Below are the comments people made from the Landenberg (You can’t get there from here) FB page (a single space continues with the same household, a double space indicates a different affected household):
Aug 8 PECO surge – refrigerator, heat pump surge protector, heat pump invertor board, surge protector outlet strips, overhead recessed light bulbs
Sep 23 PECO surge – refrigerator, heat pump surge protector, heat pump invertor board, surge protector outlet strips, overhead recessed light bulbs, coffee maker, power chargers
Called PECO 3 times, no response.
Storm from a few months ago. Two thermostats; water pump; water circulator; total about $4k. Called PECO 4 times. Filled out the form twice. No Response. I have whole home surge protectors on both panels. The fact that they didn’t respond and all you get is an automated service is bs. Surprise: just lost power again.
Yesterday we lost our washer, refrigerator, tv, a docking station, surge protector strip, lightbulbs and a battery charger for a leaf blower. We lost our dishwasher earlier this summer. We have lived here since ‘95 and agree that this has only been happening the last couple of years.
We have lost blower motors for our AC 3 times. Anything we can do to help you battle PECO just let me know!
2 years ago we lost our refrigerator to the surges. Now most of our appliances are plugged into surge protectors and when we know it’s going to rain unplug the TV and computer. Yesterday the power went off and on three times.
We had 3 huge surges and lost 3 electric blankets, Air purfier, 8 bulbs, 9 night lights they were burned on the outside, coffee maker. Surge protectors did not help. The surge was huge and blew them out. It made a loud sound and crackling sound. These surges are the worst we have ever had in all the years we have lived here. Computers keep going off line. Chesterville and North Creek Road area.
Two years ago, lost refrigerator due to surge. Sent in PECO claim. Denied based on “act of god”.
Outages are one thing. Surges and brownouts are potentially very dangerous.
Incidentally, years ago, my boss won a lawsuit against a big power company for losses due to high low surges. It was a Davy v. Goliath case, but she prevailed. It can be done.
Thank you for spearheading this! From what I understand, when Peco hooked up the electric, they didn’t hook up the neutral or the ground first before they hooked up the hot wires, so then they’re sending 240 watts to everyone’s house when our appliances can only handle 120.
I bought my house in Landenberg 3 years ago. It’s an old house and dates back to 1790. When I first moved in, I was painting the house and only had a Bose stereo system plugged in. We had a storm shortly after I moved in and the next thing I knew, my stereo system and an led light were fried. I didn’t think much of it.
Next storm, which was two years ago, I lost a refrigerator and a new Bosch dish washer. I bought all new appliance then later found out that Peco gave $1,000 to people who were affected by the surge. I didn’t apply because I didn’t realize it until after I bought everything.
Now this last storm, I lost a Cafe dishwasher that’s only 2 years old (this is the one that replaced the other dishwasher that was fried), a smeg coffee pot, a washing machine, and an led light. It also blew 3 surge protectors.
I also just recently replaced my entire circuit breaker box after the storm that blew through at the beginning of September and took down a bunch of trees. I think all these surges wore out my circuit breaker box too.
I live on Chesterville road close to the Landenberg Store.
Has anyone heard anything from Peco about the power surges on the weekend of September 24th? I reached out to Peco and put in a claim and haven’t heard anything back. This is the 3rd time it’s happened to my house where I’ve lost huge appliances due to the power surges since moving in 3 years ago. I grew up in Landenberg though and this never happened in the 30 years I lived here. I spoke to a coworker today and he said it happened to him also and he believes someone started a class action law suit, but he wasn’t sure.
If you lost appliances, did you just buy them again yourself or did you go through your home owners insurance? I can’t survive any longer without a dishwasher and washing machine. I’m losing my mind having to take my laundry to different family and friends’ houses to wash stuff.
We live on Elbow Ln and have frequent ‘brown outs’ – which can also destroy household items. I haven’t recorded any power surges but we do have ‘Ting’ which monitors our electric coming into our house and get notifications for either brown-outs or surges. I’d like to see PECO fix whatever is causing all the brown-outs. Thank you for doing this!
