Crossed Wires Caused Artificially Generated Electrical Current

Our insured was changing a light bulb in an old fixture and the wires crossed, causing a power surge thru the building. The surge blew out four plugged-in laptop computers. The insured has a Special Cause of Loss form, CP 10 30 10 00.

I am drawn to exclusion B. 2. a., where the following is excluded: “Artificially generated electrical current, including electrical current, that disturbs electrical devices, appliances or wires.”

Is there coverage? I am struggling to define “artificially generated electrical current” as well as wondering if a laptop would best be defined as either an “electrical device” or “appliance.”

Oregon Subscriber

Generally speaking, “artificially generated electrical current” is electrical current that does not occur naturally. An example of natural electrical current would be lightning. So, the situation you described would fall into the artificially generated category and would be excluded. Laptops would be considered electrical devices.