What began as a long power outage ended with a Lansing family facing water damage after a ComEd contractor shut down the generator protecting their home from flooding.
Homeowner Morgan Webb said the basement filled with water, drywall was damaged, and her children's bedrooms were left in disarray.
Here's what to know
FOX 32 Chicago reported that Webb said her generator had been running sump pumps throughout the extended outage, and that water started pouring into the basement after the unit was turned off.
She said home security cameras appeared to show a ComEd worker shutting it down while her family was away.
Because her children sleep in basement bedrooms, the damage created an especially difficult disruption. Webb said much of the basement drywall needed replacing.
@fox32chicago A Lansing homeowner lost power and turned to a generator. But while they were away, ComEd reportedly came by and shut it off. Now, they say that decision left them with an expensive mess.
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ComEd said power was restored to the home about 20 minutes later. The company said a contractor crew, working on restoration, had first knocked on Webb's door before shutting off the generator because of backfeeding concerns.
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Webb said the flooding should have been avoidable. She said ComEd later apologized and gave her a check to help cover the damage.
More background
A generator that sends electricity back into utility lines creates a real backfeeding hazard for line workers and equipment.
At the same time, homeowners relying on temporary backup power for sump pumps, refrigerators, or medical devices can run into immediate trouble if that power is cut off, even briefly.
The family is trying to make sleeping spaces livable again while also dealing with water damage and repair costs.
In homes where sump pumps are the only thing keeping out incoming water, even a brief power loss can be enough to overwhelm a basement.
What can be done?
Webb said ComEd's immediate response was to apologize and provide money to help offset the damage.
Using a properly installed transfer setup and understanding shutdown procedures may help reduce the risk of dangerous backfeeding and abrupt disconnections.
People in flood-prone homes can also consider layered protections such as battery backups for sump pumps, water alarms, and documenting equipment setups in case crews arrive while no one is home. Those steps may not prevent every problem, but they can reduce the odds that one interruption turns into a major repair bill.
"I'm pretty upset, I'm not going to lie," Webb said. "I know everyone is dealing with the power being out in Indiana, but to be up for four days not sleeping, monitoring that, making sure my basement stays dry, and then for someone to just come and shut it off."
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