Last year I lost the refrigerator, washer. Dryer, dehumidifier, coffee maker, microwave, toaster, stove, ceiling fan, range hood, all led light fixtures. I thought I would wait to get the $500 part to fix the stove before trying to get my $1k from peco, part is still on backorder. I did install a whole house surge protector after this. It was totally a peco problem at the transformer which the first two crews sent out did not catch.
The last storm I lost my thermostat, replaced and serviced and after the storm this weekend, it got fried again as well as my water heater and a few lights. At least that’s all I have found so far. I am off of Chesterville road in Skycrest.
I’ve had to install 2 surge protectors – to my power box inside and one outside because my new HVAC pods both inside the house AND the unit outside were fried. After 3 years I’m still trying to get them to function properly even after the outside unit had to be replaced.
Post: We filed a claim with PECO for several appliances lost on Saturday when a power surge came through Heather Hills in the afternoon.
Just received their answer, it was an “act of God” due to being caused by a downed trees on wires – in other words they will not cover anything and we are on our own.
DM: Has anything positive with PECO moved forward on the power surges last weekend. The expenses are mounting up for us. We got the standard “act of God” from peco after sending in “the form”.
Date, time and items we lost due to power surges on Sat, Sept 23, 2023…
There was an outage in the morning that affected us somewhat. We lost a few surge protectors in that event. The surge later on the day (around 4pm) did the most damage. We lost the following due to both events:
Blower motor to ground source heat pump, $2500
Verizon phone and Internet box and related services, bill not yet determined.
Dehumidifier: $300
12 individual surge suppressors, both individual and power strips: $14
Air fryer, $90
Dish washer, $450
Smoker grill electronics, bill not yet determined
3 battery chargers, $75
We are in Heather Hills. Every house on the street lost items (based on neighbors discussions). House at end of street had a fire due to appliance catching fire from power surge. Yes. Act of God. <PECO claim>
We lost our ac blower motor, hot water heater, air purifier, coffee maker and 2 fluorescent lights. Two months ago, we list our ac motor the first time to a power surge.
Just this year, we lost our brand new, newly installed central air, our dishwasher, Dewalt battery chargers, surge protectors, circuit breaker, UPS, GFCI outlets, a bunch of bulbs, a floor fan, all five of our hardwired smoke detectors. We are on Landenberg Rd.
Major repair geothermal heater fan was fried 3 years ago from multiple surges during a storm.(we didn’t know we could have made a claim to Peco). We Installed whole house surge protector last year. We also had 2 major fires in our yard from hazardous tulip poplar trees knocking down high voltage electric wires and destroying expensive trees, shrubs and landscaping. We had a brown out 2 days ago according to our Ting unit that recoded a diminished voltage down to 84 volts.
It’s been several years since we have had losses. Previously we lost computers, game stations, surge protectors, TV, ac units and back then we filed paperwork with no response even though we saw the transformer blow on our street. Installed whole house protector and have been ok.
ECM on a large geothermal unit. $3600. Few other odds and ends too.
Hi Gary,
Messaging regarding your post in the recent outage. We’re in Landenberg off Chesterville rd. Saturday lost washing machine, coffee maker, toaster oven, 8 light bulbs blew, Hot tub, 1 surge protector, and HVAC blower
Hi Gary! I’m interested. A few years ago I lost oil furnace and dishwasher. I was given $1000 to fix! Was very grateful, but was only enough for dishwasher. I have been here now since 1999, and I have to tell you the problem was never as bad as it is now. Not sure why. Very frustrating! Please let me know of any further plans you may have. Thank you for your help and concern!
Yes! We live in Heather hills off of North Creek road. We lost our hot water heater, internet and cable boxes and are Keurig.
We lost our washing machine, air conditioning unit, thermostat for furnace, kuerig, ice maker, 7 outlets and a light fixture.
I don’t have a dollar figure yet because we are still waiting for some estimates and the electrician hasn’t been here yet.
I did file with PECO and their representative called me. They said that the surge was caused by a storm and trees on wires. Therefore we needed to file with our homeowners, that they weren’t responsible.
That happened around 10 am on Saturday September 23rd.
Yesterday we were having what seemed like brown outs or surges around 3 pm throughout our whole house. It lasted maybe 45 minutes but seems normal now.
