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Can You Get Money Back on Your Utility Bill If the Power Goes Out? Here’s What to Know

ByStan S.

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Key Takeaways

  • Utility providers handle service outage reimbursements differently from cable, internet, and phone providers.
  • Utility providers don’t usually provide reimbursements except in extreme cases.
  • Cable, internet, and phone providers usually reimburse 1/30th of the monthly bill for each day without service.

Utility outages or disruptions in your cable and internet services aren’t just inconvenient; sometimes they have real consequences. That’s especially true when you lose electricity, heat, or water for even a short amount of time. Aside from getting through the outage itself, there are some ways homeowners can recoup their losses.

“Utility and service providers have varying reimbursement policies for service disruptions during power outages,” says Brandon Young, CEO at Payless Power. “Internet and cable providers may be more likely to offer credits for outages lasting a day or longer.”

We talked to experts to find out how you can be reimbursed for unavailable services and outages.

What’s Covered by Providers

Because utilities are billed differently from cable and internet services, the refund policies vary. Here’s what is typically covered for each service.

Utility Outages

Utilities don’t typically provide refunds. Electricity, water, and gas are typically billed based on your usage.

“For power outages, most companies bill based on usage at the end of every month, so there are no refunds, but customers aren’t charged for power they don’t use,” says Chili Palmer at HighSpeedInternet.com. You won’t typically need or receive a refund for these services.

“Electric utilities typically do not provide reimbursements for lost electricity, as electricity is not consumed or charged during an outage, and contracts often classify outages as unavoidable events, especially those caused by weather,” Young says. “Consequently, since no consumption or charges occur, there is no reimbursement to issue.”

Exceptions for Loss of Crucial Utility

If you feel you’ve been without a crucial utility—you didn’t have heat during a severe cold snap, for example—you might be able to receive some compensation from the provider.

“Some utility companies offer automatic credits or payments for extended outages, especially those caused by severe weather,” says Heather Eason, founder and president of SELECT Power Systems. “For example, PG&E’s Safety Net program provides payments of $25 to $100 for outages lasting 48 hours or more due to storms.”

Compensation for Lost Food or Meds

Eason adds that some utility companies also compensate for food or prescription medications lost due to lack of refrigeration if an outage lasts for a certain period of time—up to 72 hours or more, for example.

In other cases, you might need to go through your homeowner’s insurance for these types of reimbursements.

“If the outage was caused by a covered event such as a lightning strike, windstorm, or other covered peril, your insurance policy might cover the cost of spoiled food, lost business, or even hotel expenses if your house became uninhabitable,” Palmer says.

Cable, Internet, and Phone Outages

Unlike public utilities, cable and internet services are usually billed on a monthly basis. Users pay a flat fee for their services each month, and this is sometimes charged in advance.

If you have a day or more of interrupted internet, cable services, or landline phone services, you’re owed a pro-rated amount for the days when you weren’t able to use these services.

“Usually, [outages] have to be widespread and last a certain amount of time,” Palmer says. “Refunds typically amount to about one day of the service cost, so about 1/30th of the total bill before taxes and fees. That’s usually a few dollars. Other companies offer automatic refunds only to businesses, so residential customers are out of luck.”

Documenting an Outage

In any case, you need to provide thorough documentation of the outage to receive a refund. To do so, keep track of all notifications of storms or outages in your area.

“I always advise people to save a copy of the outage start and stop times, and to call customer service as soon as possible after you’re able to do so safely,” Young says.

Claims must be made promptly. If you don’t provide documentation or are slow to contact the company, your claim might be rejected.

You also have to be proactive about seeking a refund. “Most provider credits are not automatic. You’ll likely have to call them yourself,” Young says. You can try calling by phone or contacting your provider online.

“A handful [of companies] have live chat or text available that can make this process faster than you having to call and wait,” Young adds. “If you’re not sure, go on your provider’s site. Some even have special webforms you can use for requesting credits on outages.” Be sure to have key documentation handy.

Types of Documentation

“When you are submitting a request for a credit, have your account number ready and the day and time when the interruption occurred,” Young says. “If possible, include a screenshot of your interruption notice or a letter from your local utility stating that the service was lost. Anything that can demonstrate you were affected can advance your case quicker.”

If your provider agrees to credit you, it might take between 30 and 60 days to see a credit on your account. If you don’t, follow up.

When Claims Are Denied

“If you’re declined on your credit form, don’t panic,” Young says. “Request to have your case re-visited, have your documentation readily available, and insist on going by whatever method available, telephone, email, and even social media. Organizations react better when there’s a visible paper trail. The key is to stay polite, organized, and consistent.”

