Generator users get different answers on insurance coverage for fuel

A black and yellow generator has been buzzing outside Nabila Awad's home for the past nine days its near-constant huma reminder ofrising costs andhundreds of dollars in gas guzzled.

The 70-year-old Grenfell Glen resident has been saving her receipts, but hasn't stopped to tally them up.

"I've been too busy filling up my gas and coming and going all the time," she explained.

Still, Awad estimates that she burns through at least one20 litre jerry can a day. With gas at roughly two dollars a litre that works out to about$360 so far.

"It's pretty costly, but my insurance, thank God I have good insurance they're paying for all my gas and ordering out food because we have no water."

Despite the damage and lack of power, that makes Awadone of the lucky ones.

Officials said Monday that approximately 6,500 customers in the city still don't have electricity, more thana week after a deadly derecho windstorm battered Ottawa. Many of those still relying on generators to keep their fridges functioning are watching their bills rise, wondering whether their insurancewill cover it.

Unfortunately, there isn't an easy answer.

Anne Marie Thomas, director of consumer and industry relations for the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), said whilehome insurance policy holders will generally be reimbursed for food waste, wind damage and even some cleanup costs, fuel or generators aren'ta clear cut question.

"They could be," she said."I don't want to say everyone is going to be covered because it's all dependant on the type of policy you bought, how much coverage your bought and are those things included as part of your coverage."

On the other hand, renting a chainsaw or sump pump to limitdamage would likely be covered, according to Thomas, who spent Mondayat the Howard Darwin Centennial Arena emergency reception centre with other IBCstaffanswering community member questions.

"By doing those kinds of things you are preventing further damage to you property and that's a good thing for you and your insurance company."

'A tale of two cities'

Thomas stressedOttawans may experience delays in hearing from their insurance providers, pointing to the scope of the storm damage and the number of claimscompanies are juggling.

"It's a matter of being patient right now to determine what is covered and what isn't covered," she said.

Mayor Jim Watson said Monday that the city is making progress cleaning up from the storm.

"We very much want to get everyone's power on as quickly as possible," he said during an afternoon media update."I know it's frustrating, it's annoying and it's very inconvenient. We are doing everything we can."

Power for about 180,000 households was knocked out initially and, while the majority of Hydro Ottawa customers are back up and running, CEO Bryce Conrad acknowledged thousands are still waiting.

"If you're one of the [people]without power it's the priority, it's the only thing," he said Monday.

"It's kind of a tale of two cities."

Expecting a bill 'in the thousands'

Bob Carberryspent the past week or so on the wrong side of that divide.

Stacks of logs and branches still line the streets of his Merivale Gardens neighbourhood and on Monday dump trucks could be seen carting out damaged trees.

The longtime-resident said he already got an answer on whether running hisnatural gas generator will be covered it won't.

His power came back around 2:30 a.m. on Monday, but not before heracked up what'santicipated tobe a hefty bill.

"I don't know what it's going to be, but I expect it's gonna be in the thousands," he said.

Carberrywas helping provide power and water to neighbours on either side of his house for days.

One of them gave himseveral hundred dollars to help cover the cost, he said.

"Maybe the city could be helpful in covering some folks like us where we incurred those type of expenses," Carberrysaid."It would be great."