A couple of times a year, a prospective client will ask me whether or not they’ll be covered if the home has a smart meter and it causes a fire. Most people asking this question have concerns arising from two areas,
- The smart meters originally were not UL certified
- There have been reports of fires at homes & businesses that were started by smart meters
I understand the concern because I have one of these devices attached to my wood framed home!
To get a better handle on this, I’ve talked with a number of claims adjusters from several different insurance companies and the short answer is, “No.” I’ve never seen a fire claim denied on that basis whether an item is UL certified or not.
In addition, the insurance company will still pay the fire claim whether it’s determined,
- the meter caused the fire
- or it resulted from being improperly installed
The insurance may elect to subrogate the claim against the manufacturer of the unit or the installer, but they’ll repair or rebuild the home.
Have a question on what’s covered or not? Post it on our Facebook page or in the comments section and I’ll get an answer for you!
