Don't touch damaged equipment, keep resetting a breaker that trips immediately, or go near water that might be in contact with wiring.
First steps, by situation
- Burning smell with no visible source: if you can safely reach the panel, shut off the main. Leave and call 911 if it persists.
- Sparking or scorched outlet: turn off that circuit's breaker and stop using the outlet.
- Flooded basement with a panel or outlets in it: don't go in. Call PSEG Long Island to disconnect the service if needed.
- Storm ripped the service off the house: PSEG LI first, then an electrician for the mast and meter pan. Reconnection needs an inspection certificate.
- Partial power loss: check PSEG LI's outage map; if it's just you, call an electrician.
After storms
Nor'easters and hurricane-season storms regularly tear service drops off Long Island houses. The utility owns the drop to your house; the mast, weatherhead and meter pan are usually yours. Expect a licensed electrician, an agency inspection and a PSEG reconnection, and keep photos and receipts for insurance. Step by step: what PSEG fixes and what you pay for after a storm. If you're tired of outages, seegenerator installation.
Where we cover
Urgent & Emergency Electrical quotes are available across Nassau and Suffolk. Who licenses the electrician and which inspection agencies are accepted differ by town. Start with yours:
Frequently asked questions
What counts as an electrical emergency?
Burning smells, smoke, sparking or scorched outlets, a panel that's hot or buzzing loudly, water near electrical equipment, and a service mast or meter torn off the house in a storm. If there's fire or smoke, call 911 first.
The storm pulled the wires off my house. Who fixes what?
Call PSEG Long Island first; they make the lines safe. The service mast, weatherhead and meter pan on your house are typically the homeowner's to repair with a licensed electrician, and the repair needs an inspection certificate before PSEG reconnects.
Is someone available at night?
Our phone hours are Mon–Sat, 7am–7pm, and the form is open 24/7. After-hours availability depends on the electrician; we won't promise a response time we can't keep.
Related services
- Panel & Service Upgrades: 100A to 200A service upgrades and panel replacements, including the permit, the agency inspection and the PSEG Long Island meter cutover.
- Federal Pacific & Zinsco Panel Replacement: Replacing Federal Pacific Stab-Lok, Zinsco, Challenger, Pushmatic and old fuse boxes, often on a home-sale or insurance-renewal deadline.
- EV Charger Installation: Level 2 home chargers on a dedicated circuit, with a load check first so a 100-amp house doesn't trip, and help with the PSEG LI charger rebate.
- Generator Installation: Whole-house standby generators with automatic transfer switches, or a code-compliant inlet and interlock for a portable generator.
- Electrical Repair & Troubleshooting: Breakers that keep tripping, dead outlets, flickering lights, half the house without power, warm or buzzing devices.
- House Rewiring: Replacing knob-and-tube, cloth-insulated and ungrounded wiring, and remediating 1960s–70s aluminum branch wiring.
- Lighting & Ceiling Fans: Recessed lighting, fixture and fan installs, dimmers, outdoor and landscape lighting.
- Electrical Safety Inspections: A licensed electrician's evaluation for a home purchase or sale, an insurance carrier's request, or peace of mind in an older house.