As a participant in SMECO’s StormSentry program, the customer agrees to the terms and conditions outlined here.
SMECO owns and installs the meter base surge arrester which is leased to the customer.
The customer will receive one complimentary point-of-use plug-in surge protector to safeguard valuable electronic equipment.
The StormSentry program covers only SMECO’s electric line connection; it does not cover direct lightning strikes to the structure or other outside connections.
Fees
The customer agrees to pay the monthly fee for the StormSentry program. This fee may be adjusted with 30 days’ written notice.
An early withdrawal fee will not be charged if the customer withdraws from the program within 30 days of the written notification of the monthly fee increase.
A fee of $50 will be billed to the customer’s account if the customer withdraws from the program within 12 months of enrollment. Appliance coverage terminates immediately upon the customer’s withdrawal from the program.
Appliance Coverage
The customer must have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance to receive appliance coverage under this program. (Eligible appliances are listed below.)
Appliance coverage will begin after the meter base surge arrester has been installed and will continue until terminated by SMECO or until the customer withdraws from the program. Appliance coverage is immediately terminated if the customer’s account is 61 days or more past due or if the meter is disconnected for any reason.
Under the StormSentry program, the amount SMECO will be obligated to pay will depend on whether or not the meter base surge arrester fails.
- If the meter base surge arrester prevents major surge damage (i.e., the unit works and does not fail), SMECO will reimburse the customer the lesser of (i) the cost of repairing or replacing the eligible appliances or (ii) $500. Insurance claim is not necessary.
- If SMECO determines that the meter base surge arrester shows evidence of electrical or mechanical damage, the arrester has failed, and the customer sustains appliance damage, SMECO will reimburse the customer the lesser of (i) the cost of repairing or replacing the eligible appliances or (ii) $10,000. Insurance claim is necessary.
Claim Procedures
- If equipment is damaged by a surge, the customer must notify SMECO immediately.
- All claims must first be filed with and validated by the customer’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance company if the StormSentry device failed, as determined by a SMECO technician.
- When filing a StormSentry claim with SMECO in situations that first require an insurance claim, the customer must provide a copy of the insurance company’s settlement form stating that the eligible appliance sustained surge-related damage and is a valid claim.
- Appliance repair estimates must be performed by an authorized appliance service technician.
- Damaged appliances or components must remain available for inspection until the claim is settled.
- SMECO reserves the right to inspect damaged appliances, to obtain an additional appraisal of damages, and to inspect the premises, wiring, and structure.
Limitations
SMECO’s total liability of coverage will not exceed $10,000 during a 12-month period.
StormSentry cannot prevent, and SMECO cannot warrant against, momentary power interruptions or loss of power.
Eligible Appliances
SMECO will cover the cost of repairing or replacing, at its discretion, electro-mechanical components or appliances such as the following:
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Water heaters
- Furnaces
- Washers and dryers
- Heat pump and central air conditioner compressors
- Window air conditioning units
- Dishwashers
- Ceiling fans
- Central vacuum systems
- Ranges and ovens
- Sump pumps
- Bathroom exhaust, whole house, and attic fans
- Humidifiers and dehumidifiers
- Automatic garage door motors
- Motorized easy chairs and beds
- Aquarium filters, pumps, and heaters
Circuit boards in heat pumps, central air conditioners, garage door openers, and other applicable electric motor-driven appliances may be covered, but only when surge damage can be confirmed by visual inspection.
Exclusions
SMECO does not cover electronic devices such as the following:
- Stereo/audio or intercom systems
- Computers, monitors, modems, and printers
- Televisions
- Video recorders, players, and cameras
- Alarm systems
- Microwave ovens
- Satellite systems
- Telephones, fax machines, and answering machines
- DVD players
- Pool pumps and submersible well pumps are not covered
Point-of-Use Surge Protection
SMECO will provide one complimentary point-of-use surge protector. If that protector fails (or if additional protectors purchased through SMECO fail), the customer must pursue the connected equipment warranty offered by the manufacturer for damaged electronic devices. SMECO recommends that the customer protect all valuable electronic devices by installing point-of-use, plug-in surge protectors.
All appliances must be plugged into a high quality plug-in surge protector, and each surge protector must be plugged into an outlet. Using an extension cord will void the warranty of the surge protector.
When purchasing a high quality plug-in surge protector, here are some features to look for.
- Cord length
- Multiple plug outlets in a configuration that will accommodate different plug sizes
- Coaxial cable outlet for cable, TV, or satellite dish connections
- Telephone outlet for landline phone connections
- Auto-shutoff feature
- Appropriate joule rating
A surge protector joule rating indicates how much energy it can absorb before it fails. The higher the number of joules, the greater the surge protection provided. Keys to determining the amount of protection needed include the type and value of the equipment to be protected.
A unit with up to 1000 joules of surge protection is adequate for small electronics. Some components have sensitive circuitry requiring protection, but don’t store extensive data. A surge protector with 1000 to 2000 joules will provide sufficient protection for power tools and office equipment such as printers, copiers and routers. Consider the highest joule ratings—2000 and above—for home theater components, gaming consoles and any computer that stores important data… anything from customer lists to financial information to irreplaceable photos and personal records.