Emergency Repairs

Burning smell, sparks, a hot panel, water near wiring? That's an emergency. Answered 24/7 from six Sacramento-region offices.

A warm switch plate or a hot-plastic smell means heat is building while power keeps flowing. That can't wait.

On the phone, we tell you how to stay safer until we arrive. On site, we make it safe first, then find the cause.

Emergencies we handle

When it's an emergency

  • Burning, fishy or hot plastic smell from an outlet, switch or panel
  • Sparks, arcing, scorch marks, melted plastic
  • A breaker or panel that's hot or buzzing loudly
  • Water in the panel, a flooded basement, wet wiring

What happens when you call

  1. Make it safe. Smoke or fire? Leave and call 911. Otherwise shut off that area's breaker if you can reach it safely.
  2. Call or book. We triage by phone or online request and send the nearest available electrician.
  3. Make it safe. We isolate the damage so the rest of the house can stay powered when possible.
  4. Price the fix. The lasting repair, done that visit or scheduled. You pick.

Emergencies we see around here

Summer heat overloads older circuits in Sacramento, Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova. Storms drop limbs on lines from Auburn to Grass Valley. Foothill PG&E shutoffs can run generators for days. Utility-side damage? We help you report it to PG&E, SMUD, Roseville Electric or your local utility.

Emergency questions

What counts as an electrical emergency?

Sparks, a burning smell, scorched outlets, a hot panel, wet wiring or flicker in several rooms. Flames or smoke? Leave and call 911 first.

Is your emergency electrician really available 24/7?

Yes, 24/7, every day of the year, from offices in Rocklin, Sacramento, Folsom, Elk Grove, Yuba City and Grass Valley.

What should I do before the electrician arrives?

Keep people and pets away. If the panel is dry and safe to reach, shut off that area's breaker, or the main if unsure. Don't touch anything scorched, wet or hot.

Power's out. Do I call an electrician or the utility?

Check the neighbors. Dark too? Call the utility. Just your home, part of it, or a damaged service wire? Call us.

Updated October 2026 by the Chief Electric team.