Panama City, Panama , The National Authority of Public Services (ASEP) confirmed that electrical distribution companies must pay double the assessed value for any damaged appliance if they fail to meet mandated compensation deadlines. The regulatory body urged customers to file formal complaints within 15 business days of any incident causing damage to refrigerators, televisions, computers, or other household electronics.
Zelmar Rodríguez, ASEP administrator, said the penalty applies automatically when a utility misses the 30-calendar-day payment window established after a favorable ruling. The regulator’s message targets a persistent problem: electrical damage claims rank as the second most common complaint category, representing 12% of all cases in 2024, 8% in 2025, and 7% from January through August 31, 2026.
Damaged Appliance Compensation Claim Deadlines
Customers must notify their electricity provider within 15 business days following a power surge, blackout, or fluctuation that damages equipment. The claim should document the exact time of the event and include specific details about the affected property. After submitting the claim, the utility has 15 days to issue an official response.
If the company denies the claim or remains silent past that window, the customer has 30 days to escalate the matter to ASEP. Once the regulator receives the complaint, it has 30 business days to issue a resolution. A favorable ruling triggers an indemnification order that the utility must honor within 30 calendar days.
Automatic Penalty for Non-Compliance
The double-payment provision serves as a deterrent against delayed compensation. When a distribution company misses the court-ordered payment deadline, the penalty mechanism activates without requiring additional legal action from the consumer. This regulatory framework aims to streamline resolutions for material damages caused by grid instability.
ASEP emphasized that customers hold enforceable rights when electrical infrastructure failures damage personal property. The agency’s public reminder comes as Panama continues addressing service reliability concerns across its distribution networks, with household appliances frequently vulnerable to voltage irregularities.
Filing Process and Consumer Protection
Rodríguez reiterated that documentation strengthens any claim. Consumers should record the incident time and maintain evidence of the damaged items. The complaint pathway begins with the utility company but shifts to ASEP jurisdiction when providers fail to respond adequately within statutory timeframes.
The regulatory framework provides a structured escalation process designed to protect consumers from prolonged disputes. With electrical damage claims consistently ranking among top complaint categories, ASEP’s enforcement posture signals increased scrutiny of utility response times and compensation compliance across Panama’s energy sector.