The small claims compensation scheme came into effect in March 2025. Under the scheme South Australian households and small businesses connected to SA Power Networks (SAPN) may be eligible to lodge a claim for compensation for property damage caused by failures in electricity infrastructure.

SAPN will administer the scheme, including the investigation and assessment of claims, and compensate successful claimants.

Eligibility

Households - residential customers purchasing electricity for personal, household, or domestic use.

Small business - non-residential customers consuming less than 160 MWh or electricity per year.

Compensable incidents

If an eligible customer suffers property damage on their premises caused by failure of electricity infrastructure that SAPN own or operate that leads to voltage variation,  the customer may be eligible for compensation. The customer does not have to establish fault, negligence, or bad faith on the part of SAPN to receive this compensation.

Non-compensable incidents

Claims for damage caused by:

• lightning, a storm,  an earthquake,  a flood or fire, or another natural event
• a person or property (other than a SAPN employee, contractor or agent) damaging the electricity infrastructure
• fauna or flora contacting the electricity structure.

Compensation limits

• Minimum claim amount : $100
• Maximum claim amount: $15,000

Claim process

Evidence will need to be provided with your claim. Compensation will cover the cost of repairing or replacing the property on a like-for-like basis - that is, to a standard of the same age, functionality and appearance of the original item.

Historical claims

Claims can be made for incidents which occurred from 1 July 2022 to the scheme's commencement.