PG&E or your house? 3-minute diagnostic.
Knowing whether the outage is PG&E or internal determines who to call first. Three quick checks resolve it in most cases.
By Steven Lockhart · Reviewed by Alex Towery, C-10 #989290
Updated 2026-06-16
Quick diagnostic — three checks: (1) Check PG&E outage map at pge.com/outages — your address area shown as outage? Grid outage, wait for PG&E. (2) Check neighbors — visibly dark? Grid outage. Visibly lit? Internal issue. (3) Check your panel — main breaker tripped? Internal issue (reset once; call electrician if repeats). All three checks suggest internal: call electrician. All three suggest grid: wait for PG&E.
01The three diagnostic checks.
Check 1 — PG&E outage map: open pge.com/outages on phone or tablet (or another device with power). The map shows current outages with affected area boundaries. Your address shown within an outage boundary: confirmed grid outage. No outage shown at your address: likely internal (PG&E's map doesn't show individual service issues, so absence of outage isn't proof of internal — but it's strong indication). The map also shows estimated restoration times, which helps planning.
Check 2 — visual neighbor check: if you can see neighboring homes from your property (often possible in suburban Marin even at night via street lights and front-of-house lights), check whether they have power. If 2-3 nearby houses are dark: grid outage. If neighbors visibly have power (lights on, TVs visible): internal issue at your property. This is the fastest practical check — takes seconds and doesn't require phone or internet (useful if your network gear is down with the outage).
02More nuanced cases.
Mixed neighborhood signals
Sometimes only your block or section of street is out — small-area grid outage (transformer issue, very local damage). Often these don't show on the outage map immediately. If your immediate area is dark but other nearby areas have power: small grid outage, call PG&E to report.
PG&E shows outage, but you have partial power
Confusing scenario. Could be: PG&E outage map is outdated and grid is restored but your service has separate issue; or you have intermittent service issue compounded with grid outage. Wait 30 minutes, retest. If your situation doesn't match map indication: call PG&E and electrician both for diagnosis.
PSPS conditions
Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PG&E's preventive grid de-energization during fire-risk weather) are scheduled outages with advance notification. If you received PSPS notification and are out: it's a planned grid outage, expect duration per notification. Standby generator or solar+battery operates normally during PSPS.
03Acting on the diagnosis.
Confirmed grid outage: no action other than safety (manage food in refrigerators, use backup power if available, charge phones while charging available). PG&E restores when ready; tracking the map shows estimated time. Marin major outages typically restore within 4-24 hours; PSPS events can extend to 72 hours.
Confirmed internal outage: immediate action depends on severity. Single tripped main breaker that resets cleanly: monitor, optional same-week panel inspection. Repeated trips or won't-reset: call electrician same-day. Visible damage to panel, service entrance, or wiring: call PG&E first to disconnect service for safety, then electrician for repair. Towery Electric provides same-day emergency dispatch across Marin for diagnosis and repair of internal outages.
Common questions.
What if PG&E map is showing wrong info?
It happens — maps can be outdated by 15-60 minutes during active outage management. If your situation conflicts with map indication, trust your direct observation (neighbors, panel) more than the map. Call PG&E to verify if uncertain. The map is a tool, not infallible — use it alongside other diagnostic checks.
How quickly should I call?
For grid outages: no need to call PG&E (they know about widespread outages already). For very localized outages (your block only, not on map): call PG&E to report. For internal outages: call electrician same-day for repeated trips, hot panel, or visible damage. Single trip that resets cleanly: schedule diagnostic within a few days, not necessarily same-day.
What's the worst-case scenario I should worry about?
Two scenarios warrant urgent response: (1) Smoke or burning smell from panel — safety emergency, leave the area, call 911 if visible smoke or fire. (2) Hot panel surface — fire risk, turn off main breaker if accessible safely, call emergency electrician immediately. Most outages don't reach these conditions, but knowing them helps you respond fast if they occur.
Can I diagnose without opening the panel?
Mostly yes for the first two checks (outage map, neighbor check). Opening the panel is optional but helpful — looking at whether any breaker is tripped is a useful diagnostic that doesn't require touching anything. If you're uncomfortable opening the panel, that's fine — describe symptoms when you call electrician, they'll do the panel work.
How do you handle pricing — flat fee or hourly?
Both, depending on scope. Routine service calls and predictable scope (panel replacement, EV charger install, transfer switch install, fixture replacement) are flat-fee quoted up front. Diagnostic visits and emergency scope are hourly because we don't know what we'll find. Either way, you get a written quote before work starts on anything significant, and we don't proceed beyond the quote without your sign-off.
How quickly can you schedule?
Depends on scope and season. Emergency dispatch: same-day across Marin County (1-3 hours business hours, 1-4 hours after-hours). Same-day standard service: 3-6 hours from call when capacity allows; otherwise next business day. Scheduled service work: 1-3 weeks typical. Larger projects requiring permits and PG&E coordination: 4-12 weeks depending on scope. We're upfront about timeline at the quote stage.
What warranty do you offer on work?
Our standard residential warranty: 2 years on labor, manufacturer warranty on parts (varies by product — typically 1-10 years). Major installs (panels, generators, EV chargers) often have longer manufacturer warranties (5-10 years). If there's an issue with our work in the warranty period, we come back and fix it at no cost. We also stand behind work past warranty — repeat customers and referrals matter more than a transactional fix.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. California State License Board C-10 Electrical Contractor #989290, in good standing. Carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance as required by California law. Bondable on projects requiring it. Happy to provide proof of insurance to clients or property managers on request. License lookup: cslb.ca.gov.
Emergency response across Marin County.
Same-day dispatch for safety scenarios. Typical on-site time 1-3 hours weekday, 1-4 hours after-hours.