Power outages are always a problem, regardless of where you live. Owners will be lucky if their housing company takes a responsible approach to its work and repairs everything on time. However, this does not always and not always happen. For more information about what to do if the power is turned off without an exact deadline or warning, read the article.
The main reasons for turning off the lights
There are many reasons for power outages. Before you begin to act, you need to find out the reason for the blackout, and based on this, build your next steps. They are:
- Technical.
- Economic.
Technical reasons include:
- Planned power outage for the purpose of repair work. In this case you must be notified in advance. According to the law, electricity can be out for no more than 24 hours at a time. The total amount of time per year should not exceed 3 days.
- Emergency shutdown. No one is immune from force majeure situations, and here we need to be patient. In this case, the time is not regulated by law, and the light will be out for as long as it takes to troubleshoot.
- Unsatisfactory condition of consumer electrical appliances. If this may cause an emergency, then a representative of Rostechnadzor or the housing office makes a decision to stop supplying you with electricity until the comments are corrected. You must be notified in advance.
- Problems inside the house. Perhaps you were using more electrical appliances at the same time than the network can handle, or some of them are faulty. There may be problems with the wiring.
Who to call if the lights are turned off?
Economic reasons include:
- Financial indebtedness. If you have not paid for services provided within 3 months, the supplier has the right to stop supplying electricity, notifying you in advance and giving you time to repay the debt.
- Electricity consumption without meters. This is against the law and is considered fraudulently obtaining electricity.
- Consumption of electricity without a signed agreement with the operating company is also illegal.
When is it illegal?
The management company must responsibly approach the procedure for turning off electricity so that their actions are not considered illegal in the future. Possible illegal situations:
- The debt specifically for electricity is taken into account. If there is non-payment for water or heating, they have no right to turn off the lights.
- If the house is officially heated in winter with electrical appliances, turning it off is unacceptable. This threatens the life and health of residents, and also makes the apartments unsuitable for habitation.
- Rotating restrictions on services are prohibited, that is, when sanctions are imposed, the neighbors of the defaulter should not suffer.
- Citizens included in the category of socially unprotected, such actions against whom are illegal, were disconnected.
- The process prescribed by law was not followed.
- Feed breaks exceed the specified maximum.
- After repayment of the debt, the service was not restored within 2 days.
To prove such a fact, you need to invite an energy sales employee and draw up an act on illegal shutdown.
Categories of citizens
IMPORTANT! The provision of subsidies is of a declarative nature, that is, the applicant must inform social security of his desire to receive it and confirm his right with documents. Moreover, the debt accumulated up to this point will have to be repaid in full.
The law protects segments of the population who, due to life circumstances, are temporarily unable to fulfill rent obligations:
- Citizens registered for housing have low-income status. This means that their total income does not reach the subsistence level and gives them the right to receive a subsidy. Then the state takes on part of the costs.
- The debtor is a good-faith payer, but the employer is delaying wages. You need to notify the energy supply about such a situation, attach the appropriate certificate and ask for a deferred payment.
- Socially vulnerable citizens live in the apartment: a minor child, a disabled person. The deterioration of their living conditions is not allowed.
Citizens must be the initiators of a peaceful resolution to the conflict with the utility service. When there are objective reasons for non-payment and they are obliged to return it, energy sales will agree to individual terms for repaying the debt. Litigation is not necessary for both parties, so utility companies always meet halfway.
The lights in the house are turned off - where to call and what to do
To understand what to do if the power is turned off in a private home, you need to determine the reason. If the power outage was unexpected, then you did not receive a notification. First of all, you need to disconnect all electrical appliances from the power supply.
Then you can go to the machine and check what condition it is in. If you see that any lever is in the "off" position, turn it on, first making sure that nearby wires are not singed and that you do not smell a burning smell.
If everything is in order with the machine, it means that most likely there is an emergency shutdown. To find out exactly the reasons and future prospects, you need to call special services.
- Rescue service 112. You can call this number even without a SIM card in your phone. Convenient service, the service receives all emergency calls and then redirects you where you need to go.
- You can call the management company or emergency service number indicated on your payment receipt.
- Call the emergency number in your area. You can check the number in the telephone directory or look it up on the Internet. It would be a good idea to record the phone numbers in the memory of your mobile device.
Is it possible to connect yourself?
A situation where a consumer tries to illegally connect a cut-off light is considered a crime and entails liability up to and including criminal liability.
