Power surge compensation claims double

Compensation claims for damage caused by a power surge after the theft of cables from a Cospicua electricity substation last week doubled after residents were yesterday urged to file their reports at their local council.

Several infuriated residents, some of whom burst into tears, called at the local council’s offices to collect an application form, 40 of which were submitted on the spot.

These, together with the 50 claims reported to the police, bring the total to 90, although the number is expected to surpass the 100 mark as more papers are collected.

Gordon Grima, 35, has been charged with stealing copper cables and damaging the substation and 50 households in the process. The estimated damage runs into thousands of euros.

“The residents are furious and they are right. They have to be compensated. Many have social problems, are elderly, widowed and cannot afford to repair their damaged appliances, many of which they cannot do without,” mayor Joseph Scerri said.

One such case was a man who turned up at the local council’s offices and asked for a hand with completing the application form being distributed after losing his refrigerator in the power surge.

When informed that he must attach a receipt to his claim, he replied that he did not have one because the appliance was donated to him by the Malta Community Chest Fund.

A printing press was among the casualties of the surge, apart from air conditioning systems, televisions and computers. Its owner is now struggling to make ends meet after his machinery was brought to a standstill, resulting in daily losses for his firm.

Many residents were also spared injury after appliances burst into flames and ignited nearby furniture, including a bedroom whose owner and her young daughter happened to be out at the time.

Condemning the offenders, the mayor also blamed Enemalta Corporation for not adequately protecting its electricity substations against intruders. “The door, a standard aluminium one used for garages, should be replaced by a heavy duty gate, and closed-circuit television cameras should be installed in the vicinity. Children, who do not recognise the dangers of the high voltage inside, could easily break in and get hurt,” he said. This was the case in a vandalism attempt three months ago, when two young men were seriously injured in a blast, one of whom was thrown out the door.

Residents now have a week to submit their claims, which will then be assessed by the local council, assisted by a lawyer, before being handed over to the authorities.