A shop insurance policy includes cover for deterioration of refrigerated stock due to the failure of a supply authority to provide electricity, conditional upon what?

In the context of shop insurance policies providing coverage for the deterioration of refrigerated stock, it is important to understand the nature of the electricity supply failure. Coverage is typically conditioned on the failure being an accidental suspension of supply, meaning that the insurance will respond to losses resulting from unexpected outages rather than those that are planned or intentional.

When a failure is categorized as accidental, it reflects events such as natural disasters or equipment malfunctions that disrupt electricity supply unexpectedly, which aligns with the principle of unforeseen circumstances in insurance coverage. This divergence between accidental and deliberate interruptions is crucial, as deliberate suspension—such as maintenance actions or due to non-payment—would typically be excluded from coverage as it does not fall under risks that the insurance seeks to protect against.

Thus, the condition that the electricity supply failure is accidental is essential for the insurer to provide coverage for any consequent loss, such as spoiled refrigerated stock.