My power is out but my neighbors have electricity — what does that mean?

It almost always means the problem is on your property, not a utility outage. The cause is usually a tripped main breaker, a fault on an individual circuit, a meter problem, or damage to the service line feeding only your home. A neighborhood outage would darken your neighbors too.

Can an electrician fix my power if the whole street is out?

No. A street-wide or area outage is a utility (public power company) issue, and only the utility can restore it. An electrician works on the wiring inside your home, from the main breaker onward. If your neighbors are also dark, report the outage to your utility and wait for restoration.

I reset my main breaker and the power came back — is it safe?

If it reset cleanly and stayed on with no smell, heat, or buzzing, an occasional trip from an overload can be normal. But if the main breaker trips repeatedly, trips for no obvious reason, or feels warm, have it inspected. A main breaker that keeps tripping can indicate an overloaded service or a developing fault.

Is the meter my responsibility or the utility's?

In most areas, the utility owns and is responsible for the service line up to and including the meter; the homeowner owns everything from the main breaker inward, including the panel. If the meter is dark or damaged, call the utility. If the meter has power but your panel does not, call an electrician.

When is a single-home power loss an emergency?

Treat it as an emergency and call 911 plus your utility if you see sparks, smell burning, see smoke, notice a downed or damaged service line, or find water near the panel. Do not touch the equipment. These conditions can cause fire or electrocution.

Power Out Only in My House — Utility Outage or Electrical Problem?

If the power is out at your house but the street lights, traffic signals, and your neighbors' homes all still have electricity, you are almost certainly not dealing with a utility-wide outage. The problem is much more likely to be on the part of the electrical system that belongs to your property — the service line, the meter, the main breaker, or the panel inside your home. This guide walks you through how to confirm that quickly and safely, and how to tell whether it is something you can reset yourself or something that needs a licensed electrician or your utility.

Quick check: is the problem inside your home?

Answer a few questions to narrow it down. The more of these that apply, the more likely the issue is on your side of the meter.

Do your neighbors still have power?
Is only part of your home affected?
Does a breaker keep tripping repeatedly?
Are your lights flickering or dimming?
Did it start right after using an appliance?
Any burning smell, sparks, or smoke?

Safety first: when to stop and call for help

Before troubleshooting anything, rule out an emergency. Step away and call 911 and your utility immediately if you notice any of the following:

- A burning smell, smoke, or scorch marks near the panel, an outlet, or the meter.

- Buzzing, crackling, or sparks from the panel, meter, or any outlet.

- A downed or sagging power line near your home, or a damaged service mast (the pipe and wires entering the house).

- Water near the electrical panel, or flooding in the room that contains it.

Do not touch the panel, the meter, or any wiring if any of these are present. Electricity in these conditions can be fatal.

Step 1 — Confirm it is only your home

Look outside. Are the streetlights on? Do nearby houses have lights, TVs, or porch lights? Call or text a neighbor if you cannot tell. If everyone else has power and only your home is dark, the fault is on your side of the meter or on your individual service drop — not a neighborhood outage. If the whole street is dark, it is a public utility outage, and an electrician cannot restore it; in that case, report it to your utility and wait for restoration.

Step 2 — Check your main breaker and panel

Open your electrical panel and look at the large main breaker, usually at the top. If it has tripped (sitting in the middle or 'off' position), firmly switch it fully off and then back on.

Also scan the individual branch breakers. A tripped breaker often sits slightly off-center rather than fully 'on.' Reset any that are tripped by pushing them fully off, then on.

If a breaker trips again immediately, stop. That circuit has a fault, and repeatedly resetting it is unsafe. Leave it off and have it diagnosed.

Step 3 — Rule out a partial loss of power

If some outlets and lights work but others do not, you may have lost just one of the two 120-volt 'legs' that feed your home, or tripped a single circuit. This is common and points to a problem at the main lugs, a loose neutral, or the utility service drop. A full-home blackout with neighbors lit usually means the main breaker, the meter, or the service line. Either way, when resets do not restore power, the next step is professional diagnosis.

Step 4 — Decide: utility or electrician

Call your utility first if: the meter itself is dark or damaged, you see a problem on the service line between the pole and your house, or you suspect the issue is upstream of your meter. The equipment up to and including the meter is typically the utility's responsibility.

Call a licensed electrician if: the meter has power but your panel does not, a breaker keeps tripping, or you have burning smells, warm panels, or repeated failures inside the home. Everything from the main breaker inward is the homeowner's responsibility, and that is where an electrician works.

Frequently asked questions

My power is out but my neighbors have electricity — what does that mean?: It almost always means the problem is on your property, not a utility outage. The cause is usually a tripped main breaker, a fault on an individual circuit, a meter problem, or damage to the service line feeding only your home. A neighborhood outage would darken your neighbors too.
Can an electrician fix my power if the whole street is out?: No. A street-wide or area outage is a utility (public power company) issue, and only the utility can restore it. An electrician works on the wiring inside your home, from the main breaker onward. If your neighbors are also dark, report the outage to your utility and wait for restoration.
I reset my main breaker and the power came back — is it safe?: If it reset cleanly and stayed on with no smell, heat, or buzzing, an occasional trip from an overload can be normal. But if the main breaker trips repeatedly, trips for no obvious reason, or feels warm, have it inspected. A main breaker that keeps tripping can indicate an overloaded service or a developing fault.
Is the meter my responsibility or the utility's?: In most areas, the utility owns and is responsible for the service line up to and including the meter; the homeowner owns everything from the main breaker inward, including the panel. If the meter is dark or damaged, call the utility. If the meter has power but your panel does not, call an electrician.
When is a single-home power loss an emergency?: Treat it as an emergency and call 911 plus your utility if you see sparks, smell burning, see smoke, notice a downed or damaged service line, or find water near the panel. Do not touch the equipment. These conditions can cause fire or electrocution.