On Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 12:10:45 PM UTC-4, Uncle Monster wrote:
I believe the power company here will install a meter base surge arrester and charge a few bucks a month to basically guarantee you'll have do damages to your electronics from surges.

They will not guarantee it. Because that protector, like all protectors, are only as effective as your earth ground. You (not them) provide that low impedance (ie hardwire has no sharp bends) earth ground. You determine how effective it will be.