It happens that, having paid the debt, the subscriber independently restores the supply of the resource. It is important to understand that this is illegal. Such specific activities should be carried out by professionals, since responsibility for the consequences falls on the performer. Incorrect manipulations can harm the common property and neighbors’ own property, as well as the health of the former debtor. All consequences will be his fault and he will have to pay the costs.
Therefore, you need to write an application to the utility service, attach documents about payment of the debt and electrician services, and wait for the power to be officially restored.
Activities of emergency services
Emergency repair services come to the rescue when unforeseen situations arise. Your call is received by a dispatcher, who must correctly identify the problem and dispatch the appropriate team to resolve it. The responsibilities of emergency service workers include:
- Monitoring the condition of objects in the assigned territory.
- Timely response to received complaints.
- Detecting the causes of the incident and eliminating the accident.
- Elimination of emergency consequences.
- Carrying out preventive work.
The emergency service works around the clock, and they do not have days off, so you can call them at any time of the day. There is no need to pay for calling a brigade.
However, please note that they will carry out the check to the door to the house. Anything inside the premises is not their responsibility and can be inspected and corrected for an additional fee.
Responsibility
Utility companies will bear serious responsibility for illegal power cuts:
- Administrative – cases of non-compliance with the legal procedure for terminating the service, exceeding the permissible breaks are punishable by a fine.
- Civil – when due to illegal actions property has been damaged, moral or health damage has been caused.
- Criminal - if the actions caused damage on a large scale, serious harm to health, or death of a person.
A person who tries to connect the light without permission will be subject to a similar punishment. The extent of liability will depend on the severity of the consequences: if there is no harm to the common property and the property of neighbors, then it will be limited to a fine.
If the network in the house is damaged, people or their property are injured, liability will range from civil to criminal.
Power outage at night - the main algorithm of actions
The lights in the house were turned off at night - who to call?
It’s clear what to do during the day. But what if there is a power outage at night? As a rule, many people do not notice this, since they themselves are sleeping. There is no electricity at night, who should I call?
After all, there are situations when light at night is necessary, but it is not there. In this case, you can call the already familiar number 112 or the Unified Duty Dispatch Service.
This service was created by government decree specifically to quickly respond to various types of emergencies.
On any day, at any time of the day, your request will be accepted and responded to instantly. The dispatcher will independently contact those responsible and send the necessary team to solve the problem.
Features of response in different regions of the country
As an example, consider the two largest cities in Russia - Moscow and St. Petersburg. It doesn’t matter whether the power is turned off in the house or in the apartment, the answer to the question “where to call” is the same.
In the capital, if there is a power outage, residents should contact the emergency dispatch service in their local district. Employees, as a rule, react instantly, and the breakdown is quickly fixed.
In the northern capital there is only one such service for the entire city, but this does not prevent it from working properly and solving problems as soon as possible.
In principle, there is practically no difference between the actions of residents of different Russian cities. It doesn’t matter whether there is one service in your city, two or ten - you can contact the emergency team at any time of the day, and help will come quickly. Over the phone, you will also be given the necessary recommendations and given an approximate time frame for resolving the issue.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Controversial cases with the Criminal Code:
Temporary shutdowns cease to be a problem if you provide for this nuisance at the everyday level: stock up on battery-powered lamps, connect an uninterruptible power supply to your computer, always keep the power bank for your phone charged and buy a dozen candles. And at the dacha or in a country house, you can use alternative energy sources, backup power systems and generators.
Would you like to share your personal experience in finding out the cause of a power outage? Do you have questions that you would like answered? Please write comments in the block located below the text of the article.
Basic recommendations
Power outages at night: recommendations
First of all, don't panic. If you make sure that the machine is turned on, and nearby neighbors (if the power is turned off in a private house, you will have to go outside, and possibly outside the area) do not have electricity either, be prepared for the fact that from the first Sometimes you may not be able to reach the emergency service.
In case of a power outage, you should have candles, matches, lanterns on hand, and it is better if you know exactly where they are.
Many modern smartphones are equipped with a built-in flashlight, but at the right time the gadget may be discharged.
Hence the next rule - try not to let your phone get into this state. If it is about to turn off, you can start the car and charge your mobile device in it using a USB cable. You can also ask your neighbors for help.
Ideally, write down emergency numbers in your phone book. Otherwise, you will have to call the local helpline or look for a phone using the mobile Internet if there is no working wi-fi nearby.
Remember that a power outage is unpleasant, but not fatal. From the above, the following algorithm of actions follows:
- Disconnect all electrical appliances from power.
- Check what position the machine is in.
- Identify the problem area.
- Call a special service and act according to their recommendations.
