Fallen electric or utility poles can cause a world of damage and potential hazards. What do you do when one of these structures falls on your roof? What if a pole on your property falls on someone else’s house? Does your homeowner’s insurance cover fallen electrical or utility poles?
The simple answer is – yes, your insurance company should cover the damage caused by a fallen rogue pole in most cases. This incident would be classified under fallen objects peril. So, if a pole falls in your yard and damages your property, your insurance company will step in. They will pay to repair or replace your dwelling, other structures, and maybe even your personal items.
Whoever owns the pole is responsible for the pole and its components. Their property ends where your property starts. So, the damage caused to the pole itself or any of its attachments will not be covered by your insurance.
The right homeowner’s insurance policy can protect you from unexpected expenses that come from circumstances like these. Keep reading to learn who exactly is responsible for what. We’ll look at how your insurance policy can save the day, and how to prepare for these dangerous situations.
Who is responsible for fallen electrical or utility poles?
Regarding electric poles, your electric company is charged with responsibility. Keep in mind that they are only liable for repairs and general maintenance on the poles and power lines. They are also responsible for keeping the public safe in the presence of their electric lines.
Let’s say an electric pole falls on your home and causes damage to the electrical wiring in the affected area. The electric company will come out, replace the pole, and restore the power lines to reach your house. The damaged wiring in your home will be repaired by your home insurance.
If a driver hits a pole and it lands on your property, the driver will be considered at fault. In this case, their liability car insurance will come into play. Their insurance company will foot the bill to pay for the damage to the utility pole, your property, and any other issues they caused.
Does homeowners insurance cover fallen power lines?
Yes, your homeowners insurance will cover the damage to your property caused by fallen power lines just like it would in the case of fallen electrical poles. The power lines are considered components of an electric pole owned by the utility company, so the repair of their lines is the responsibility of their insurance carrier.
What does home insurance cover?
Here’s where things get a little tricky. If power lines or poles fall because of something that you are at fault for, you might be held accountable for the associated costs.
For example, let’s say you have a dead tree on your property. If that tree falls on the power company’s power line, you may have to cover the damage. This is when having the right homeowners insurance policy comes in handy.
Your insurer can help you pay for the damage caused by healthy trees that fall due to covered perils on your policy. If your tree is decrepit and needs to be trimmed or cut down, your insurance claim may be denied due to negligence on your part.
Make sure your insurance policy covers liability, other structures, and falling objects.
- Dwelling coverage will help you pay for the damage up to the limit outlined on your policy.
- “Other Structures” is a type of coverage that will protect your property from damage caused by rogue utility poles.
- “Falling Objects” is a peril that you can have on your policy. Check to make sure you have this listed as a covered risk so your dwelling coverage can kick in. Most regular HO-3 and HO-2 policies cover fallen objects by default.
If you have extended replacement cost coverage, you can ensure that the damage done to your house is covered. Additionally, if your home is unliveable due to the damage, your insurance company may outline how they will pay for reasonable accommodations.
What to do in case power lines or poles fall on your property
Safety is of the utmost importance at times like these. Large structures are dangerous enough. With electricity involved, dire consequences can come from not being too careful.
- First things first, don’t go near power lines. You should treat all wires as live, and never touch them. Even touching items that are touching the lines could electrocute you. Keep your children and pets away from them at all costs.
- Once you’re safe, you’ll need to make a series of calls. You should call the police and make them aware of the situation, especially if someone hit the pole.
- After that, you should call your electric company’s emergency line. They will have a professional come out and assess how to cut power to the fallen pole and lines. From there, they will repair, remove, or replace their damaged pole.
- Finally, call your homeowners insurance agent. They can go over your policy and give you solutions until the damage to your home can be repaired.
Conclusion
The rule of thumb is to trace the domino effect of causation. If an electric or utility pole or line fell because of wind or some other natural cause, they will pay to restore power and replace their equipment. Your home insurance will help you pay for the damage done as a result.
As always, it’s very important to check the details of your policy. Make sure you’re safe from having to come out of pocket for unfortunate events like these.
Another way to keep you and your wallet safe is to check your property’s trees and standing structures regularly. Always call professionals to trim trees on your private property to prevent the risk of electrocution.
