Submitted by John P. Cannon of AJ Electric

Electricians often receive calls from worried clients who are concerned about a power outage in an outlet, light or in the entire house or business. Follow these quick steps if you experience an outage.

• Identify the extent of the outage.
• Check all fuses with a flashlight in hand as it may be dark.
• Check all circuit breakers. Some circuit breakers might have tripped but not moved into the tripped direction. Turn all breakers to the off position, and turn them back on one by one. Make sure to check your main breaker switch or fuse, which might be in a different location. Long, skinny, round fuses or blade-type fuses might have a small hole in the center front face, which is a signal that they have blown.

If you have followed these steps and are still experiencing power outage, check with your local electric company to determine if there is a local power outage in your area. In the event of an emergency, contact a professional electrician.

AJ Electric is a San Francisco-based company dedicated to serving its customers’ needs with a 100 percent customer satisfaction goal.

As of June 29, 2011, this service provider was highly rated on Angie’s List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check AngiesList.com for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie’s List.