Only half my house has power — what happened?

You likely have a partial power outage caused by a lost phase in your electrical service, a main breaker issue, or damage to one of the two power lines feeding your home. This is a serious electrical problem that requires immediate professional attention.

In New Brunswick homes, electricity comes in through two 120-volt "legs" that combine to provide 240 volts. When one leg fails, you lose power to roughly half your circuits while the other half continues working normally. This creates the confusing situation where some rooms have power while others are completely dark.

Common causes include:

• Utility line damage from ice storms, wind, or fallen trees (common in NB's Maritime climate)


• Loose connection at the meter or service entrance


• Failed main breaker in your electrical panel


• Damaged service entrance cable from weather or age


• Transformer issues on NB Power's side

Immediate steps to take:
First, check if this is an NB Power issue by looking at their outage map online or calling 1-800-663-6272. If your neighbors have full power, the problem is likely on your property. Look at your main electrical panel — if one of the main breakers has tripped, you can try resetting it once. If it immediately trips again, don't keep trying as this indicates a serious fault.

Safety warning: Do not attempt any repairs yourself. Partial power outages can create dangerous voltage imbalances that can damage appliances and create fire risks. The service entrance equipment carries deadly voltage levels that only licensed electricians should handle.

What's at risk: Appliances designed for 240 volts (electric dryer, stove, water heater, heat pump) may be damaged by running on reduced voltage. Unplug these immediately until power is restored properly.

This situation requires immediate attention from a licensed TSANB electrician who can safely diagnose whether the issue is on your property or NB Power's side. Many New Brunswick electricians offer 24/7 emergency service for situations exactly like this.

Need help finding an emergency electrician? New Brunswick Electrical can match you with local professionals who handle urgent electrical issues across all of New Brunswick.