Power outages from Chile's storm: how many customers lost power, how to file a claim and what compensation exists

The frontal system that hit central Chile from Tuesday, October 13, left more than 60,000 customers without electricity nationwide, 38,000 of them in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, according to the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC) report cited by the national disaster agency Senapred and published by Cooperativa. Rain, hail and thunderstorms brought trees and branches down on power lines, flooded streets and forced several Metro stations to close.

It is the third weather event this year to cause widespread outages. If you were affected, you have the right to file a claim and, in some cases, to receive compensation. Here are the numbers and the steps.

Outages were concentrated in the north and east of Santiago. At 5:59 p.m. on Tuesday, the SEC's online outage registry showed Quilicura as the most affected district, according to Publimetro.

You first file the claim with your distribution company (Enel, CGE, Chilquinta or another) and, if it does not respond or you are not satisfied, with the SEC. The SEC also keeps an online registry showing the number of customers without power, the district and the time of each outage.

• Step 1: report the outage to your utility through its website, app or phone line. Keep the claim number.
• Step 2: if the outage is long or the company does not respond, go to sec.cl and choose the power outage claim option.
• Step 3: fill in the form with your details, your customer number and the facts of the case (date, start time, duration).
• Step 4: attach supporting evidence: photos, receipts for spoiled food or damaged appliances, and your claim number with the company.

Chile's General Electricity Services Law establishes that, for unauthorized supply interruptions, the distribution company must compensate its customers with an amount equal to twice the value of the energy not supplied during the outage. This legal compensation is automatic: it is deducted on your bill and you do not need to request it.

Keep in mind that the legal compensation is usually small for an outage of a few hours, because it is based on the energy you did not consume. That is why, after the worst storms, companies have offered additional voluntary payments.

After the July 2026 storm, CGE and Chilquinta offered CLP 40,000 to affected customers for spoiled food, without requiring receipts, according to Pauta and BioBioChile. Customers with larger losses could submit evidence for an individual assessment. During that event, the SEC brought charges against Chilquinta, CGE, Frontel and Codiner for exceeding restoration times and for maintenance failures.

For the October storm, no voluntary compensation had been announced at the time of writing. If you were affected, file a claim anyway: it is the basis for any later payment.

With three strong events this year, it makes sense to have minimal backup at home. A portable power station can keep the router, phones and lights running for hours, as we explain in our guide to emergency solar kits. If you have solar panels, remember that a grid-tied (on-grid) system shuts down during an outage for safety unless it has batteries, as we cover in what a home solar kit includes.

For context on what you pay for each kilowatt-hour, see the price of electricity per kWh in Chile.

October's storm was not the worst of the year. The July frontal system was far more severe: it left 367,691 customers without power, 210,000 of them in the Valparaíso Region, plus 516 people displaced, according to a Senapred report published by La Tercera on July 18. During that emergency, according to the utilities' testimony in the Senate, about 10,000 trees and branches fell on the power lines.

At the Senate Mining and Energy Committee, Energy Minister Ximena Rincón noted that in July there were 47% fewer affected customers at the peak than in the August 2024 storm, and that the maximum time without power fell from 20 to 8 days, according to BioBioChile.

• Stay away from downed lines and leaning poles. Notify the utility and, if there is immediate danger, the fire department (132 in Chile).
• Unplug sensitive appliances (TV, computer, refrigerator) to protect them from the voltage surge when power returns.
• Keep the refrigerator closed: it will stay cold for several hours.
• Use flashlights, not candles, to avoid fires.
• Never use a fuel generator indoors: it produces carbon monoxide.
• Save your phone battery so you can receive emergency alerts.

Besides individual claims, the SEC monitors restoration times. After the July storm, Superintendent Marta Cabeza reported that the agency brought charges against Chilquinta in Valparaíso, Frontel and CGE in Ñuble, and Frontel and Codiner in La Araucanía for *"exceeding restoration times"* and for maintenance failures. Customer claims serve as evidence in those investigations, so it is worth filing one even after the power is back.

How many customers lost power in the storm?

More than 60,000 nationwide on Tuesday, October 13, including 38,000 in the Metropolitan Region, according to the SEC.

How do I file a power outage claim in Chile?

First with your utility and, if it does not respond, on the SEC website, with your customer number and the outage details.

Am I entitled to compensation for a power outage?

The law sets automatic compensation equal to twice the value of the energy not supplied. Companies may offer additional payments.

What did utilities pay after the July storm?

CGE and Chilquinta offered CLP 40,000 for spoiled food, with no receipts required.