May 26, 1989 News 935-2131 Classified 986-6722 Distribution 936-1337 838 pages 25¢

ms get power surge
ion run-around

FRUSTRATED North Vancouver townhouse residents,

who are out thousands of dollars after a Jan. 17 power
surge danvuged their home electronic equipment, claim they
are being short-circuited in their attempts to find anybody

willing io foot the bill for their losses.

Powey to 26 units of the Greater
Vancouver Housing Corporation
(GVHC)-owned Walnut Gardens
complex, located at 601 West Keith
Road, was disrupted when a (ree
{eiled on native reserve property
near the complex toppled on to a
40,000 volt B.C. Hydro nower tine
and knocked out a transformer,

As a result, power surged
through the townhouse complex,
melting breaker boxes; shattcring
lightbulbs anid decorative glass
ceiling light covers; and damaging
televisions, VCRs, microwave
ovens and computers,

The residential loss claims total
more than $12,000. Residents had
attempted to secure compensation
from B.C. Hydro, but the cor-
poration sees itself as a victim in
the case and therefore, not respan-
sible for the losses incurred.

Said B.C. Hydro claims super-
visor Charles Glancy: ‘‘Our wires
were standing up there minding
their own business. If somebody
takes it upon (himself)? to take
them down, be it with a car, or an
axe, or an airplane, how can we be
held responsiblc?"’

While Glancy did not confirm
how much Hydro lost in damage
caused by the accident, he did say,
“We sustained a loss and we in-
tend to pursue it vigorously.’°

GVHC is also attempting to re-
cover money it had to pay out to
repair its building.

Said GVHC insurance officer
George Stables: ‘‘The case is in the
hands of our adjustors. They are
pursuing it against the gentleman's
(the tree cutter’s) homeowner’s li-
ability insurance.”’

The tree cutter’s policy is with
Canadian Northern Shield In-

surance Co.

But some residents say they have
been told the tree cutter is not con-
sidered liable.

Said Wainut Gardens resident
Michacla Swann, who is out $900
for three damaged TV sets, a mi-
crowave oven and a VCR, ‘The
ndjustor told me that Canadian
Northern won't pay because they
don’t feel the man is responsiole.
We think it’s absolutely outra-
geous,”’

Michael Ryan, a home-based
manufucturer’s representative, says
he lest about $6,000 worth of
computer hardware, software and
input time when the surge blasted
his business computer.

“All f want to do is get back to
where | was before al! of this hap-
pened, I'm just an ordinary citizen
who used to believe that insurance
companies and big corporations
were looking after things | didn't
have expertise in. As long as you
pay the premiums and bills you're
okay. But ance you become a vic-
tim, it’s another story,”’ he said.

Michael Russell, a claims ad-
justor with Kennedy Russell And
Co. Ltd. in North Vancouver, re-
fused specific comment regarding
the claims.

Said Russell: ‘‘There have been
letters from them, but I can’t
comment on that. As an adjustor,
I can’t speak on behalf of Cana-
dian Northern Shield Company.”

Ryan said he has filed a com-
plaint with the provincial office of
the ombudsman.