Flickering Lights and Partial Power Before the Disconnect
The homeowner had been living with electrical problems throughout the house before the power went out completely. What they were noticing was not isolated to one room or one fixture.
- Lights flickering throughout the home
- Power cutting in and out
- Certain areas of the house losing power while others still had electricity
- Electrical service that was becoming increasingly unreliable
Toronto Hydro ultimately disconnected power to the property during the night. The homeowner contacted Portman Electric early the following morning looking for an emergency electrician in Toronto who could diagnose the problem and get the home's electrical service repaired as quickly as possible.
We Found a Melted Conductor at the Meter Base
On arrival we inspected the electrical service and found a serious problem at the meter equipment: a service conductor on the line side of the meter base had melted.
That finding helped explain the flickering lights and intermittent power the homeowner had been describing. A deteriorated or overheating service connection can cause unstable voltage and intermittent power, and it can present a serious electrical and fire hazard.
The home's electrical service equipment required emergency replacement before the property could be safely re-energized.
Same-Day Meter Base and Service Mast Replacement
Our team proceeded with the emergency electrical service replacement that morning. The damaged meter base was removed and replaced, the service mast was replaced, and the service conductors on both the line and load sides of the meter were renewed along with the connections and terminations.
Because the home was already completely without electricity, getting the service repaired, inspected and ready for reconnection that same day was the priority.
Power Restored the Same Day
Portman Electric completed the meter base, service mast and electrical service replacement the same day the homeowner called. The new service was inspected and the home's electrical power was restored that day.
Instead of the household being left without electricity for multiple days, the emergency went from an early-morning phone call to diagnosis, service replacement, inspection and power restoration inside a single day.
Flickering Lights Can Be a Warning Sign of a Service Problem
Flickering lights are sometimes caused by relatively minor issues. But flickering throughout an entire home, or power disappearing from certain parts of the house, can point to a much more serious problem with the electrical service itself.
Warning signs worth investigating include:
- Lights repeatedly flickering or dimming
- Lights becoming unusually bright and then dim
- Half of the house suddenly losing power
- Power coming and going without a breaker tripping
- Burning smells near the electrical panel or meter
- Buzzing or crackling around electrical service equipment
- Visible heat damage or melting
- Toronto Hydro disconnecting the electrical service because of unsafe equipment
When symptoms occur throughout the home rather than at one individual light or receptacle, the problem may involve the main electrical service, the service conductors, the meter base, the utility connection or the electrical panel. That is a different investigation from ordinary electrical troubleshooting at a single circuit.
What Happens If a Meter Base or Service Conductor Melts?
High resistance at a loose, corroded or otherwise deteriorated connection generates heat. As the connection worsens, that heat builds, and homeowners begin to notice flickering lights, voltage fluctuations, intermittent power or a complete loss of electrical service.
Depending on where the damage has occurred, the repair may require replacement of the:
- Meter base or meter socket
- Service entrance conductors
- Service mast
- Weatherhead
- Service connections
- Electrical panel or main service equipment
The electrical utility and the inspection authority may also need to be involved before the property can safely be re-energized. Where the damage extends behind the meter into the panel, the work can overlap with a full panel and service upgrade.
Toronto Hydro Disconnected My Power — What Do I Do?
If Toronto Hydro has disconnected power because of a problem with your electrical service, resetting breakers will not restore the electricity. The damaged or unsafe equipment has to be diagnosed and repaired first.
Portman Electric provides emergency electrical service for Toronto homeowners dealing with:
- Damaged meter bases and melted meter sockets
- Burned electrical service conductors
- Failed service connections
- Damaged service masts
- Partial power in a house
- Flickering lights throughout a home
- Emergency electrical service replacements
- Hydro disconnects requiring electrical repairs before reconnection
We assess the service, carry out the required electrical work and coordinate the steps necessary to have the installation inspected and prepared for power restoration. Portman Electric is a Toronto Licensed Electrical Contractor, ECRA/ESA Licence #7018049.
