, for instance, not be operational during load shedding.
"Many people don't arm the back-up alarm. Make sure your back-up battery is operational and arm your alarm if you leave your residence, even if there is load shedding. This is because
you might have to prove that your alarm was in working order at the time you left your premises so that, should it malfunction due to load shedding, your insurer will consider your claim. " said Erasmus.
"We have also seen - and not just due to load shedding - an increase in armed robberies at homes. Consumers must make sure their safety doors are locked."
Regarding insurance claims due to power surges, her advice is to make sure what your insurance product covers and if it is included as a standard cover.
"My advice in terms of alarms, warranties and how your insurer would handle a claim, is to discuss these with your intermediary or insurer," said Erasmus.
In terms of power surges she advises consumers to unplug electric equipment not in use. Rather unplug these during load shedding.
Be vigilant when you leave your property or return during load shedding.
READ: Impact of load shedding on insurance claims
Fire risks
Erasmus cautions that there can also be fire risks related to load shedding. She gives the example of a family who was busy preparing dinner when the power went off. They later went to sleep only to wake up due to pots with oil in it having caught fire on the stove, which came on when load shedding ended.
If you use candles during load shedding, be sure to put them out before you go to sleep.
If you use a generator, make sure you know how to operate it and use a reputable person to do the installation as you will need a certificate of compliance.
"There are, therefore, a lot of risks consumers are unaware of and they should be vigilant, including when working with generators," said Erasmus.
ALSO READ: Eskom to up tariffs to recoup diesel costs
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