Water Lateral Insurance Coverage Mailing
Posted: Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Utility Service Partners, Inc., a HomeServe company, recently sent a mailed advertisement to a significant number of Stoughton Utilities customers soliciting insurance coverage for water laterals. In its advertising materials, HomeServe states that property owners are responsible for lateral repairs between the City's right-of-way and their house, and solicits insurance coverage for water laterals.
Stoughton Utilities does not endorse Utility Service Partners, Inc, or any other company offering insurance coverage for water laterals.
Stoughton Utilities wants to inform our customers that the company is correct in stating that property owners are responsible for lateral repair costs between the city's right-of-way (located approximately at the sidewalk) and their house. Stoughton Utilities is only responsible for repairs from the water main under the street to the shutoff valve located near the sidewalk. Property owners should contact their insurance companies to see if they are already covered for a lateral damage incident. In addition, property owners should use their best judgement to determine if such coverage is needed, and weigh the cost of such an insurance policy against the likelihood that such insurance will ever be needed.
Property owners should use caution when considering such insurance coverage. Stoughton Utilities encourages customers to read the fine print of the proposed insurance coverage and determine if the long term costs warrant the need for such a policy. in the State of Wisconsin, copper water laterals are most common, and they very rarely fail unless damaged by an third party, in which case they would be liable for any repair costs. These insurance policies do not assist property owners that have lead water services with any costs associated with replacing that lead service unless the lead service fails in the ground outside of the home.
Stoughton Utilities does not endorse Utility Service Partners, Inc., or any other company offering insurance coverage for water laterals. It is important to note that this company is in no way affiliated with Stoughton Utilities or the City of Stoughton. Residents are encouraged to research this insurance provider before entering into any such insurance policy.