How does one prove damage caused by the power company?

Question

As an addition to two of my other questions that are currently predominating my spare time,if the power company has problems with the people they are contracting power from on the high side supply transformer and are changing fuses (to which they admit when my father called), switching the power on and off for the entire region, and a person -my father- witnesses the result (the tower jumping, crackling and sparking) and then calls to inquire and it is verified that they are doing maintenance at the substation, can the power company be held liable for damages to the computer (motherboard, processor, power supply, hard drive and supplies used to recover data)? The power co.'s liability department/HR person wrote a letter stating that this had occurred, but that they are not responsible for the "act of god" caveat or other variations (pretty much anything). I'm maintaining that I think it was their maintenance not some unforeseen or unpredictable acts.

Answer 1

You should contact a local electrician who can examine any damaged wiring or appliances and serve as an expert, and, further, assuming the electrician's analysis is the same as yours, explore suing the electric company. For that, you should consult a local attorney.

Answer 2

Three steps.

First, you need to prove that damage occurred. That's a matter of being able to demonstrate objective harm/loss.

Second, you need to prove causality -- the harm was the result of (was caused by) something the power company did or did not do.

Third, you need to prove either that the power company acted intentionally to cause that harm, or acted negligently by failing to do something that it should have to avoid the harm.

Answer 3

it's hard to prove it.......any outsider cabn look at this and will point the finger at the power company....but to go after them for damages you will need hard proof....like if you have that conversation taped where they say they were conducting maintenance