A power surge can damage your electronics in an instant.
Essentials Surge Protect™ provides coverage for electronics, appliances and home systems damaged by a power surge, including a surge caused by lightning. The charge is one line on your TECO bill.
Renews every 12 months until you cancel.
- Up to $5,000 in coverage
- No service call fee
- Added to your TECO bill. No credit card.
- 30-day waiting period before your first claim
What a surge puts at risk
- 1
What you own
You carry the cost of everything behind the meter.
- 2
What can go wrong
One surge can take out HVAC, appliances and electronics at once.
- 3
What it costs
Replacement runs into the thousands, out of pocket, all at once.
- 4
The TECO solution
A monthly charge on your bill, coverage toward repair or replacement, and no service call fee.
Three steps. No paperwork.
Enroll in a few minutes
Use the reference code from your letter, or enter your service address and your email. No payment information.
Pay on your TECO bill
The charge shows up as one line on your regular statement.
File a claim with Porch
If a surge damages something, call 1-888-929-1031. Porch Warranty handles every claim, not TECO.
Questions
Can't find your answer? Call 1-888-860-2234.
What does Essentials Surge Protect cover?
When a surge damages a covered item, it provides coverage toward repairing or replacing it, up to $5,000, with no service call fee. Covered items include electronics, appliances and home systems. The complete list of covered and excluded items is in the Terms & Conditions.
Are electronics and lightning covered?
Yes. Essentials provides coverage for electronics such as TVs, computers, tablets and phones, and for damage from a surge caused by lightning.
How is this different from ZapCap?
ZapCap, now called Appliance Surge Protect™, is a device at your meter that helps block surges before they reach your home. Essentials works after damage happens: it adds coverage for electronics and for surges caused by lightning. They do different jobs.
Who handles claims?
Porch Warranty handles Essentials claims directly. You call the number on your Terms, and emergency calls are taken 24 hours a day. You don't need to go through TECO or a device manufacturer.
Why is there a 30-day waiting period?
You can file a claim starting on day 31. The wait keeps coverage for future surges, not for damage that has already happened.
How will I be billed?
The charge appears on your monthly TECO bill: $14.95 a month. You don't pay Porch directly, and we never ask for a card number.
Can I cancel?
Yes, at any time. Send a cancellation request or call 1-888-929-1031. Your coverage and the charge on your bill end at the end of your current billing cycle.
I already have ZapCap. Do I need to do anything?
No. Your notice explains how your coverage is changing and includes your Terms & Conditions. See what's changing for ZapCap customers.
Is there a plan that includes both?
Customers who already have ZapCap are being upgraded to include Essentials. Their price is $19.95 a month. If you have questions about your ZapCap device, call 1-888-929-1031.
Enroll in Essentials Surge Protect
About 3 minutes. No payment information needed. Prefer to enroll by phone? Call 1-888-860-2234.