I Lost Power and My Food Spoiled. Can I Get Reimbursed?

Source: KQED  |  By Carly Severn

This recent run of storms in the Bay Area has brought high winds and downed trees — which has meant a lot of power outages for people across the region.

At a time when food costs keep rising and food benefits are about to drop, losing a fridge or freezer's worth of food can mean a serious loss for a home that's trying to make every dollar stretch. If this happened to you, you're by no means alone, says Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network (TURN).

"We've heard a lot of complaints from people who, because of these storms, because the electricity lines have been brought down by trees, that absolutely — they were without power for a day, two days, and lost everything in their refrigerator," said Toney. "What's hard is ... [holding] the utility company responsible for some of these weather events."

Mark Toney of TURN also recommends being aware of the potential consequences of claiming for spoiled food on your insurance: Make sure you're aware of the amount of the deductible you'd have to pay to receive a payout.

Not only that, but "just remember that there's a trade-off," cautions Toney. "Insurance companies have been known to increase premiums after a claim."