How to Document a Power Outage for an Insurance or Compensation Claim
A practical guide to building a strong documentation record for DEDDIE compensation claims and insurance purposes, including what evidence to gather and how Outage.gr reports can help.
When a power outage damages your appliances, your ability to successfully claim compensation depends heavily on the quality of your documentation. Under RAE Decision 1151A/2019, DEDDIE has 15 working days to review your claim and can conduct its own investigation. Claims that arrive well-documented — with clear evidence of the event's timing, the community impact, and the appliance damage — are resolved more smoothly than those where key evidence is missing or contested.
Similarly, if you have home contents insurance and wish to claim for outage-related damage, your insurer will require proof that the damage occurred during a demonstrable electrical event.
This guide explains what documentation to gather, when to gather it, and how to organise it for the strongest possible claim.
Document the Outage Itself
### Step 1: Report on Outage.gr immediately (Day 0)
Submit a report on Outage.gr as soon as the outage begins. Your report is automatically timestamped and geotagged. When neighbours confirm the report, it becomes community-verified evidence showing that the outage was real, geographically widespread, and began at a specific, recorded time.
Screenshot or print the Outage.gr evidence page showing your report. The Evidence section of Outage.gr can generate a certificate summarising your outage history — generate this as soon as possible after the event.
### Step 2: Call DEDDIE at 11500 (Day 0)
Report the fault to DEDDIE by phone. Note down: - The date and time of your call - The reference number they give you (ask for it if they do not volunteer it) - The name or employee ID of the DEDDIE representative you spoke with - Any fault or event reference they mention
This DEDDIE reference number is often the strongest single piece of documentation you can have — it proves that DEDDIE acknowledged the fault.
### Step 3: Record the timeline (Day 0)
Write down (or type into your phone's notes) a precise timeline: - Time the power went out (as accurately as you can determine) - Time you called DEDDIE - Time power was restored
If you note the time that your router, computer, or other clock-equipped device lost power and then came back, that gives an objective timestamp that is hard to dispute.
Document the Damage
### Photograph everything before touching it
Before you move, clean, repair, or dispose of any damaged appliance, photograph it thoroughly from multiple angles. Capture: - Any visible external damage (scorch marks, melted plastic, discolouration) - The manufacturer's label showing make, model, and serial number - The appliance in context (where it is plugged in, in its normal location)
These photographs establish what was damaged and that the damage occurred to a real, identifiable appliance in your home.
### Compile purchase records
Locate proof of purchase for damaged appliances. This can be: - Original receipt or invoice - Credit card or bank statement showing the purchase - Manufacturer warranty registration - Online order confirmation
If you do not have purchase records, an engineer's assessment of the appliance's approximate age and replacement value is the alternative.
### Get the technician's assessment
Take damaged appliances to a licensed electrical repair workshop. Ask for a written assessment that includes: - Description of the appliance (make, model, serial number) - Description of the damage observed - A professional opinion that the damage is consistent with overvoltage from an external power supply - Estimated repair cost, or a recommendation for replacement with cost estimate
Keep the original assessment document. Submit a copy with your DEDDIE claim and retain the original for your records.
Organise Your Claim File
Create a physical or digital file containing:
- **Outage documentation:**
- **Damage documentation:**
- **Property documentation:**
- **Correspondence record:**
Timing: The 20-Working-Day Deadline
The absolute deadline for submitting your DEDDIE claim is 20 working days from the incident. Weekends and public holidays do not count. The clock starts on the day of the outage, not the day you discover the damage.
Do not wait until you have perfect documentation before submitting. If the deadline is approaching, submit what you have and supplement with additional documents later. An incomplete submission that arrives on time is better than a complete submission that arrives on day 21.
After submission, DEDDIE has 2 business days to inspect the damaged appliances if they choose to do so. Keep damaged appliances available and do not repair or dispose of them during this window.
Using Outage.gr Evidence in Your Claim
The Evidence section of Outage.gr generates a certificate showing your outage reports with timestamps, locations, and (where neighbours have confirmed) community verification scores. This certificate is not an official document — it is not issued by DEDDIE or any government body — but it provides:
- Independent, third-party timestamping of when the outage occurred
- Evidence that the outage was confirmed by multiple community members (not just your report in isolation)
- A record format that is straightforward to include as a supporting document in a compensation claim
Many successful claims have included Outage.gr evidence as one element of the documentation package. It complements — but does not replace — the DEDDIE fault report reference number and the technician's assessment.