This is wonderful Gary! I’m so frustrated by the recent losses as well as the continued surges over the past two months. We have never experienced this level of problems with our service as we have since late July of this year. We lost the following:
Wolfe range ($8-10k replacement)
Multiple A/C units in main home and our apartments (Cost not determined yet).
Every surge protector in our house (roughly 12 of them)
Stand alone ice maker ($3500)
Water heaters, two of them (commercial unit for our home $4800, $1000 for apartment unit).
10+ bulbs and their fixtures.
Gaming systems in apartments.
Two microwaves ($300 each)
I’m sure I will think of more but honestly it was my Wolfe oven & ice maker that really pissed me off.
Our power & half of our apartments come in from Newark Road. Our other apartment’s power comes in from Buttonwood and they haven’t had half the problems we had and ZERO surges.
I’m on Eden Road. We have lost power but no appliances. I’m wondering if these surges have anything to do with the wires that have been laying in the street since February. We have called Peco about it several times about it. The wires are on Eden Road and White Clay Drive.
We lost a dehumidifier, microwave, tv and light bulbs yesterday. Also our surge protector on our box blew out.
Yes it does. It actually blew completely out. And that is probably why we lost appliances.
We lost a few times yesterday.
Just found out we also lost a clothes washer.
I live off Landenberg road close to 841.
We ended up losing a freezer also.
Hi, Gary! I read your post about the electrical surges that we have been experiencing in Landenberg. We live on Glenloch Drive in Heather Hills. Yesterday, we lost our dishwasher, tv, printer, (2) oscillating tower fans, and (13) LED lightbulbs. Our first call to PECO was at 10:15 am and the second call was at 4:08 pm, which was after the fourth surge.
Also, our neighbors on Glenloch had an appliance fire right after the fourth power surge. West Grove Fire Co. responded to this call.
Hi Gary. We are on Flint Hill Rd. In the big one two weeks ago, we lost an entire HVAC system, fridge, hot water heater, washing machine, stereo equip, wired smoke detectors, 5 surge protector strips, 2 cordless battery chargers, a coffee pot and a tv. Had to put a homeowners claim in.
Sept 23rd We lost our new (installed last year) heater/ac, 1year old washer, tv, air fryer and fans. We live on Glenloch Dr.
Are you also trying to get peco to step up and compensate people for this? We put a claim in and they got back to us stating that it was an “act of God.” Clearly this is more then that and has to do with their poor upkeep of their systems.
I’ll contribute. Lost oven, surround sound and other appliances. If they only have $1k ultimate liability they should be required to get to a higher standard.
Hi Gary, as soon as we figure out what’s gone and what isn’t we will let you know. We smelled something burning after the breaker popped so we turned whole breaker off. Our surge protectors popped constantly before we shut the breaker completely off.
We are back to main breaker off , suggested by PECO guy i found on side of road while out talking to the fire dept after Heather hills had an appliance fire. When I called my landlord since I’m a month behind in rent he told me to let the place burn and hung up on me 🤦♀️ so I’m not chancing my family and turned main breaker off. There needs to be a better resolution. Heather hills residents had lists I gave them your name to contact you as well.
Just lost our refrigerator now. It was glowing red when I opened the freezer
I’m not sure if I responded. We lost a freezer and garage door opener,they have been replaced. My husband contacted PECO and they said that we were not eligible for compensation.
I lost a bunch of stuff. Including modem cable a TV Two bed motors two surge protectors two ceiling fans.two battery charger. Very upsetting. Hell of a back surge. Sounded like and explosion when secondary surge protector blew
We lost a refrigerator,coffee maker.
We lost microwave, washer, kitchen range and geo thermal and a dozen led lights.
We lost a cooktop, fridge, oven, coffee maker, thermostat and surge protector. Our neighbors lost washer, microwave, oven/stove, damage to their geothermal system.. PECO also denied our damage claim saying that they’re not responsible for trees falling on power lines which is what caused the surge apparently. Our neighbors said that surge was the third one since they’ve lived in their house.
We’re in. Top of Flint Hill. Have requested information.
Top of Flint Hill. Lost all LED bulbs, TV, 2 electric fireplaces, a ground fault outlet, and FIOS internet box.
