HomeServe Partners With EPCOR To Provide Albertans With Peace Of Mind From Home Emergencies

STAMFORD, Conn., May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- HomeServe, a leading administrator of emergency repair service plans, announced today that its partnership with EPCOR is officially underway. Homeowners throughout Alberta will be receiving information in the mail about how they can sign up with HomeServe and be protected against the cost and inconvenience of unexpected home emergency repairs. HomeServe partners with many of the leading water, gas and electrical utilities in North America to offer their customers value-added plans that expand company core services and increase customer satisfaction, and is the first company to offer exterior water or sewer service line coverage to homeowners in Canada.

HomeServe is offering a variety of service plans to Albertans that provide an easy low cost alternative for plumbing, electric, and soon HVAC emergency repairs. For example, many homeowners are unaware that across Canada, there will be more than 100,000 water service line breaks in 2012¹. Additionally, 78 percent of Canadian homes are 20 years old, or older², making them more susceptible to this type of home emergency. What families may not realize is that the water service line from the street to their home is the responsibility of the homeowner. A break in this line can result in an expensive repair bill, often as high as $3,000-$6,000, that is not normally covered under most basic homeowners' insurance policies or by the local utility company. With the new EPCOR partnership, Albertans can purchase Exterior Water Service Line from HomeServe - and other affordable home protection plans underwritten by Industrial Alliance Pacific General Insurance Corporation - to take the worry and inconvenience out of home emergencies and repairs.

"HomeServe offers a new and important option for Albertans to consider," said Jill Matthew, EPCOR Divisional Vice-President of Customer Service and Business Planning. "In cases where water lines become plugged or electrical connections fail, homeowners can face expensive repair bills. With HomeServe, customers can get peace of mind and protection of their investment for an affordable price."

HomeServe plans provide Albertans access to an Emergency Repair Hotline that is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and ensures a local, licensed and insured contractor will be promptly dispatched to make the necessary repairs to the covered systems.  HomeServe has a 96 percent approval rating among customers surveyed after receiving service under the plans.³

"Not only do we value EPCOR as a top tier utility company, they are our first Canadian utility partner and that makes our relationship even that much more important," said Tom Rusin, CEO, HomeServe USA.  "When homeowners in Alberta and across North America face an emergency, the last thing they want to worry about is finding a reputable repair person fast, and wondering how much it will cost. We're proud to protect more than one million homes from this worry on a daily basis."

About HomeServe

HomeServe USA Corp (HomeServe) is an independent administrator of emergency repair service plans, licensed to sell insurance in Alberta and offers insurance policies as an authorized representative of Industrial Alliance Pacific General Insurance Corporation. The company was established in the US in 2003 and has grown to protect over 1 million customers across North America against the expense and inconvenience of water, sewer, electrical and other home emergencies. HomeServe dedicates itself to being a customer focused company offering best practices in marketing and service. For more information, please go to www.homeserveusa.com.                              

1. HomeServe 2011 US national experience applied to Statistics Canada 2006 estimated number of detached or attached single family homes
2. Statistics Canada 2006
3. HomeServe 2011 Post Service Customer Survey

SOURCE HomeServe