You should call an electrician after a power outage if power returns to the neighborhood but not to all or part of your home, breakers keep tripping or you notice burning smells, heat, flickering or damaged equipment. Problems with utility lines and equipment are handled by the utility, while problems inside your home are handled by an electrician.
Knowing which is which can save time when you need help.
Power Does Not Fully Return
After the utility restores power, most homes come back on as normal. If your home stays dark while neighbors have power, check whether your main breaker has tripped, if it is safe to reach the panel.
If only some rooms, outlets or appliances are without power, a breaker or GFCI outlet may have tripped. If resetting them does not work, or they trip again, an electrician should find the cause.
Lights that are unusually dim or bright, or appliances that run strangely, can point to a problem with the service connection. Contact the utility first, then an electrician if needed.
Signs of Damage After an Outage
Outages caused by storms, lightning or utility faults can sometimes damage parts of the home’s electrical system. Watch for burning smells, warm outlets or switches, buzzing from the panel and scorch marks.
Damage to the meter, the service line or the wires where they attach to the house should be reported to the utility. Do not touch damaged service equipment.
If water reached outlets, the panel or wiring during a storm, have them inspected before using them again.
Electrician or Utility?
The utility is responsible for the power lines, transformers and equipment that deliver electricity to your home. Downed lines, neighborhood outages and damaged utility equipment are utility issues. In Denver, that is usually Xcel Energy.
An electrician handles the electrical system inside your home, such as the panel, breakers, circuits, outlets and wiring. Some service equipment on the outside of the house may also be the homeowner’s responsibility, and the utility can help clarify this.
Protecting Your Home Next Time
Repeated outages or surges may be a good reason to talk with an electrician about surge protection or a safe backup power connection. Portable generators should never be plugged into a wall outlet, since backfeeding can endanger utility workers.
If you see smoke or flames, or smell strong burning, leave the home and call 911. Stay away from downed power lines and report them.
If part of your home is still without power after an outage, our power outage troubleshooting in Denver page explains how the problem is found. For safe backup power connections, our generator transfer switch installation page covers the options. Contact us to describe what you are seeing.