The Power Company Fried My Appliances: What Are My Rights?

Who is responsible, and what should you do, when a repair crew from your local power utility negligently causes a power surge and all of your appliances -- everything that has wires and plugs into the wall -- are fried?

That was the question from 82-year-old Thelma, who resides in a small California desert community that is serviced by a small electricity utility. Her email began, "Where we live there isn't a lot of excitement, but several of us who live in a small cul-de-sac were treated to a show that, at first, reminded me of the hysterically funny Jackass series of movies."

Anyone who likes those insane films is A-OK in my book.

Thelma was in her front yard watching a crew replace a power pole and related equipment when, "Suddenly, their rig jerked forward and the supervisor began screaming, 'You idiot! Stop! Stop!' but the driver kept on slowly moving and then, there was this huge, bright