Your claim may be denied because many providers explicitly state in their contracts that they won’t provide credits for outages, especially in the event of weather-related incidents, Young says. “These provisions are common, so take a glance at your Terms of Service before filing a claim,” he cautions.

When it comes to documenting outages related to utilities, Eason suggests similar documentation techniques for your homeowner’s insurance company, which may or may not cover your damage and losses.

“You may need to provide your insurance company with documentation such as photos of spoiled food and an itemized list with estimated costs. Remember that with homeowners policies, deductibles and limits on compensation usually apply.”

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    6 Ways to Unstick Windows That Have Been Painted Shut

    ByStan S.

    Credit: Getty Images / Vicki Smith Opening windows that have been painted shut can prove challenging, as dried paint creates a surprisingly strong hold. Whether it was a simple window painting mishap or your home got the “landlord special,” where every surface was covered with layers upon layers of white paint, you’ll need to break the seemingly impenetrable seal that the dried paint creates. To help you get started, this guide explains various methods for opening a window that has been painted shut, along with the necessary safety measures to use. How to Unstick Windows That Have Been Painted Shut To open windows that have been painted shut, you need to break through the paint holding the window shut. While this may sound simple, it can be difficult. Here are a few different effective methods, but you need to choose the one that is right for your situation. For example, if you want to preserve the paint on the window, choose a method that disturbs it as little as possible. 1. Apply Heat A heat gun is useful for warming and loosening the paint bond, which allows you to easily scrape it off the window and remove it from the sash so you can open the window. It can be challenging to pinpoint precisely where to apply the heat, so you should only rely on heat application if you aren’t looking to preserve the surrounding paint. Before using a heat gun, ensure there’s nothing nearby that can be damaged and refrain from using heat on plastic window sashes, as they may warp and melt. 2. Score the Paint With a Multitool Painter’s multitools, such as a 5-in-1 tool, are effective for scoring and cutting out paint that’s holding a window shut, as they’re both strong and sharp. However, the thicker blade might damage the surrounding paint, so choose this option only if you’re looking to replace the surrounding paint. 3. Score the Paint With a Utility Knife If you want to preserve the paint finish while also unsticking the window, scoring the seal with a razor blade or a utility knife can offer the cleanest cut. However, if your paint is old, brittle, or has several layers, it can be difficult to score it cleanly. If this is the case, a heat gun can be effective for warming and softening the paint, allowing you to score it more easily and cleanly. To preserve the paint on the window, avoid applying too much direct heat, as it can cause the paint to bubble and compromise its integrity. 4. Break Deeper Seals With a Putty Knife If you’ve scored the paint along the window sash, but the window still won’t budge, dried paint may have seeped deeper into the sash. To break this invisible paint’s hold, place a thin, flexible putty knife in the gap and lightly tap it with a hammer. Work your way around the window until you’ve fully broken the seal and the window opens. If the window has been painted shut, there’s a good chance it hasn’t been operable for years. To aid in future operation and prevent your window from getting stuck again, apply a spray lubricant, such as silicone spray, to the tracks. 5. Use Wood Shims to Open the Gap As you work your way around the window, slide thin wood shims into the gap to slightly hold the gap open, lightly tapping them into place with a hammer if needed. Be careful not to push the shims in too far, as this may stress the window and could even break the glass. 6. Score the Outside of the Window Still no luck? If you haven’t already, check the outside of the window to ensure it hasn’t been painted shut as well. Window Paint Removal Safety Tips Before attempting to remove paint, take the necessary safety precautions to keep you and those around you safe during the paint removal process. Test for lead paint. Removing lead paint requires a higher level of precaution . Most experts recommend skipping lead paint removal and instead opting for encapsulation, so your safest bet may be to score the paint enough to open the window without removing it altogether. Wear the appropriate safety gear. Whenever removing paint, wear the proper respirator to protect against both particles and fumes. Additionally, wear safety glasses and gloves when working with tools for paint removal. Use caution when scoring paint. Whenever you’re using a blade to score paint, use extreme caution and do so slowly and steadily. Moving too quickly or applying too much force may result in injury or damage to the surrounding materials. Consider masking the glass. When working around windows with hand tools, there’s a risk of broken glass. To protect your windows, consider taping cardboard to cover the glass while you work.

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I left the closing, and the bathroom was untouched, so the buyer was awarded a $1500 cleaning allowance off the price of the sale.” Benefits of Cleaning a Home Before Moving Choi adds that the choice to have a properly cleaned home can be the tipping point in a sale. “I had a walk-through where the buyer was having doubts about whether the apartment was the right choice for her family,” she says. “Because the seller didn’t want to jeopardize the transaction, she immediately hired a cleaning service, and I reported this to my buyer. 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