Days 1–30
Step 1 — Confirm property vs grid
Verify neighbors have power. Check PG&E outage map if available. If grid-wide, no on-property repair needed — wait for restoration.
24/7 Emergency Electrician · Pillar Guide
Power loss diagnostic, find the cause fast.
Same-day diagnostic and repair when power is lost to your home or business — service-entrance issues, main breaker failures, panel problems, partial outages with phase loss.
11 yrsMarin electrical work
C-10CSLB licensed contractor
1st passInspection rate
48 hrTypical estimate turnaround
Key Takeaways
- First diagnostic step: confirm whether the outage is grid-wide (call PG&E or check the outage map) or specific to your property (everyone else has power).
- Whole-house outages with neighbors still powered usually trace to: tripped main breaker, failed main breaker, service entrance issue, or meter base problem.
- Partial outages (half the house dark, but the other half working) typically indicate one of the two 120V legs has lost connection — usually at the service entrance or main panel.
- Burning smells, sparks, or charred equipment alongside power loss elevates urgency — don't attempt to investigate damaged equipment yourself.
- Repairs involving the service entrance often require PG&E coordination for a temporary disconnect — we manage this on emergency calls.
01 — OverviewWhat Power Outage Response actually covers in Marin.
Power outages that aren't from PG&E grid issues fall into a few diagnostic categories. The first step is always confirming where the outage actually is. PG&E's outage map (or a quick neighbor check) tells you if it's grid-wide — in which case the response is wait-it-out, no electrician needed. If neighbors have power and you don't, the issue is on your property and needs diagnostic response.
On-property whole-house outages typically trace to: a tripped main breaker (sometimes resets cleanly, sometimes won't reset signaling a real fault), a failed main breaker (mechanically worn or heat-damaged, common in older Federal Pacific or Zinsco panels), service-entrance failures (deteriorated service conductors, weather-damaged service mast, meter base issues), or panel-bus problems (less common but serious when it happens). Each category requires different diagnostic and repair approaches.
Definition
'Power outage response' is the diagnostic and repair work to restore power when service is lost to part or all of a property due to on-property equipment failures rather than utility-side grid outages.
Grid outage vs property outage
Quick test: check if neighbors have power. PG&E outage = wait it out (no electrician can restore grid power). Property outage = electrician diagnostic needed. PG&E's outage map at pge.com shows current outages — useful confirmation.
Whole-house vs partial outage
Whole-house outage = main breaker, service entrance, or full service-side issue. Partial outage with half the house dark = one of the two 120V legs lost, typically at the service entrance or main panel terminals. Different diagnostic paths.
For the broader context this guide supports, see our 24/7 Emergency Electrician overview.
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Power outage work clusters by outage scope and by suspected cause.
Three guides to read first
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By outage scope
Equipment failures
02Diagnostic sequence for whole-house power loss.
The standard diagnostic sequence we follow on whole-house outage calls.
Days 31–60
Step 2 — Inspect service entrance externally
Visual inspection of service mast, weatherhead, service drop, and meter from outside. Looking for: damaged conductors, fallen branches, weather damage, charred or melted components, water intrusion at meter base.
Days 61–90
Step 3 — Check main breaker
At the main panel, verify main breaker position. Try resetting if tripped — if holds, monitor; if won't reset, real fault present. If main breaker fails to trip-or-reset cleanly, replacement likely needed.
03Why FPE and Zinsco panels fail at power outage moments.
Federal Pacific (FPE Stab-Lok) and Zinsco (Sylvania) panels are documented as having elevated failure rates in the main breaker mechanism. Multiple field studies and CPSC investigations have shown these panels can fail in the trip mechanism — sometimes failing to trip during overcurrent (the original safety concern) and sometimes failing to maintain contact during normal operation (the cause of unexplained outages). Either failure mode is a panel replacement decision, not a breaker swap.
When we respond to a whole-house outage and find an FPE or Zinsco panel as the failure source, the conversation is about panel replacement vs temporary fix. We can sometimes get power restored with a temporary main breaker installation, but the underlying panel is documented as unsafe and most insurance carriers won't continue coverage on a known FPE/Zinsco panel after a documented failure. Replacement is the right answer — usually scheduled within days of the emergency response.
04Service-side issues — when PG&E coordination is needed.
Some power loss situations involve service-side equipment (between PG&E's transformer and your meter base) that we can't repair without PG&E coordination.
Service mast damage
Wind, fallen branches, or vehicle impact can damage the service mast that brings PG&E's service drop to your meter. Repair requires PG&E temporary disconnect, mast replacement, and re-energization. We coordinate the PG&E ticket as part of emergency response.
