WILLEMSTAD – Utility company Aqualectra has launched an official claims process for customers who suffered damage to electronic devices during the massive power outage on Wednesday, August 27. Affected clients can submit a form via the company’s website or through WhatsApp, and Aqualectra promises a response within ten business days.

However, the announcement has been met with widespread skepticism and frustration from customers. On social media, many consumers recalled that previous claims were either never paid out or only partially compensated. One user wrote: “I received 500 guilders for a refrigerator that cost me 4,500 guilders.” Others dismissed the process as a “waste of time,” alleging that Aqualectra rarely provides full compensation.

A major point of criticism is that the claims process is handled internally by Aqualectra, rather than by an independent body. “The butcher shouldn’t inspect his own meat,” one customer remarked, adding that compensation should also cover spoiled food and business losses, not just damaged electronics.

Many residents pointed out that the blackout caused freezers full of groceries to spoil. “People had just done their shopping; entire freezers full of meat were lost,” several commenters noted. Comparisons were also drawn to 2021, when Aqualectra offered a broader compensation scheme, something many believe should be repeated.

In its announcement, Aqualectra stressed that each claim will be carefully reviewed and, in some cases, a technician will visit customers’ homes to assess the damage. The company acknowledged the hardship caused by last week’s prolonged blackout but insisted that the claim form is essential to evaluate individual cases.