Solving Electrical Issues

It’s true that most power outages happen because of unexpected damage to PGE equipment, caused by weather, critters or a car hitting a pole. In those cases, you’ll see our crews responding as quickly as safety allows to repair and restore power. But sometimes the problem isn’t with the electrical lines running down your street or the lines that run to your home — it’s at your house. The electrical equipment at your home can also be damaged by weather, wildlife and other unexpected issues. When there’s damage at this connection, you (or the homeowner) will need to hire a pro to inspect, repair and help restore your power. If you’re renting, make sure to contact your landlord. First things first. Use the illustration below which shows the electrical equipment that brings power to your home and how the different parts work together. Check out the labels to see who owns which parts and who is responsible for making sure it’s in safe working order. If the electrical equipment that belongs to the homeowner is damaged, you’ll need to hire an electrical contractor to safely handle the repairs.

New to hiring a contractor? Start here. To get started, here’s some questions to ask a contractor to avoid surprises and make sure things go as smoothly as possible:

• Are you licensed, bonded and insured in Oregon?

• Do you have any claims against you with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board or the Better Business Bureau?

• What are your credentials?

• Do you have any references?

• Do I need a permit?

• Who will perform the actual work?

• What work will you perform?

• What are your service fees?

• Do you charge more for evenings or weekends?

• How quickly can you respond to our repair needs?

• What are your specialties?

• Is your work under warranty?

Questions? Not sure if the equipment is yours or need help understanding your options? Call our Customer Service team at 800-542-8818.

The right person for the job makes all the difference If the electrical equipment that belongs to you is damaged, only a certified electrician can safely handle the repairs. There are trustworthy electrical contractors throughout Oregon, some of which are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Although we can’t guarantee availability, below are some options to get you started. You can also search for licensed and bonded electricians at Oregon’s contractor licensing page. Once your licensed electrician has completed the repairs, make sure that they schedule an inspection through your local municipality or fill out the required Emergency Reconnect Waiver form so we can safely get you reconnected. The filled out form can be emailed to service.coordinators@pgn.com or faxed to 503-612-3501.

*Limited to weatherhead/meter base repair.

¹ Will make repairs on manufactured homes.