Emergency Electrician in Pittsburgh

Power out, a burning smell or a hot panel? A person answers our phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call 1-888-681-WIRE
Free Estimate

A 24 Hour Electrician When Something Goes Wrong

A storm takes out half the house, a breaker will not reset, or you smell something hot at night. Renaissance Electric and Power Systems offers 24 hour emergency service, 7 days a week, for homeowners in Pittsburgh and the North Hills and South Hills.

A person answers, asks what is happening and tells you what to do right now. If the problem is on Duquesne Light's side, we say so. We have been fixing electrical problems in Pittsburgh homes since 1997. Bigger repairs, like a panel replacement or a service upgrade, are backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty.

An electrician in a bright yellow shirt and cap works with a screwdriver inside an open gray outdoor electrical enclosure with breakers on a stucco wall.
Two round glass electric meters and gray disconnect boxes mounted on a white painted brick wall.

When to Call an Emergency Electrician

  • A burning smell from an outlet, switch or panel
  • The panel or a breaker feels hot to the touch
  • Sparks, buzzing or crackling from an outlet or the panel
  • Half the house is dead while the neighbors have power
  • A breaker or the main trips again right after reset
  • Storm damage to the mast, meter or wires on your house
  • Water got into the panel, an outlet or a light fixture
  • Lights dim or flicker across the whole house

What to Do First in an Electrical Emergency

1. Stay Safe

Smoke or flames: get out and call 911. Never touch anything wet, hot or sparking.

2. Lines Down? Call Duquesne Light

Stay far away and report it to Duquesne Light. Treat every downed wire as live.

3. Check the Neighbors

A dark street means a utility outage. Only your house out means the problem may be yours.

4. Shut Off What You Can

If it is dry and safe, switch off the problem breaker or the main.

5. Call Us

Call 1-888-681-WIRE and tell us what you see, hear and smell.

6. We Find and Fix It

We find the cause, make it safe and explain the repair.

Emergency Electrical Repair We Handle

Dead Circuits and Partial Power

Dead outlets or rooms traced to a failed breaker, loose connection or damaged wire.

Burning Smells and Hot Outlets

Scorched outlets, switches and connections replaced before they start a fire.

Hot or Failing Panels

Overheated breakers repaired, or the panel replaced when it has to go.

Storm Damaged Mast and Service

Bent masts, torn service cable and damaged meter bases.

Tripped Mains and Breakers

Breakers that keep tripping, traced to the actual fault.

Surge and Lightning Damage

Repairs after a surge, plus whole home surge protection.

Storm Damage, Duquesne Light and Your Side of the Meter

Duquesne Light owns the lines on the poles and the service drop to your house. The mast, weatherhead, service entrance cable, meter base and everything inside belong to you. If a limb pulls the drop down and bends the mast, Duquesne Light will not reconnect until the house side is repaired.

We repair the mast and meter base, get the permit and inspection, and coordinate the reconnect with Duquesne Light. If the problem is on the utility side, we tell you so you can report it right away.

Not sure which side the problem is on? Call us any time, or use our contact page.

Call 1-888-681-WIRE
A utility worker in a harness and hard hat works on overhead lines from a red bucket truck against a blue sky.

What Affects the Cost of an Emergency Repair

We quote once we know what failed. These things move the number:

  • Time of day and day of the week
  • What failed and how hard it is to find
  • Parts needed, such as breakers or a meter base
  • Whether the panel can be repaired or must be replaced
  • Storm damage to the mast or service entrance
  • Permit and inspection requirements in your town
  • Duquesne Light disconnect and reconnect
  • Damaged wire inside walls or ceilings

What Homeowners Say About Our Emergency Service

Real Google reviews from customers whose power went out.

After a storm knocked out half our power, we struggled to find a reliable electrician. ChatGPT pointed us to Renaissance Electric, and I’m so glad it did. They worked until 10 PM to get our power restored. Highly recommend!

Steve F.

After the thunderstorm on Saturday I contacted Renaissance because I only had electricity in half of my house. Eric responded quickly and diagnosed the problem over the phone for free! He told me that I needed Duquesne light to service an outside power line bringing electricity into my home.

Constance J.

Our power went out on a Saturday afternoon and the breaker box was red hot. Called Renaissance and got an immediate response. Kevin was knowledgeable, professional and had power restored in no time,. He's the best.

Greg

Eric and Adam were went above and beyond to repair our issue with a downed mast + cable. Was very responsive and made sure an inspector got out to see the repairs were done that day.

Paul D.

Guides to Spotting Electrical Trouble

Emergency Electrician Questions

Do you offer 24 hour emergency electrical service?

Yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-888-681-WIRE (9473) and a person will answer.

What counts as an electrical emergency?

Burning smells, smoke, sparks, a hot panel or outlet, water in electrical equipment, storm damage to your service, or losing power to part of the house.

My power is out. Should I call you or Duquesne Light?

Whole street out or a line down: call Duquesne Light. Only your house or part of it out: the problem may be yours, so call us.

How fast can you get here?

It depends on the time, the weather and how many calls are coming in. We will tell you honestly when we can be there.

A storm pulled the wires off my house. Who fixes what?

Duquesne Light fixes the drop. We repair the mast, weatherhead, meter base and service entrance cable.

My main breaker keeps tripping. Can I keep resetting it?

No. It is protecting the house from a fault or overload. Leave it off and call us.

My panel feels hot. Is that an emergency?

Yes. Shut off the main if it is safe and call us. If you see smoke, get out and call 911.

Is it safe to use outlets after a flood or water leak?

Not until they are checked. Shut off the wet area at the panel only if you are standing somewhere dry.

Do emergency repairs need a permit?

Some do. A new mast, meter base or panel needs a permit and inspection, and we handle both.

Can you fix the problem so it doesn't happen again?

Often. If an old or overloaded panel or worn out wiring caused it, we explain the permanent fix and give you a free estimate.

Need an Emergency Electrician Now?

Call 1-888-681-WIRE (9473), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Licensed PA electricians since 1997.

Why Renaissance

Licensed & insured PA, Registration #PA-032900

Serving Pittsburgh since 1997, 28+ years

5-star rated on Google

EV charger certified installers

Residential and light commercial

Up-front pricing, no hidden fees

Power out or something burning? Call us any time. We offer 24 hour emergency service, 7 days a week.

Call 1-888-681-WIRE

Request Your Free Estimate

Prefer to talk? Call 1-888-681-WIRE, answered during business hours.

    PA Registered Contractor #PA-032900  ·  28+ Years in Pittsburgh  ·  Fully Insured  ·  5-Star Google

    No spam, no call center. A Renaissance electrician calls you back.