If you contact the appropriate authorities in a timely manner, the problem, as a rule, is resolved quite quickly, and in the meantime you can read a book (if it is during the daytime), do some household chores, or just go to see friends.
How can I contact the control room of the management organization of my building?
You can find out the address and telephone number of the management organization of your building on the Moscow House website. In the search bar, select the “Learn about home” tab and enter the address. General information about the house will appear in the window that opens. Click on the name of the management organization and scroll down to the “Control Room Operations” section.
How to contact the Unified Dispatch Center (UDC)?
Currently, most dispatch services of management companies are connected to a single dispatch center (UDC). You can contact the unified dispatch center in cases of accidents on the in-house water supply, heating, sewerage and electricity systems, if you are stuck in an elevator or the elevator is faulty, as well as regarding the repair of in-house equipment:
- by phone (24/7);
- online through the Moscow State Services mobile application. In the “Unified Dispatch Center” section, you must fill in the required fields and submit your application for work. The application status will be displayed in the application;
- submit an application online through the Electronic House service, as well as in the Electronic House Moscow application (App Store, Google Play);
- submit an online application through the “Call a Master” service on mos.ru.
If your house is not connected to the EDC, you need to contact the control room of your management company (contacts can be found on the Moscow House website).
You can find the hotline numbers of Mosvodokanal, Mosgaz, MOEK, Mosenergosbyt and other organizations working in the housing and communal services sector in Moscow on mos.ru.
In what cases should you contact the dispatch center?
You can contact the dispatch service for help in emergency situations - for example, if:
- your apartment is flooded with water;
- no hot or cold water;
- there is no electricity in the house;
- the sewer is clogged;
- you smelled gas in the entrance.
You can also leave a request if:
- electrical appliances in common areas are faulty, wiring in the apartment is faulty;
- the door to the attic is broken or faulty;
- you smelled foreign odors in the entrance or saw rodents or insects;
- a person is stuck in an elevator;
- the elevator is faulty;
- A waste bin is required.
What to do if the apartment is cold or the hot water temperature has dropped?
Too low an air temperature in an apartment or hot water in a tap may be reasons to contact the management organization or a single dispatch center.
According to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 05/06/2011 N 354 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings”, the air temperature in residential premises should be no lower than +18°C, in corner rooms - no lower than +20° WITH. The permissible temperature decrease at night (from 00:00 to 05:00 hours) is no more than 3°C. The hot water temperature must be no lower than 60°C and no higher than 75°C.
What to do if in an emergency there is no way to call the control room?
If you need to urgently contact the dispatch service, but there is no way to call or leave a request online, go out to the entrance, go down to the first floor and press the button to call the dispatcher. Or call the elevator and press the button in the cabin to contact the dispatcher.
If you cannot call and there is no elevator in the building, the only way to ask for help is to come in person to the management organization. Inspect the entrance to the entrance: perhaps contact information is on the entrance door or an information stand near it. You can also find the contacts of the management organization on the Moscow House portal or on receipts for housing and communal services.
What to do when the power goes out and what telephone numbers do you need to know?
Above we examined all cases of power outages: planned and extraordinary. If the situation with a power outage took you by surprise, then you need to find out its cause and the timing of the work.
For residents of Moscow and the region, the main supplier of electricity is Mosenergosbyt, so when a power outage occurs, the question arises: who to call? The company offers several options for obtaining information. Therefore, write it down in advance so that in unforeseen situations you can quickly obtain all the information from the original source.
Emergency dispatch number
In cases of emergency outages on the power grids of Moscow and the region, citizens can call the toll-free number “MOESK Light Line”: 8-800-700-40-70 around the clock. Be sure to tell the operator your personal information, address of the property and contacts.
Operational dispatch service number
Mosenergosbyt has a contact center whose operators accept citizens’ statements regarding accidents on power grids and provide advice on various issues. You can call on weekdays from 8:30 to 20:30 by phone: 8-800-550-00-55 or 8-499-550-9-550.
Single rescue number
Many citizens begin to panic when the electricity in the apartment does not work and they do not know where to call. In addition to the emergency service of Mosenergosbyt, there are a number of emergency phone numbers that can also be used. This issue is especially relevant if there is a threat to people’s life and health.
Automated acceptance of applications from citizens by the Rescue Service: 112 or 9-112. Ministry of Emergency Situations hotline. Firefighters and rescuers: 101. Ambulance: 103.
Energosbyt dispatch service number
Contact center operators accept various types of requests, including those related to accidents on power grids, and can also inform about the progress of emergency recovery work and provide information on the planned connection. You can call only on weekdays from 8:30 to 20:30.
