As Ed notes, an igniter is powered only when igniting and not when
power was restored.. Furthermore, restoration of power does not cause
a voltage surge. It creates a current surge as voltage stays low - no
voltage surge. Just another fact that would cause a claim to be
rejected quickly.

Meanwhile, voltage surge could happen if a new transformer was tapped
too high. But then other items - not a powered off igniter - would
be damaged. And surge protectors would completely ignore that
marginally higher voltage. Get the number labeled let-through voltage
before making any assumptions.

Those claims that a protector (or tranzsorb, etc) would accomplish
something useful are misleading. Type of surge that typically causes
damage means earth ground is necessary. No earth ground means that
protector does nothing. Why are 'whole house' protectors so effective?
They (should) have the necessary earthing connection. A surge earthed
where utility wires enter a building means the surge will not take a
destructive path through stove igniters. Yes, this type surge could
pass through an igniter - even if not powered. Protectors attached at
wall receptacles could even make such damage easier.

All appliances have internal protection. Anything that the plug-in
protector was going to accomplish is already inside appliances.
Internal protection that can be overwhelmed if you don't earth
potentially destructive transients at the service entrance and to a
single point earth ground.

Appliance safety means a single 'whole house' protector AND building
earthing. Building earthing should be upgraded to meet and exceed post
1990 National Electrical Code requirements. That is your
responsibility. That is the secondary protection 'system'.

Meanwhile, utility is responsible for the primary protection
'system'. Inspect it:
http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html

sherwindu wrote:
Thanks for all the replies.

The reason I think the power failure did me in was the circumstance that the stove
ignitor worked for several years without a problem, up to and immediately before
the power outage, and then failed immediately afterwards. Too much of a
coincidence.

The stove starter is some kind of device that incorporates solid state circuitry.
Those kinds of circuits typically cannot tolerate any swings or spikes in
voltage. A surge suppresser MAY have prevented this problems, but for
many electronic devices of this type, they probably don't do much good.

As I mentioned, my immediate neighbor hood (about 1 block radius) has had
a long history of these power outages, more than one would expect from
natural causes. The power company probably has old equipment and
doesn't want to spend the money to upgrade. I consider this negligence, so
their using this as a justification that there was none, doesn't have any merit.
I am going to file the necessary complaints with the proper agencies and the
newspapers. ComEd is currently trying to raise our rates about 20%, even
though they are making big profits. I have no sympathies for these bandits
who try to wiggle out of responsibility for poor equipment and service.

Sherwin D.