Power Outage: Is It the Utility or Your House?

When the lights go out, the first question is simple: is it the power company, or is it your house? The answer decides who you call. If the outage is on the utility’s side, only your electric utility can fix it. If the problem is inside your home, a licensed electrician can. This page walks Newnan and Coweta County homeowners through how to tell the difference safely.

Step 1: Look Outside

• Are your neighbors’ lights, porch lights and streetlights out too? If the whole street is dark, it is almost certainly a utility outage
• Is there a tree on a line, a downed wire, or a damaged pole or transformer? Stay at least 30 feet away from any downed line and assume it is energized
• Did you hear a loud pop or see a flash from a transformer? That usually points to the utility

Step 2: Report a Utility Outage to Your Utility

If the outage is outside your home, report it to the company that supplies your electricity. Around Newnan, that may be Georgia Power, an electric membership corporation (EMC) such as Coweta-Fayette EMC, or a city-owned utility in some towns. Your power bill lists your utility and its outage reporting number or app. Report downed lines to your utility right away, and call 911 if a line is down across a road, sparking or on fire.

Step 3: If Only Your Home Is Dark

If your neighbors have power and you do not, the problem may be at your service, meter or panel. Safe things you can check:

• Look at the main breaker in your panel. Without removing any covers, see whether it is in the OFF or middle (tripped) position
• Check whether the outage is the whole house or only some rooms
• Look at the meter and the service mast on the outside of the house for obvious damage, such as a pulled-away mast or a hanging wire, without touching anything

If the whole house is out and the main breaker has not tripped, call your utility first. Problems with the service drop, the meter or the utility connection are theirs to check. If they find the problem is on your side, such as a damaged meter base, mast or weatherhead, call us.

When Only Part of the House Lost Power

Lost power in half the house, or lights that are dim in some rooms and too bright in others, is a different problem with its own causes, and some of them are urgent. We cover it in detail in why half your house lost power.

Signs You Need an Electrician, Not the Utility

• Your main breaker trips again after you reset it
• You smell burning or see scorch marks at the panel or an outlet
• Lights flicker or surge after power returns
• A storm damaged the mast, weatherhead or meter base on your house
• Some circuits stayed dead after the utility restored power to your street

If you smell burning, see smoke or hear sizzling, leave the area and call 911 first.

After the Power Comes Back

Utility restorations can come with brief surges. Leave sensitive electronics unplugged until power is steady, then turn things back on a few at a time. If lights flicker for a long time, if anything smells hot, or if a breaker will not stay on, have it checked. A whole-home surge protector adds a layer of protection at the panel for the next storm.

Planning for the Next Outage

Ice storms and summer thunderstorms are the outages most Coweta County homeowners remember. If you rely on power for medical equipment, a sump pump or working from home, a properly installed generator connection is the safe way to keep essentials running. Never backfeed a generator through a dryer outlet or a “suicide cord.” See generator installation and transfer switches and our portable generator transfer switch guide.

Related Electrical Services

• Electrical troubleshooting and repair
• Storm damage and meter base repair
• Electrical panel upgrades
• Whole-home surge protection
• Generator installation

Why Homeowners Choose Shocking Electric Solutions

• Georgia Class II Unrestricted electrical contractor license EN216120
• Serving Newnan and Coweta County since 2008, with IBEW Local 613 training behind our work
• Free estimates, so you know the plan before any work starts
• A 2-year warranty on our workmanship
• A 4.9-star rating on Google
• Same-day and next-day appointments often available
• Our motto: Done Right The First Time.

Serving Newnan and Nearby Communities

We serve homeowners throughout Newnan and Coweta County, plus Sharpsburg, Senoia, Moreland, Grantville, Turin, Peachtree City, Tyrone, Fayetteville, Palmetto, Carrollton and other towns within about 40 miles. Our office is at 1002 Highway 16 W, Suite A, Newnan, GA 30263.

View our full service areas

Learn more about Shocking Electric Solutions, your Newnan, GA electrician.

Related Reading

More guides from our Newnan electricians on this topic:

• What to Do in a Home Electrical Emergency: A Newnan Homeowner’s Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do I call when my power goes out?

If your neighbors are out too, call your electric utility. Your bill lists the company and its outage number. If only your home is out and the utility says their equipment is fine, call a licensed electrician.

Is Shocking Electric Solutions my power company?

No. We are a licensed electrical contractor. We cannot restore utility power, but we repair the wiring, panel and service equipment on your side of the meter.

Can I reset my main breaker?

If it is tripped and there is no burning smell, damage or water near the panel, you can switch it fully off and then back on. If it trips again, leave it off and call an electrician.

What if a storm pulled the wires off my house?

Stay away, and call your utility. They will make it safe. The mast, weatherhead and meter base are typically the homeowner’s to repair, and we can do that work so the utility can reconnect you.

Are estimates free?

Yes. Call (678) 552-9399 or text (470) 516-7261 to set up a free estimate.

Contact Shocking Electric Solutions