Damage Responsibility
At times, you may experience damage or loss of property to your home or business associated with your electric service. The BWL understands that any type of damage to property can impose a significant personal and financial burden on our customers. Most often, however, loss events are not typically caused by BWL negligence but instead forces beyond our control.
When damage or loss is caused by a condition outside of the BWL’s control, such as from a storm, equipment failure, or voltage variations, the BWL is not legally responsible for the damage or loss. Please see the BWL’s Rules & Regulations for Service for additional details.
Losses caused by acts of nature, equipment malfunctions, power fluctuations, or other external forces may be covered by your business, homeowners or renters insurance policy. Please review your insurance policy or check with your insurance agent for possible coverage.
BWL Electric Service Rules & Regulations
The BWL Rules & Regulations for Electric Service govern the standard of service to our customers, and state in part:
BWL supplies 60 Hertz alternating current throughout its service area and intends, but does not guarantee, to furnish a continuous supply of Electric Power and to maintain voltage and frequency within reasonable limits.
BWL will not be liable for interruptions in the service, including, but not limited to, phase failure or reversal, variations in the service characteristics, including, but not limited to, variations in frequency and voltage, loss or damage of any kind or character caused by interruptions or variations in service, or loss or damage caused by conditions beyond the BWL’s control. Such causes or conditions specifically include, but are not be limited to, acts or failure to act by Customers or third parties, operation of safety devices, absence of an alternate supply of service, the failure, malfunction, breakage, repairs, or inspection of machinery, or lack thereof, Facilities or equipment when the BWL has carried on a program of maintenance consistent with the general standards prevailing in the industry, acts of God, war, action of the elements, storm, flood, fire, riot, sabotage, labor dispute, labor disturbance, the exercise of authority by the government, the exercise of authority by the military, governmental regulation, and military regulation.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these Rules, the BWL may interrupt, curtail, or suspend Electric Service to all or some of its Customers in accordance with the provisions of the BWL’s Emergency Electrical Curtailment procedures or as necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its employees or Customers and the reliability of its electric distribution system. The BWL is not liable for any such interruption, curtailment, or suspension of Electric Service.
How to Request a Claim
If you believe that the BWL directly caused damage to your property, please contact our Risk Management Department at (517) 702-6167 or BWLClaims@LBWL.com to request a BWL Claim Form or download the PDF form below:
Complete and submit your claim following the instructions provided. Each claim is investigated and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Submittal of a claim is not a guarantee of payment.