If you have already experienced a power outage and called the emergency dispatch services of Mosenergosbyt, then we ask you to share your experience and describe the situation in detail. Your feedback is very important for the company, as it will be used to improve the service. The review will also help other users in solving difficult and emergency situations.
Where to call in the Moscow region about a power outage
This may seem strange, but the electricity supplier itself - and it is the largest supplier of electricity to the population in the capital region - does not deal with the problem of blackouts.
The fact is that power outages in the vast majority of cases are associated with the state of electrical networks, planned work on them, or unforeseen accidents. And it is not the “energy sales companies” who are responsible for the state of the electricity grid, but the so-called “electricity grid companies”.
The largest of them in the Moscow region are the Moscow United Electric Grid Company (MOESK, they also call themselves Rosseti “Moscow Region”), as well as the Moscow Regional Energy Grid Company (Mosoblenergo).
MOESK owns the majority of networks in rural areas of the Moscow region, Mosoblenergo is the largest owner of electric networks within the urban settlements of the region. Why this happened is a separate question. But this is the state of affairs at the moment. And it is MOESK and Mosblenergo that have operational information about the timing and reasons for power outages in individual localities.
Accordingly, next we will figure out how a consumer who finds himself without electricity can find out the reasons for the outage and the prospects for restoring power supply.
Information about power outages in MOESK
In MOESK, data on the timing and reasons for power outages can be obtained in several ways.
- call the company on the so-called “Bright Line” telephone number. This is a multi-line phone; unfortunately, you can wait quite a long time for an answer.
— call the control room at one of the local sections of MOESK (the so-called regional electrical networks, RES). Which distribution zone your locality belongs to can be found on the MOESK website, here - https://www.moesk.ru/about/filials/. There are also telephone numbers for each distribution zone. This may be useful if the Bright Line phone is constantly busy.
— see information on the MOESK website in the “Disconnections” section. Link - https://www.moesk.ru/client/disconnection/#tab-disconnection The section separately publishes information on planned and operational (i.e. unplanned) outages. It looks like this:
This service is useful in that you can find out the official reason for the outages and the time frame for restoring power supply. Although, as practice shows, this information is not 100% relevant. But at least something...
Information about power outages in Mosoblenergo
The list of settlements included in the Mosoblenergo service area is available on the company’s website at the following link: https://www.mosoblenergo.ru/users/territory/
If your city or village is included in this list and your power has been turned off, then the prospects for restoring power supply can be found out by calling the Mosoblenergo “contact center” 8 (495) 99-500-99
In addition, information about power outages in Mosoblenergo’s area of responsibility can be found on the company’s website, here on this page - https://www.mosoblenergo.ru/users/off/. Here you can find data on shutdowns during scheduled work, and separately on emergency shutdowns.
The “Planned outages” section looks like this:
Among the useful functions, we can note the ability to search by the address of a disconnected object, as well as sorting information by production departments of Mosoblenergo.
Acceptable timing of power outages. What does the legislation say?
Current legislation (namely, Section IV of Appendix 1 of the “Rules for the Provision of Public Utilities”, link to the document - https://base.garant.ru/12186043/) establishes that the permissible period for turning off power supply for objects connected from one power source( and this is the vast majority of residential individual and apartment buildings), is no more than 24 hours.
In case of violation of this requirement, the electricity supplier is obliged to pay compensation to the consumer. The procedure for calculating this compensation in the Rules for the Provision of Public Utilities is described as follows:
“For each hour in which the permissible duration of a power supply interruption is exceeded, calculated in total for the billing period in which the said excess occurred, the amount of payment for the utility service for such billing period is reduced by 0.15 percent of the fee determined for such billing period.”
Sources
- https://PravoZhil.com/zhkh/uslugi/problemy/otkljuchili-svet-v-dome-kuda-zvonit.html
- https://www.mos.ru/otvet-dom-i-dvor/kak-svyazatsya-s-dispetcherskoy-sluzhboy/
- https://mosenergosbyt24.ru/info/otkljuchili-svet-kuda-zvonit
- https://energovopros.ru/issledovania/2322/2701/51987/
How to connect back
Even a few hours without electricity can cause inconvenience to polygamists. Therefore, consumers want to restore power supply as soon as possible. However, you should not take rash steps when trying to adjust the light on your own.
Specialists must legally reconnect the electricity. An unauthorized solution to the problem will be unauthorized and will entail the imposition of certain liability.
While there is no power, residents can use alternative methods of providing electrical energy (abundant power station, extension cord from a neighbor, solar panels).
