Power out at your business: a step-by-step response
First, find out whether the outage is the utility or your building: check neighbors and the utility outage map. If it is just your building, check the main breaker and any tripped breakers, but stop at burning smells, sparks or a hot panel. Protect equipment and refrigerated stock while you wait. Call 833-877-1717 to request an independent commercial electrician.
RepairNowUSA editorial review · Last substantively reviewed October 13, 2026 · Review standards
Step 1: safety check
- Burning smell, smoke, sparking, a hot or buzzing panel: evacuate the area and call 911.
- Downed lines on the property: keep everyone well away and call the utility.
- Water near the electrical room or panels: do not enter. Call the utility to disconnect.
- Make sure exits are lit. Emergency lighting usually runs on batteries for a limited time.
Step 2: utility or building?
- Are neighboring businesses and streetlights out? Check the utility outage map or call the utility.
- Is only part of your building out? That points to your own breakers, a panel or a feeder problem.
- Are lights dim or flickering, or some three-phase equipment running badly? You may have lost one phase. Motors can be damaged running on a lost phase, so shut down large motor loads and call the utility and an electrician.
Step 3: check the building
- Look for tripped breakers in the main and sub-panels. Reset a breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off.
- Check whether a recent event caused it: a storm, construction, a new piece of equipment, or water intrusion.
- Do not remove panel covers or work inside switchgear. Commercial electrical equipment can carry very high fault currents.
Step 4: protect equipment and inventory
- Turn off or unplug computers, point-of-sale systems, HVAC equipment and machinery so the restoration surge does not damage them.
- Keep refrigerators, coolers and freezers closed. Record temperatures when power returns.
- Close the store if lighting, alarms or payment systems are down and safety is at risk.
- If you have a generator, make sure it started and the transfer switch moved. See our generator guide.
Step 5: restoring power safely
- When utility power returns, bring loads back gradually rather than all at once.
- Check that refrigeration, HVAC, fire alarm panels, security and elevators recovered correctly.
- Reset clocks, timers and building automation schedules.
- Note any equipment that failed afterward; surge damage sometimes shows up later.
When to call an electrician
Call a commercial electrician when the outage is inside your building, a breaker keeps tripping, you lost a phase, equipment was damaged, or water reached electrical equipment. When you call 833-877-1717, describe the building, which areas are out and what you already checked. RepairNowUSA looks for a participating independent electrician; the electrician confirms timing and price with you.
How RepairNowUSA can help
Call 833-877-1717 and describe what is happening and the property ZIP code. RepairNowUSA looks for a participating independent provider for that kind of work in your area and connects you if one is available. The provider confirms timing, scope and price with you and does the work. Availability and response times vary and are not guaranteed.
Call 833-877-1717Common questions
How do I know if the power outage is just my building?
Check whether neighbors and streetlights have power and look at the utility outage map. If they are on and you are out, the problem is likely in your building or service connection.
Why is only half my building without power?
Common causes are a tripped breaker or feeder, a failed sub-panel, or the loss of one phase of the utility supply. Lost phases can damage motors, so shut down large equipment and call the utility and an electrician.
Should I reset tripped breakers myself?
Resetting a breaker once is reasonable. If it trips again, leave it off. Do not open panel covers or switchgear.
What happens to refrigerated food during an outage?
Keep units closed and track temperatures. Your food safety plan and local health department decide what can be kept. See our refrigeration guide for more.
Can I call any time?
Yes. You can call 833-877-1717 at any time, including nights, weekends and holidays. Whether an independent provider can come out right away depends on your ZIP code, the time and provider capacity, so availability is not guaranteed.
Authoritative references
These public sources give general safety context. They do not replace an on-site evaluation, and RepairNowUSA does not perform the work.