An El Reno family says a simple wiring mistake by a contractor has caused months of frustration and thousands of dollars in damage to their home appliances. The family claims that after a contractor working for OG&E accidentally cut the wrong wire while installing new wiring for a nearby house, a power surge damaged many of their electronics and electrical systems.
El Reno Family Blames Contractor for Power Surge Damage
Armando Macias, a resident of El Reno, says the problem started in December when an OG&E contractor was working on wiring for a neighboring home.
According to Macias, the contractor accidentally cut a wire connected to his home while installing new lines next door.
“When they came and hooked up new wiring to his house, they actually cut mine,” Macias said.
Shortly after the incident, Macias and his wife returned home to find flashing lights and electrical issues throughout their house.
Wife Shocked While Getting Out of the Bath
The situation quickly became frightening when Macias’ wife experienced an electrical shock.
Macias said his wife had just stepped out of the bath when she suddenly felt the shock.
“She was wrapped in a towel, halfway wet, basically in tears, shaking,” Macias recalled while describing the moment she told him what had happened.
The incident left the family worried about the safety of their home’s electrical system.
Multiple Appliances and Electronics Damaged
Since the power surge, Macias says many appliances and electronic devices in the home no longer work.
While walking through the house, he pointed out several items that were damaged, including:
- Kitchen appliances that are hard-wired and no longer turn on
- Multiple televisions
- Sound systems
- A personal computer
- Washer and dryer
- Doorbell system
Even basic functions in the home have been affected.
“When you come in my kitchen, my appliances are hard-wired. You can touch the buttons, and none of it works,” Macias explained.
Ongoing Problems with HVAC System
In addition to damaged electronics, Macias says his HVAC system has also been affected.
He now has to replace burned fuses regularly, something he says never happened before the wiring incident.
According to a technician who inspected the system, the unit is pulling too much power, which causes the fuses to burn out.
Macias showed several damaged fuses that he recently had to replace.
Family Says They Tried to Contact OG&E for Months
Macias says he has spent the past four months trying to get help from OG&E about the issue.
According to him, he repeatedly tried to contact the company but did not receive a response until recently.
After News 4 contacted the company, OG&E released a statement addressing the situation.
The company said it is aware of the issue and is currently investigating.
OG&E also said it has spoken with the customer and will continue working with the family to find a full resolution.
Family Missed Important Gatherings
Beyond the financial loss, Macias says the situation also affected his family’s personal life.
Because of the electrical problems, the family was unable to host holiday celebrations and gatherings at their home.
This included missing out on Christmas celebrations and birthday parties with relatives.
Macias says that losing those moments with family has been the most difficult part of the situation.
