Safety first
- Smoke, burning smell or sparks: get everyone out and call 911.
- A downed power line: stay well away, keep others away, and call 911 and Indiana Michigan Power.
- Water near outlets or the panel: don’t touch anything electrical. Wait for an electrician.
Is it the grid or your house?
Look outside. If the street and your neighbors are dark too, it is a utility outage. Report it to Indiana Michigan Power and wait for their crews.
If only your home is out, check your main breaker. If it is on and the power is still off, or if only half the house works, lights dim or appliances act strangely, you may have lost one leg of your service. That needs an electrician.
Winter storms and generators
Lake-effect snow and ice storms take lines down across Michiana. If you rely on a generator, have an electrician connect it through a transfer switch or panel interlock. Never backfeed through a dryer outlet: it can energize the street’s lines and hurt utility workers.
Run portable generators outdoors, well away from doors and windows, because of carbon monoxide.
What to tell the electrician
- What happened just before, such as a storm, a new appliance or a tripped breaker.
- Which rooms or circuits are affected.
- Any smell, heat, buzzing or marks at outlets or the panel.