topgroove
06-01-2006, 12:55 PM
Surge claims being settled
Residents lost appliances when electricity spike hit Albany homes last week
By BRIAN NEARING, Staff writer
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First published: Tuesday, May 23, 2006
ALBANY -- Insurance adjusters have visited a neighborhood near the University at Albany where an electrical power surge last week ruined computers, televisions and other appliances in about 40 homes.
By Monday, about 20 cases had been settled for reimbursement, said Stephen Brady, a spokesman for utility company National Grid, in the wake of the mishap Thursday in a transformer near Glynn Street and Tryon Court.
"I was pretty upset when it happened, but the insurance adjusters were in the neighborhood over the weekend," said Marilyn Riley, a Glynn Street resident. "I think the company has been very responsible."
Brady said the insurance claims are being handled by Hawkeye LLC, a Hauppauge, Long Island, company whose employees were working on the transformer at the time of the surge.
"We are reviewing what happened," he said.
The transformer, also called a "ratio bank," can increase or decrease voltage running through the lines. On Thursday, the transformer apparently relayed an increase of voltage into nearby homes.
"I had a surge protector for the computer. It didn't do any good," said Riley, who also lost a dishwasher, microwave, two televisions, clothes dryer, and a VCR.
Several calls for comment to Hawkeye, which has a regional office in Canajoharie, were not returned.
Brady said Hawkeye provides support services and field work for National Grid. "The company is very professional."
Brady said he expected the remaining damage cases to be settled quickly.
"We're looking at cases where the extent of the damage still isn't known, where you have to have an electrician come in to look at it," he said.
The state Public Safety Commission also is investigating the mishap, said spokesman David Flanagan.
In September 2003, a power surge in Hoosick Falls damaged appliances in homes of nearly half of the village's 3,600 residents.
That surge was caused when a tree knocked down a power line, which came in contact with a secondary power source. In that case, Niagara-Mohawk Power Corp. said the mishap was an "act of God" that was not covered by the company's insurance, so customers were not reimbursed.
Nearing can be reached at 454-5094 or by e-mail at bnearing@timesunion.com.
Residents lost appliances when electricity spike hit Albany homes last week
By BRIAN NEARING, Staff writer
Click byline for more stories by writer.
First published: Tuesday, May 23, 2006
ALBANY -- Insurance adjusters have visited a neighborhood near the University at Albany where an electrical power surge last week ruined computers, televisions and other appliances in about 40 homes.
By Monday, about 20 cases had been settled for reimbursement, said Stephen Brady, a spokesman for utility company National Grid, in the wake of the mishap Thursday in a transformer near Glynn Street and Tryon Court.
"I was pretty upset when it happened, but the insurance adjusters were in the neighborhood over the weekend," said Marilyn Riley, a Glynn Street resident. "I think the company has been very responsible."
Brady said the insurance claims are being handled by Hawkeye LLC, a Hauppauge, Long Island, company whose employees were working on the transformer at the time of the surge.
"We are reviewing what happened," he said.
The transformer, also called a "ratio bank," can increase or decrease voltage running through the lines. On Thursday, the transformer apparently relayed an increase of voltage into nearby homes.
"I had a surge protector for the computer. It didn't do any good," said Riley, who also lost a dishwasher, microwave, two televisions, clothes dryer, and a VCR.
Several calls for comment to Hawkeye, which has a regional office in Canajoharie, were not returned.
Brady said Hawkeye provides support services and field work for National Grid. "The company is very professional."
Brady said he expected the remaining damage cases to be settled quickly.
"We're looking at cases where the extent of the damage still isn't known, where you have to have an electrician come in to look at it," he said.
The state Public Safety Commission also is investigating the mishap, said spokesman David Flanagan.
In September 2003, a power surge in Hoosick Falls damaged appliances in homes of nearly half of the village's 3,600 residents.
That surge was caused when a tree knocked down a power line, which came in contact with a secondary power source. In that case, Niagara-Mohawk Power Corp. said the mishap was an "act of God" that was not covered by the company's insurance, so customers were not reimbursed.
Nearing can be reached at 454-5094 or by e-mail at bnearing@timesunion.com.