Why does only half my house have power?

Your home likely has a split electrical service where one of the two main power legs (120V lines) feeding your electrical panel has failed. This is a common issue that affects roughly half the circuits in your home while leaving the other half working normally.

Most homes in Ottawa receive 240V electrical service through two 120V "legs" or phases. Your electrical panel distributes these across alternating circuits - so circuit 1 might be on leg A, circuit 2 on leg B, circuit 3 back to leg A, and so on. When one leg fails, approximately half your circuits lose power while the other half continue working normally.

Common causes include:

• Loose connection at the meter - where Hydro Ottawa's service connects to your home


• Failed main breaker - one side of your double-pole main breaker has failed


• Damaged service entrance cable - the thick cables bringing power from the street


• Utility transformer issues - problems with Hydro Ottawa's equipment


• Corroded connections in older electrical panels, especially Federal Pacific or older panels

The pattern you'll notice is specific: certain rooms or circuits work fine while others are completely dead. Your 240V appliances (electric dryer, stove, hot water heater) may not work at all since they need both legs to function properly.

Immediate safety steps:
Turn off your main breaker and avoid using any electrical appliances until the issue is resolved. A lost neutral or single-leg failure can cause dangerous voltage fluctuations that damage electronics and create fire risks.

This requires immediate professional attention - it's not a DIY repair and involves working with live service entrance equipment that can be lethal. The problem could be on Hydro Ottawa's side (their responsibility) or your home's electrical system (your responsibility). A licensed electrician can quickly diagnose whether the issue is with the utility connection or your electrical panel.

First, check if your neighbors are experiencing similar issues. If they are, call Hydro Ottawa's emergency line at 613-738-6400. If it's isolated to your home, this is likely an electrical system issue requiring immediate professional service.

For emergency electrical service in Ottawa, Electrical Ottawa provides 24/7 response for situations exactly like this. Half-power situations can damage appliances and create safety hazards, so don't wait - get it diagnosed and repaired immediately.

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