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Wednesday June 19, 2013

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Power surge residents will receive compensation

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 12 December, 2012 - 10:57 AM
Power surge

UPDATE: Residents of Mornington, Mt Martha and Moorooduc who suffered damage as a result of yesterday’s power surge can have their broken appliances replaced. 

Spokesperson for United Energy Lisa Drought says customers should submit a ‘claim form’ which will then be judged on a case-by-case basis.

“This is a terrible inconvenience for people, it is also a frightening experience in some cases, obviously yesterday and overnight we have been focusing on taking people calls and helping them if they are concerned at all from a safety point of view,”

“Now we are moving onto that next phase of assisting people with their claim. They do have to work through a process and our job is to make that process as painless as possible” she told Neil Mitchell.

United Energy ask all customers within the affected areas to please check your appliances for electrical damage and call them on 1300 131 689 if you have any questions or concerns. 

If you wish to make a claim following appliance damageyou can access a claim form  here.

WEDNESDAY: An electrical surge in Mount Martha and Mornington has sparked nearly 60 calls to the CFA for help.

Residents around the area have been urged to check their homes after the surge came from the Mornington sub-station around 9:00am.

The affected area is between Craigie Road and Bungower Road

Neil Mitchell spoke to CFA Operations Manager Trevor Owen who said fire fighters have put out 48 small fires in the area, 14 of which that could've turned into significant blazes if not for their quick response.

"Our biggest concern is that people smell smoke and contact emergency services straight away.  They should also be looking out for their neighbours properties who might not be home.  If they see smoke coming out of their windows it's a sign there might be a fire," he said.

Owen added the danger could persist for the next four to five hours.

"Wires in fuses, insulation, roofs and appliances can still catch fire and the repercussions could be very serious if they aren't noticed."

If you detect smoke in your house, turn off appliances and call 000 immediately.

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LISTEN: CFA Operations Manager Trevor Owen:

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Blog comments Your Say

  • Just spoke to Keiren Mcallister at United Energy.....Computers over 3 years of age will not be replaced ---no claim at all...I had a working pc for a home business and now have no working computer

    sharon Thursday 31 January, 2013 - 4:07 PM

  • I have again contacted united, just get the run around, I replaced the phone and bought a new pc on interested free terms at Harvey Norman.Pond pump is dead microwaves catches fire if I turn it on. They asked me to email photos of the appliances...have done that, now that just leave me on hold in the hope that I hang up

    sharon Thursday 31 January, 2013 - 3:51 PM

  • We have also been effected by a United Energy Claim.
    The Best thing to do is contact Channel 9 ACA or Channel 7 Today tonight with a story, as they will follow it up quicker than the drawn out process that united energy take.

    D.P Tuesday 29 January, 2013 - 6:04 PM

  • I am in Wantirna Sth and we just had a power surge that blew up my little flat screen, not that old and not happy being a pensioner!

    Joanne Bamber Monday 28 January, 2013 - 5:25 PM

  • United Energy are not making the claim process easy! They are certainly not paying promptly as promised at their Community meetings held at Benton's Square. I, and many others that I am aware of (I work in customer service and people like to talk!)are still waiting more than 5 weeks after this happened for United Energy to "investigate" our claims, making us feel as though we're criminals trying to rort the system. In our case, and again many others that I'm aware of, their own service teams were required to attend our property on the day of this power surge, and the resulting damage would have been documented. And yet, we wait with outstanding bills to be paid, while United Energy do not respond to our emails, nor provide any info in follow up calls, other than to say that this is their process and all claims have to be investigated. They are not providing the service they promised after being pushed into any action initially only as a response of 3AW's interest in this on the day of the power surge, and they seem to have totally missed the point that this power surge was NOT our fault, we are the victims here!

    fed up of Mornington Friday 18 January, 2013 - 12:26 PM

  • Richard, for someone who appears to be as learned as yourself you seem to have not read my comments or maybe you are so intent on undermining electronic meters that you have not understood what I've said at all which leads me to question the validity of your two years of research not to mention your brain size! If you take the time to read my comment all I am stating is that the electronic meters have played no part in the overvoltage issue in mornington and mt martha. It was caused by human error at the substation. Yes electronic meters can affect people's health but as your research has hopefully taught you they emit the same amount of radiation as a smart phone and other commonly available wireless devices. Where are the people wildly and dare i say it irrationally opposing these items?
    And Richard does your research also come to the same figure of zero that being the number of electronic meters affected by the overvoltage? Hysteria only breeds ignorance I'm afraid to say.

    Amazed by ignorance Sunday 23 December, 2012 - 11:21 PM

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