In an electrical emergency, your first job is to stay safe and cut power if you can do it without risk. If you see sparks, smell burning, or see smoke, get everyone away from the area, and if there is any fire or immediate danger, call 911 first. Once people are safe, shut off the affected circuit or the main breaker, then call a licensed electrician.
At Peach Electric, we're a family-owned, owner-operator team of electrical specialists serving the Greater Sacramento Area, and we're now answering 24/7 for emergencies. Here's how to handle the moment and know when to pick up the phone.
What should you do first in an electrical emergency?
Before touching anything electrical:
- Get people and pets away from the outlet, panel, or appliance.
- If there's fire, heavy smoke, or anyone has been shocked, call 911 first.
- Do not touch a person who is in contact with a live source. Cut the power first.
- Never use water on an electrical fire.
How to Turn Off Power Safely
If it's safe to reach your panel, you can stop the problem fast.
Turn Off a Single Circuit
If you know which circuit is involved, flip that breaker to the OFF position. This isolates the problem without killing power to the whole house.
Turn Off the Main Breaker
If you're not sure which circuit is affected, or the problem is at the panel itself, switch off the large main breaker at the top of the panel. That cuts power to the entire home.
When Not to Touch the Panel
If the panel is hot, sparking, wet, or you would have to stand in water to reach it, don't touch it. Stay back and call for help.
What counts as a real electrical emergency?
Call right away for any of these:
- Burning smell, smoke, or sparks from an outlet, switch, or panel
- A panel that is hot, buzzing loudly, or has scorch marks
- Anyone who has received an electrical shock
- Exposed or downed wiring you can reach or that is on your property
- A total loss of power that isn't a SMUD or PG&E outage
- Water in contact with outlets, wiring, or the panel, such as after a leak or flood
What usually is not an electrical emergency?
These still need attention, but they can typically wait for a scheduled visit:
- A single outlet that stopped working with no smell or heat
- One light fixture that is out
- A breaker that tripped once and reset normally
- Wanting to add outlets, fixtures, or circuits
When in doubt, call and describe what's happening. We'd rather help you decide than have you guess.
How do you check for an area power outage?
Before assuming the worst, glance outside. If your neighbors are also dark, it's likely a SMUD or PG&E outage, not your wiring. You can report and track those with your utility. If your home is the only one without power, the issue is on your side and worth a call.
Quick FAQ
Is a burning smell always an emergency? Treat it as one. A burning or fishy smell near outlets or the panel can mean overheating wiring, which is a fire risk.
Should I reset a breaker that keeps tripping? You can reset it once. If it trips again right away, leave it off and call. Repeated tripping means something's wrong on that circuit.
Do you really answer at night and on weekends? Yes. We're now answering 24/7 for emergencies across the Greater Sacramento Area.
Call Peach Electric, Day or Night
Electrical emergencies don't wait for business hours, and neither do we. As a family-owned, owner-operator team, we treat your safety like it's our own family's. If something feels dangerous, make people safe, cut the power if you can, and reach out to our emergency electrician team right away.