What to do when a storm pulls the power line off your house
Spring storms in Dallas regularly bring limbs down on the wires that run from the pole to your house. Here is what to do, in order.
Stay safe first
Stay away from downed lines and anything touching them. Call 911 if there is fire or a line on the ground, and report it to Oncor.
Know who fixes what
Oncor owns the line and the meter. You own the mast, weatherhead and meter base. Oncor will not reconnect until your side is repaired.
Call an electrician
An electrician repairs the mast and meter base, gets an inspection where required and coordinates with Oncor.
Document for insurance
Take photos before cleanup. An itemized invoice helps your claim.
Preventing the next one
Have limbs over the service drop trimmed back, and ask Oncor to handle any near their lines. If your mast is short, rusted or loosely strapped, replacing it with a properly braced mast before the next storm season reduces the chance of a pull-off. Adding surge protection at the same visit protects equipment when power is restored.
Quick answers
Will Oncor fix my bent service mast?
No. The mast and meter base are customer equipment, so an electrician repairs them.
How long before power is back after a mast repair?
Often the same or next day, depending on parts, inspection and Oncor scheduling.
Services mentioned in this post
Meter Base & Service Mast Repair
Storm-damaged masts, weatherheads and meter bases repaired so Oncor can restore power.
Learn moreEmergency Electrician
Burning smell, sparking, smoke or a dead panel. We answer 24/7 and send the nearest electrician.
Learn moreWhole-Home Surge Protection
A surge protector at the panel guards AC boards, appliances and electronics from spikes.
Learn moreLights out, breaker tripping, or a burning smell?
Call now. A person answers around the clock and we send the nearest NTX electrician who can safely take the job.