I lost more than 20 LED light bulbs, a light switch, refrigerator, radio, battery charger and a massage recliner chair and the whole house surge protector. This latest incident makes the third surge protector to require replacement.
We have had at least 6 surges today….. lost our washer…..AGAIN!
yes on Chesterville rd. Lost another whole house surge protector and possible heat pump damage.
We are Flint Hill and Chesterville. Blew the board on our heating unit, lost the hot water heater, sound system, 2 fans, a dozen LED bulbs, 2 surge protectors, chest freezer
We have had multiple outages throughout the summer. Peco repeatedly says that we have no power failure in our area. A peco representative did visit our home but could not identify our problem. We are considering a voltage regulator on our home to monitor the issues. We have medical equipment with a log of all the outages.
Mr. Moore, regarding your PECO questions. My loss was mot recent, July 2021 but I had almost $10K in damage. Filed against them with PUC, went through a hearing and lost. They are so protected from PUC and gov’t you can’t get anywhere. I had documentation that there were no weather events yet their documents said storm. It was a losing battle. I am happy to share my information and wish you well.
I did put an all house surge protector and it appears to help
I lost a bunch of stuff. Including modem cable a TV Two bed motors two surge protectors two ceiling fans.two battery charger. Very upsetting. Hell of a back surge. Sounded like and explosion when secondary surge protector blew
That was a heck of a back feed. They should be able to control it better then rhat
I sent a form into Peco but haven’t heard of they received it
Others affected but have limited detail:
Good afternoon Mr. Moore, I saw on a post that you are collecting lists of everyone that has lost things yesterday with the power surge. We lost quite a few things yesterday as well. We would like to add to your list and if possible could we receive a copy of the list that you are putting together.
Have requested information.
I’ve read a lot of comments on this. I feel for everyone who has lost equipment. We thankfully did not, but just I want to add a data point for reference. With this power outage, it was the first time that some of our circuit breakers tripped. Had part of our house not come back on, we may not have known the electricity was restored. Best of luck to all. Thank you for collecting info on this. Much appreciated efforts.
It is usually caused by higher voltage lines containing lower voltage lines below. If you live on a road without the high KV lines, you probably don’t have many issues. The practice of running hi voltage lines above local supply lines is common, but can cause problems. Just my 2 cents if you want to get to the root cause, look there.
Additional losses not included in original list to Rep Lawrence:
We lost a cooktop, fridge, oven, coffee maker, thermostat and surge protector. Our neighbors lost washer, microwave, oven/stove, damage to their geothermal system.. PECO also denied our damage claim saying they’re not responsible for trees falling on power lines which is what cause the surge apparently. Our neighbors said that surge was the third one since they’ve live in the house.
We lost a UV unit on our water conditioning system.
We had all of our dimmer switches go and we just found our pellet stove was damaged as well,
Hello, a friend of mine showed me your post about the power surge. I live in Landenberg and during that same storm I lost a fridge, a ring doorbell, a TV, 2 sound bars, a Dyson fan and a dozen LED bright bulbs. I had to file a homeowner insurance claim, I had a $1000 deductible so I couldn’t cover everything. I contacted Peco and filed a claim but they still haven’t answered me.
Sept 23 we had a power surge, and some of our appliances broke. We tried to contact Peco, but they didn’t respond yet. I was wondering if you could help us. This is my list of broken equipment:
1 AC unit. …$6,200
Sharp microwave..$129.99
Panasonic microwave.$239.99
Dell Speakers..$39.99
keuring coffee maker…$149.99
Desktop PC $349.99
Insignia TV..$119.99
Thank you so much for your help.
Hi Gary. I live Heather hills in Landenberg. I’ve been trying to comment on your post regarding damage from PECO’s power surge, but my comment keeps getting declined. The only reason I can think of is that I just recently joined the Landenberg can’t get there from here group. Could you please count me in going further. I am not sure what steps I should take. PECO did email me a form to complete, but neighbors said not to waste my time as they were all declined. Should I fill it out anyway? Here is what I tried to comment to you post with. Hopefully not too late. We lost laser printer, hot water heater, door bell, 2 battery chargers for power tools all of our Recessed lighting and dimmer switches