Meter base failures
Internal meter base failures (corroded jaws, damaged housing) require meter removal by PG&E before repair. We provide a temporary safe condition; PG&E schedules the meter pull; we replace the base; PG&E re-meters and re-energizes.
Service drop issues
Service drop (the cable from PG&E's pole to your weatherhead) is PG&E's equipment. We diagnose and identify the issue; PG&E does the repair. We coordinate the call and stand by to verify proper re-energization.
05What restoration involves.
For most on-property outages, restoration happens during the same emergency response visit — diagnostic identifies the cause, repair completes within 1-3 hours, power restored. Common same-visit fixes: main breaker replacement (most common), service-entrance termination repair, panel terminal cleaning and re-torque. For these scopes, total time from your call to power restored typically runs 3-5 hours.
For larger scopes (full panel replacement, service-side equipment requiring PG&E coordination, meter base replacement), restoration takes longer. Typical pattern: we get safe condition established same-day (sometimes with temporary power restoration to critical loads), formal repair work scheduled within 2-5 days, full restoration when the formal repair completes. Insurance and PG&E processes drive the timing of permanent repair. We coordinate the steps and keep you informed of timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my power outage a PG&E issue or my problem?
Quick test: check if your neighbors have power. If they're also dark, it's a grid issue — call PG&E (1-800-743-5000) or check pge.com/outagecenter for status. If neighbors have power and you don't, the outage is on your property and requires an electrician diagnostic. We're happy to talk through symptoms over the phone to help determine whether emergency dispatch is appropriate or whether the issue might still be grid-related.
My main breaker won't reset — what's wrong?
A main breaker that won't reset means one of three things: there's an active overcurrent or fault condition downstream that's tripping the breaker as soon as you try to reset it (most common, requires diagnostic of branch circuits to identify), the main breaker itself has mechanically failed (common in older FPE/Zinsco panels), or there's a service-entrance issue that's preventing proper power delivery to the breaker. All three require electrician diagnostic — don't keep cycling the breaker, that can cause further damage.
Half my house is dark — why?
Half-house outage usually means one of the two 120V legs feeding your panel has lost connection. Modern U.S. residential service is 240V split-phase: two 120V legs that combine to make 240V for heavy loads (range, dryer) and split for 120V loads. When one leg drops, every circuit connected to that leg goes dark while circuits on the other leg keep working. The disconnection point is usually at the service entrance, meter, or main panel terminals. Requires electrician diagnostic; same-day response appropriate.
What does PG&E coordination involve during emergency repair?
For repairs involving service-side equipment (service mast, meter base, anything between the transformer and meter), we need PG&E to perform a temporary disconnect before we can work safely. The PG&E process: we file an emergency ticket, PG&E dispatches a service crew (typically 4-12 hours response depending on demand), they pull the meter or disconnect the service drop, we perform the repair, PG&E returns to re-energize and re-meter. We manage this coordination as part of emergency response — you don't need to call PG&E separately.
Will my insurance cover emergency electrical repair?
Depends on the cause. Storm damage (wind, lightning, fallen branches damaging service entrance) is typically covered by homeowner's insurance — we provide documentation and photos for claim filing. Equipment failure due to age (panel reaching end of life, breaker mechanical failure) usually isn't covered. Damage from auto accidents (car hits pole, damages service) is usually covered by the at-fault driver's insurance. We document the cause and damage so you have what you need for insurance filing.
Can you restore power temporarily while waiting for parts?
Often yes, depending on the failure mode. For simple equipment failures where the replacement part is in stock, we restore permanently on the emergency visit. For situations requiring parts not on truck (specific panel types, certain breaker brands), we sometimes can establish temporary restoration to critical loads (refrigeration, heat, lighting) while the formal repair is scheduled. For situations requiring PG&E coordination, temporary restoration depends on what's safe under the specific damage. We discuss options during the on-site assessment.
How We Reviewed This Page
- Reviewed against current California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3) and 2023 NFPA 70 (NEC) provisions applicable to the topic.
- Pricing ranges reflect actual 2026 Towery Electric quote data from Marin County jobs — not third-party industry averages.
- Permit and inspection timing reflects current AHJ practice in Novato, San Rafael, Mill Valley, and unincorporated Marin County as of mid-2026.
- Technical review by Alex Towery, founder and C-10 #989290 holder, with 11+ years of California electrical work.
- All factual claims about code requirements were verified against primary sources (CSLB, CARB, PG&E, AHJ) at time of publication.
References
This guide reflects Towery Electric's professional standards as a California-licensed C-10 electrical contractor and is for general information. Site conditions, panel configurations, code amendments, and permit-authority requirements vary; final scoping, sizing, and code compliance for your specific address are determined on a paid site assessment. We follow California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3) and applicable NFPA 70 (NEC) editions adopted by your AHJ.