T&TEC not liable for damaged appliances after power surge

[redmanjp]

apparently appliances suppose to just withstand surges

http://ctntworld.com/cnews2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5679:t-tec-not-liable-for-damaged-appliances-after-power-surge&catid=137:c-news&Itemid=707

T&TEC not liable for damaged appliances after power surge

The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) is not liable if your electronic items are ruined by power surges which occur immediately after electricity is restored following an outage.

Speaking at Tuesday's sitting of the Joint Select Committee, T&TEC General Manager Kelvin Ramsook explained that according to legislation, the utility could only be held responsible if appliances were damaged during a regular supply of electricity, where T&TEC sent voltage above or below the recommended level.

Mr. Ramsook argued that appliances should withstand surges caused by returning power, but in many cases T&TEC's investigations revealed faulty wiring on the compounds of complainants.

[sMASH]

too bad we don't have an alternative service provider

[sMASH]

but to be fair, their service has been quite good for the recent years, when compared to the time before.

[ek4ever]

So if my building wiring up to spec and items plugged into line conditioners and surge suppressors and an item gets damaged when electricity is restored T&TEC still not responsible? This is BS ... I would argue that the reason for the damage was the surge which occurred due to a fault in the transmission system which is the responsibility of T&TEC. Therefor cause can be attributed to T&TEC

[ruffneck_12]

If you paying for a specific voltage/frequency standard
cuz all electronics work around that standard

and the provider goes outside of that standard
...and damages an appliance

Why d fack T&TEC not liable -_-

is not like you deliberately plug a 110 appliance in a 220 socket

[~Vēġó~]

^^^no they would argue that it was probably a fault with your conditioners/suppressors.....

[noshownogo]

Sweet T&T yes. In a land where we can absolve ourselves from any and every responsibility and consequence.

Love it...

[wagonrunner]

Time to pass some amperage through Kelvin Ramsook and his family, and tell him you are not at fault.
They should be able to withstand it.

[noshownogo]

You bought lunch from my food establishment and found a roach. Not my problem, go check the farmer that grew the vegetation

[Soul Collector]

Time to pass some amperage through Kelvin Ramsook and his family, and tell him you are not at fault.
They should be able to withstand it.

[saalih]

well not to defend T&Tec but most high end electronics state in the user guide that it is best used with some sort of surge protector or UPS.... better safe than sorry for me yes....

[maj. tom]

Can voltage surge protectors be built into the breaker boxes? If so, why doesn't T&TEC make it mandatory for all connections to their grid?

Does T&TEC officially advise their customers to turn off the main breaker when power cuts? How are people supposed to know to do that if T&TEC never instructed them to do that?

[H.S.E GuY]

I had that problem - Just installed an air condition unit 24,000 BTU - T&TEC had a surge damage the compressor and some other components, I replaced same $2400.00 plus called and made report. They did come out just to tell me that they are not liable. Ended up installing a line conditioner on the units throughout. What a frickin waste .

[bluestarz9]

T&TEC this statement is just utter rubbish and downright unsensible.

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

I had that problem - Just installed an air condition unit 24,000 BTU - T&TEC had a surge damage the compressor and some other components, I replaced same $2400.00 plus called and made report. They did come out just to tell me that they are not liable. Ended up installing a line conditioner on the units throughout. What a frickin waste .

what make and model of 24,000 BTU unit you got for $2400.00?

[wagonrunner]

Can voltage surge protectors be built into the breaker boxes? If so, why doesn't T&TEC make it mandatory for all connections to their grid?

Does T&TEC officially advise their customers to turn off the main breaker when power cuts? How are people supposed to know to do that if T&TEC never instructed them to do that?

they call and make appointments when power goes and returns?
that makes no sense when people leave their home for any period of time.

[stev]

what the hell?....failure to safeguard your appliances against surges is carelessness. what T&TEC have to do with that?


if they used to be held liable then every time u want a new TV or fridge all u have to say is T&TEC mash it.

[maj. tom]

Well that was the point I was making. They don't teach the public or use social media with immediate updates or anything like that, nor is it practical for everyone.

During the last nationwide outage they could have easily got that message out for everyone at home to turn off their breaker via whatever means: bbm, radio, facebook, trinituner, etc. Wouldn't be 100% effective, but it would have helped huh?

[wagonrunner]

what the hell?....failure to safeguard your appliances against surges is carelessness. what T&TEC have to do with that?


if they used to be held liable then every time u want a new TV or fridge all u have to say is T&TEC mash it.

you beleive a surge suppressor is infinite in power protection. it's not. They have a VA rating. There are instances where T&TEC spike surpass those, and your appliances still get the receiving end of it. so............failure to safeguard.............................................. ?

[maj. tom]

well stev does have a point. what about lightning surges? who's going to pay for that? Voltage surge protection should be built into the breaker boxes if it's possible to give any amount of protection it can.

[redmanjp]

well stev does have a point. what about lightning surges? who's going to pay for that? Voltage surge protection should be built into the breaker boxes if it's possible to give any amount of protection it can.

well i cud understand they not liable for lightning surges bcuz thats an Act of God but saying they cud damage your appliances & not be liable is BS- unless there is something which says subscribers MUST install surge protectors but then this would have to be on the mains to protect ALL devices

I wonder what the RIC have to say about this?

[TrinbagoMan]

Hopefully the newly formed Consumer Protection Agency of Trinidad and Tobago will take this up: https://www.facebook.com/ConsumerProtec ... izard=true

and even the RIC.

[hustla_ambition101]

Hopefully the newly formed Consumer Protection Agency of Trinidad and Tobago will take this up: https://www.facebook.com/ConsumerProtec ... izard=true

and even the RIC.

WOFT and DOUBLE WOFT

[bluespeed]

I hope T&TEC and Mr. Ramsook have court clothes..... because that have to be his doing.

[1UZFE]

Could see the TTEC charges being raised soon....

[kevin5211]

Can voltage surge protectors be built into the breaker boxes? If so, why doesn't T&TEC make it mandatory for all connections to their grid?

Does T&TEC officially advise their customers to turn off the main breaker when power cuts? How are people supposed to know to do that if T&TEC never instructed them to do that?

Actually APC makes a surge protector that can be installed just before the panel box. So it basically protects the whole house

[DTAC]

I have every appliance connected to a surge protector and the computer and tv on surge protectors connected to a massive UPS and I still unplug everything the second the power goes.

[ek4ever]

what the hell?....failure to safeguard your appliances against surges is carelessness. what T&TEC have to do with that?


if they used to be held liable then every time u want a new TV or fridge all u have to say is T&TEC mash it.

Pal ... I have my tv plugged into a line conditioner and power went and when it came back the tv was damaged..

Now for those saying well you should switch off the main breaker ... what happens if you are not home when all this happens like at work or out of the country? Basically what T&TEC saying is when you leave your home turn off the main breaker .... total nonsense from a fcuk up of a company. As far as I am concerned T&TEC responsible for providing electricity at a certain voltage and amperage anything major variance is their fault. Need to check with RIC cause there may be regulations as is with telecoms governing quality of service.

[White CZ4A]

but to be fair, their service has been quite good for the recent years, when compared to the time before.

Judged how? What voltage should we be getting?

[megadoc1]

what this is about?

http://www.ric.org.tt/home/publications/working_groups/FINAL%20REPORT%20-%20Damaged%20Appliances%20WG.pdf