How can you claim damages caused by a power failure?

The Netherlands has a fairly reliable electricity network. Nevertheless, on average, the Dutch experience a more protracted power failure once every three years. Amsterdam and the surrounding area suffered a major power failure in January. It became clear then how serious the consequences could be. Control rooms briefly became overloaded, trains across the country stopped running and cooling systems stopped working. But how can you claim for the damage suffered as a result of a power failure?

Causes and consequences of a power failure

A power failure can be caused, among other things, by an interruption in the power supply, work on the power grid or an abnormal voltage. It can also be caused by a broken cable during excavation work, for example, or by the fuses blowing in your home. The inconvenience experienced during a power failure is often very annoying, but material damage may also occur. The most common damage by far is the loss of the contents of the freezer or refrigerator due to decay.