Electrical emergencies are the most dangerous type of home emergency — they can cause fires, electrocution, and death. Never attempt to diagnose or repair electrical problems yourself during an emergency. If in doubt, call 911 first and an emergency electrician second.
Electrical emergencies are the most dangerous type of home emergency — they can cause fires, electrocution, and death. Never attempt to diagnose or repair electrical problems yourself during an emergency. If in doubt, call 911 first and an emergency electrician second. True electrical emergencies requiring immediate professional response include: sparking or arcing from outlets, switches, or panels, burning smell from electrical components, electrical panel buzzing or making unusual sounds, power outage to your home when neighbours have power, downed power lines near your property (call Hydro Ottawa: 613-738-6400), flickering lights throughout the house (not just one circuit), electrical shock when touching appliances or switches, and water contact with electrical components (flooding near the panel or outlets). Ottawa's older neighbourhoods (Sandy Hill, Centretown, the Glebe, Old Ottawa South, Lowertown) have many homes with aging electrical systems — knob-and-tube wiring, 60-amp panels, aluminum wiring, and Federal Pacific panels. These older systems are more prone to emergencies and should be proactively upgraded.
Emergency service call fee: $150–$400 for after-hours dispatch (evenings, weekends, holidays). This is the minimum charge for the electrician to arrive and assess the situation. Emergency hourly rate: $150–$300 per hour (compared to $90–$150 during regular hours). Most charge a minimum 1-hour fee plus the service call charge. Common emergency repairs: Circuit breaker replacement ($200–$500), outlet or switch replacement with wiring repair ($200–$600), GFCI outlet trip diagnosis and repair ($150–$400), partial power restoration (finding and fixing the cause of a partial outage) ($200–$800). Panel-related emergencies: Main breaker replacement ($400–$1,000), bus bar repair ($500–$1,500), emergency panel replacement ($2,500–$5,000 — typically scheduled as follow-up work within days). Storm damage repair: Electrical mast and weather head repair ($500–$2,000), service entrance cable replacement ($1,000–$3,000). Storm damage often requires coordination with Hydro Ottawa for reconnection.
Do NOT touch anything sparking or arcing: Maintain distance, don't use water on electrical fires (use a Class C or ABC extinguisher), and don't attempt to disconnect sparking equipment by pulling cords. Shut off the main breaker: If safe to approach the electrical panel, flip the main breaker to OFF. This cuts power to the entire house, stopping the immediate danger in most situations. Know your panel location in advance. Electrical fires: Use a dry chemical (ABC) fire extinguisher. Never use water on an electrical fire. If the fire is larger than a wastebasket, evacuate immediately and call 911. Downed wires: Stay at least 10 metres away from any downed power line. Assume all downed wires are live. Call Hydro Ottawa (613-738-6400) and 911 immediately. Do not drive over downed wires. Flooding near electrical: If water is near the electrical panel or outlets, do NOT enter the area. Water conducts electricity and standing in even an inch of water near energized components can be fatal. Call 911 and your emergency electrician — they will coordinate with Hydro Ottawa to disconnect power before entry. Carbon monoxide: If your carbon monoxide detector is alarming, evacuate immediately and call 911. CO detectors may trigger if the furnace or gas appliance has an electrical malfunction causing incomplete combustion.
Panel inspection: Have a Licensed Electrical Contractor inspect your panel every 10 years, or immediately if you notice any signs of deterioration (rust, discolouration, buzzing, burning smell). Replace Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels proactively — these brands have documented failure rates. AFCI protection: Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) detect dangerous arcing and disconnect the circuit before a fire starts. Ontario Electrical Safety Code requires AFCIs on bedroom circuits in new construction. Retrofitting AFCI breakers costs $50–$100 per circuit and significantly reduces fire risk. Surge protection: A whole-home surge protector ($300–$600 installed) protects all electronics and appliances from power surges caused by lightning and grid fluctuations. Ottawa experiences 20–30 thunderstorms per year, making surge protection a wise investment. Aluminum wiring: Ottawa homes built in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s may have aluminum branch wiring, which poses a higher fire risk at connections. A licensed electrician can install COPALUM or AlumiConn connectors at all connection points ($2,000–$5,000 for a whole home) to make aluminum wiring safe. Overloaded circuits: Avoid using multiple high-draw appliances on the same circuit. If breakers trip frequently, it's a sign you need additional circuits — a common upgrade in older Ottawa homes.
Emergency call fees are $150–$400 plus $150–$300 per hour (vs $90–$150 regular hours). Common emergency repairs range from $200–$800. Panel emergencies can cost $400–$5,000 depending on scope.
Call 911 first for: active electrical fires, downed power lines, electrical contact with water, anyone who has received a serious electrical shock, or carbon monoxide alarms. Call an emergency electrician for: sparking outlets, burning smells from panels, partial power outages, and buzzing panels.
Locate your electrical panel (usually basement or utility room), open the panel door, and flip the main breaker (largest breaker at the top) to OFF. Know this location before an emergency. If the panel is sparking, smoking, or near water, do NOT approach — call 911.
Yes. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels have a documented history of breaker failure (not tripping when they should). This poses a serious fire risk. Replacement with a modern panel costs $2,000–$4,000 and is one of the most important safety upgrades for affected Ottawa homes.