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What to do during an Outage

NB Power is hard at work to minimize outages but unforeseen circumstances like weather and accidents can lead to a power outage. It is important to know what to do during an outage. Following these steps when reporting can help NB Power identify the reason for the power interruption and restore service as quickly as possible.

Step 1 - Before you call

  • Check your neighbours: Are their lights out too?
  • If your neighbours have lights, it could be isolated to your home. Check your fuses and circuit breakers - you may have a blown fuse or your breaker may have tripped.
  • Is the power off in all or just part of your home? If only off in part of home, please check your breakers before calling.

Step 2 - Reporting the outage

  • Report an Outage via the web, mobile device or call 1 800 663-6272.
  • If there is a large outage, the lines may be busy but please call back until you are able to register your interruption or Report an Outage on the web or your mobile device. We appreciate your patience if you are receiving a busy signal.

If power lines or poles are down, remember to remain at least 33 feet away (10m) from them as they can be very dangerous. Please inform NBPower of "lines or pole" down when you call. If you feel there is an immediate safety hazard, please also call 911.

Step 3 - During an outage

  • Turn down or turn off your electric heat, unplug portable heaters and ensure that major electrical appliances such as stoves and clothes dryers are turned off.
  • If the power goes off during cold weather, keep all doors closed to keep the heat inside. Have your family dress warmly and stay together in the same room or area. Even in very cold weather, the house will stay comfortable for several hours.
  • Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. The contents should be good for many hours if the door is kept closed.
  • If you have a standby heating unit, ensure that it is properly vented and turn it on before the house gets too cold.
  • Leave a lamp turned on so that you can tell when the power has been restored.
  • When power has been restored, please conserve electricity in the first hours to prevent further outages on your lines. Bring up the temperature in one room of the house or in one heating zone, if you have electric space heating. We ask that you not use electric stoves and clothes dryers in the first hour after restoration.