Why does my power go out during storms but my neighbours stay on in New Brunswick?
Why does my power go out during storms but my neighbours stay on in New Brunswick?
Why Your Power Goes Out During Storms While Neighbours Stay On
This is a frustrating situation that many New Brunswick homeowners experience, especially during the nor'easters and ice storms that hit the Maritimes from November through April. The answer almost always comes down to how NB Power's distribution grid is structured in your area and the condition of your specific service connection.
Different Feeders and Phases
NB Power's distribution system delivers electricity through a network of feeders — high voltage lines that branch out from substations to neighbourhoods. Even on the same street, your home and your neighbour's home may be connected to different feeders or different phases of the same transformer. When a tree takes down a line serving your feeder but not the adjacent one, your power goes out while the house next door stays lit.
In cities like Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton, the grid is more interconnected and NB Power can sometimes reroute power around a fault. In rural areas — and New Brunswick has extensive rural distribution — a single radial feeder may serve your road with no backup path. One fallen tree or broken insulator means everyone on that feeder is dark.
Your Service Line May Be the Weak Point
The overhead service line running from the NB Power pole to your home's weather head is one of the most vulnerable points. If your service line runs through or near tree branches, ice loading and wind can pull it loose, damage it, or bring it down entirely while your neighbour 50 feet away has a clear run from pole to house.
Check these potential issues with your service line:
- Tree branches within 3 metres of the service line — NB Power is responsible for trimming near their distribution lines, but the service drop from pole to house is in a grey area. Call NB Power at 1-800-663-6272 to request a service line assessment
- Weatherhead condition — The metal mast where the service line connects to your home can corrode over time, especially in coastal areas like Saint John, Fundy coast, or the Acadian Peninsula where salt air accelerates corrosion
- Service line sag — If the line droops lower than when originally installed, ice accumulation hits it harder. NB Power will re-tension or replace the service drop at no charge if it has degraded
Sometimes the power is not actually going out — your main breaker is tripping during storm-related voltage surges. This feels identical to a power outage from inside the house. During a storm, check your main breaker:
- If the main breaker has tripped to the middle position, your home's electrical system tripped — not NB Power
- If the main breaker is fully ON but you have no power, the outage is on NB Power's side
Underground vs Overhead Service
If your neighbours have underground electrical service and you have overhead, the difference in storm reliability is dramatic. Underground service lines are immune to wind, ice, and tree damage. Converting from overhead to underground service in New Brunswick costs $3,000-$8,000 depending on distance from the transformer and excavation conditions. NB Power handles the utility side; a licensed electrician handles the home side.
Loose Neutral Connection
A loose neutral connection at the NB Power meter base or at the pole can cause intermittent power loss that mimics a storm outage. Symptoms include: power that cuts out during wind (the cable physically moves), lights that dim or brighten unevenly (one phase drops while the other stays), or appliances that behave erratically. This is a potentially dangerous condition — if you see lights going very bright on one side of the house and very dim on the other, turn off the main breaker and call NB Power immediately. They will check and repair the utility-side neutral at no charge.
What You Can Do
If you are experiencing significantly more outages than your neighbours and NB Power's assessment shows no issue on their end, have a TSANB licensed electrician inspect your service entrance, main panel, and grounding system. The issue is likely on your side of the meter.
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