State Farm deploying electric-fire prediction tech: Roundup

State Farm has announced an investment in Whisker Labs and a program to deploy the company's Ting electrical-system sensor among its customers. Ting plugs into a wall outlet and monitors a home's electrical system for hazards. The insurer piloted the effort with 40,000 policyholders in California, Arizona and Texas and plans to increase the deployment by up to 100,000 as additional states are added this year. Qualified policyholders get the device, a mobile app, free service for three years and $1,000 in credit toward any detected hazard repairs.

The Cincinnati Insurance Company has expanded its RideWell telematics program to Illinois, New Jersey and West Virginia, bringing the total number of states in which it is available to eight. Built using Cambridge Mobile Telematics' technology, the RideWell app measures speeding, harsh acceleration, braking, sharp cornering, and phone use while driving, including when and where the driver did them, and generates a trip score. Drivers with favorable scores may receive an additional discount up to 18% at annual renewal in addition to the 10% discount for signing up.

AmeriLife Group has named Bob Yates to fill the new role of VP, Distribution, Analytics and Data. Responsible for developing, launching and managing enterprise analytic products Yates last was VP, Finance-Distribution, at CNO Financial Group. He also has worked at GE Insurance, GE Financial Assurance and U.S. Can Company.