The power just went out. Maybe a thunderstorm rolled through, maybe an ice storm brought down lines, or maybe something happened on the grid and you have no idea why. Whatever the cause, there are immediate steps you should take to protect yourself, your family, your home, and your electronics. This checklist covers what to do from the moment the power goes out until it comes back on.
Step 1: Determine the Scope of the Outage
Before doing anything else, determine whether the outage is affecting just your home or the broader area. Look out your windows to see if your neighbors have power. Check the streetlights. If your neighbors have lights and you do not, the problem may be specific to your home, such as a tripped main breaker, a damaged service entrance, or a utility connection issue at your meter.
If the entire neighborhood is dark, it is a utility outage. Report it to Dominion Energy at 1-888-333-4465 or through their outage reporting app. Reporting helps the utility identify the affected area and prioritize restoration.
Check Your Electrical Panel
If the outage appears to be just your home, check your main electrical panel. Use a flashlight, not a candle, near the electrical panel. Look for a tripped main breaker. If the main breaker has tripped, you can try resetting it once by flipping it fully to OFF and then back to ON. If it trips again immediately, there is a fault in your home's wiring and you need to call an electrician. Do not keep resetting a breaker that repeatedly trips.
Step 2: Protect Your Electronics
Power surges frequently accompany outages, both when power goes out and when it comes back on. The initial event that caused the outage, such as a lightning strike or transformer failure, can send a surge through the lines. When utility crews restore power, the restoration itself can cause voltage fluctuations and spikes.
What to Unplug Immediately
- Computers and monitors: Surge-sensitive electronics that can suffer permanent damage from voltage spikes
- TVs and entertainment systems: Modern flat screens are particularly vulnerable to surges
- Gaming consoles: Contain sensitive internal components
- Microwave oven: The control board is surge-sensitive
- Washer and dryer: Modern units have electronic control boards
What You Can Leave Plugged In
- Refrigerator and freezer: Leave plugged in so they restart automatically when power returns. The food inside stays cold longer if you do not open the doors
- Lamps with incandescent or LED bulbs: Leave one light on so you know when power returns
- Basic plug-in clocks: Not sensitive to surges
If you have whole-home surge protection installed, you have better protection against restoration surges, but unplugging sensitive electronics is still the safest approach during a prolonged outage.
Step 3: Generator Safety
If you have a standby generator with an automatic transfer switch, it should start automatically within 10 to 30 seconds. Verify that it is running and that your home has power. If it does not start, check that the generator is set to AUTO mode. Do not attempt any generator repair during an active outage unless you are trained to do so.
Portable Generator Safety
If you use a portable generator, follow these critical safety rules:
- NEVER run a portable generator indoors. Not in the garage, not in the basement, not in any enclosed or partially enclosed space. Carbon monoxide from generator exhaust is odorless, colorless, and lethal. More people die from generator carbon monoxide poisoning during outages than from the storms themselves
- Place the generator at least 20 feet from your home with the exhaust pointing away from any windows, doors, or vents
- NEVER plug a portable generator into a wall outlet. This creates backfeed that can electrocute utility workers and neighbors. Use a transfer switch or run extension cords directly from the generator to your appliances
- Let the generator cool before refueling. Gasoline spilled on a hot engine can ignite
- Use heavy-duty outdoor-rated extension cords that are properly sized for the load
Step 4: Food Safety
A full refrigerator keeps food at safe temperatures for about 4 hours without power if the door stays closed. A full freezer maintains safe temperatures for about 48 hours (24 hours if half full). Every time you open the door, you lose cold air and shorten these times significantly.
During the Outage
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible
- Group items in the freezer together. A full freezer stays cold longer
- If you have a cooler and ice, move essential items to the cooler so you can access them without opening the refrigerator
- Note the time the power went out so you can estimate how long food has been without refrigeration
After Power Returns
- Check the temperature inside the refrigerator. If it is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, discard perishable food that has been above that temperature for more than 2 hours
- Check freezer items. If food still contains ice crystals or is at 40 degrees or below, it is safe to refreeze
- When in doubt, throw it out. Food poisoning is not worth the risk
Step 5: Medical Equipment Concerns
If anyone in your home depends on electrically powered medical equipment, a power outage is a medical situation that requires a plan.
Equipment That Needs Immediate Backup
- Oxygen concentrators: Switch to backup oxygen tanks immediately. Know how many hours of backup oxygen you have
- CPAP/BiPAP machines: Battery backup units are available for most CPAP machines. Without backup, sleep without the machine and contact your physician if the outage extends through multiple nights
- Home dialysis equipment: Contact your dialysis clinic immediately for instructions
- Powered wheelchairs: Ensure the chair is fully charged when storms are forecast. Battery life varies but most powered chairs provide 8 to 15 miles of travel on a full charge
- Medication refrigeration: Insulin and some other medications require refrigeration. Use a cooler with ice and keep medications sealed in a waterproof bag
If you or a family member relies on electrical medical equipment, register with Dominion Energy's medical priority program, which flags your account for priority restoration. Also contact the Aiken County Emergency Management office to register for their special needs registry.
Step 6: Is It an Emergency or a Utility Issue?
Most power outages are utility issues that resolve when repair crews restore service. However, some outage-related situations require immediate emergency response:
Call 911 Immediately If:
- You see downed power lines, whether they are sparking or not. All downed lines should be treated as live and deadly
- You smell natural gas (a rotten egg smell). Leave the house immediately and call from a safe distance
- You see smoke or fire coming from your electrical panel, meter, or any outlet
- Someone has been electrocuted or shocked
- A tree has fallen on your home and damaged the electrical service entrance
Call an Electrician If:
- Your home has no power but your neighbors do, and resetting your main breaker does not work or it trips again
- You notice a burning smell from outlets, switches, or the electrical panel before or after the outage
- Some circuits work and others do not after power returns
- You hear buzzing or crackling from the electrical panel
- Outlets or switches feel hot to the touch
- Your electronics were damaged by a power surge during the outage
Step 7: When Power Returns
When the power comes back, do not rush to plug everything in at once. The initial power restoration can be unstable, with voltage fluctuations as the utility re-energizes circuits. Wait 5 to 10 minutes after power returns to ensure it is stable before plugging sensitive electronics back in.
After Power Restoration Checklist
- Wait 5 to 10 minutes to confirm power is stable
- Plug electronics back in one at a time
- Reset digital clocks, timers, and programmable thermostats
- Check your refrigerator and freezer temperatures
- Reset your HVAC system if it does not restart automatically
- Check sump pump operation
- Inspect your electrical panel for any signs of damage, burning, or tripped breakers
- Test GFCI outlets by pressing the TEST and RESET buttons
- If you have a standby generator, verify it has returned to standby mode
Prepare Before the Next Outage
The best time to prepare for an outage is before it happens. Keep these items readily accessible:
- Flashlights with fresh batteries (at least one per family member)
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio for weather updates
- Fully charged portable phone charger (power bank)
- First aid kit
- Three-day supply of non-perishable food and water
- Manual can opener
- Cash (ATMs and card readers do not work without power)
- Important phone numbers written down (not just saved on your phone)
For long-term outage protection, consider a standby generator with an automatic transfer switch. Unity Power & Light installs whole-home standby generators throughout Aiken that start automatically during outages and keep your entire home running. Call us at (803) 220-4491 for a free consultation, or call us 24/7 for emergency electrical service during outages.