What to do and where to call if the power is turned off at home?

Grounds and reasons for turning off your electricity

Disconnection of residential buildings (apartments) from essential engineering systems (electricity, gas and water supply) cannot be done without compelling reasons. This provision is spelled out in regulations. The cases in which the service provider can disconnect the consumer or limit the supply of energy are strictly specified. These include:

1. Agreement of the parties to terminate the contract for the provision of services.
2. Technical reasons for turning off the lights.
3. Economic reasons.

Everything is clear with the first point of the questions, but the second and third require clarification. Let's consider on what grounds power can be turned off.

Technical

Such situations can arise both due to circumstances independent of the consumer, and through his fault. In the first case, we are talking about emergency situations and planned repairs, in the second, we are talking about the decision of Rostechnadzor. Now in detail for each option:

1. Accidents in power supply systems can occur for many reasons. This may be due to improper condition of the equipment, violation of standards during its installation and operation, or damage caused by weather conditions. In the latter case, preventive measures can only minimize damage, but not prevent an accident.

   
   Example of an emergency

Naturally, it is impossible to warn consumers in advance about the suspension of electricity supplies in the event of emergencies. In such situations, electric companies can only announce repair work through the media. Connection of consumers to the network will be carried out immediately after the emergency situation is eliminated. Unfortunately, at the legislative level the period for carrying out restoration work is not specified.

1. Things are completely different when carrying out planned and routine work in power supply systems. Before they begin, consumers must be informed about the power outage. If the supply agreement is concluded with the management company, then notification of the residents of the house is the responsibility of the management company.

   
   Example of a notification about planned repairs

The timing of such work must be reflected in the contract, but at the same time they must not contradict the standards for consumers belonging to the 3rd category (residential buildings are included in this group). That is, during planned outages, the supplier must turn on the lights no later than 24 hours after the start of work. The total time for scheduled repairs should not exceed 72 hours during the year (if consumers are de-energized).

1. Lights can be turned off to a consumer due to the improper condition (or non-compliance with standards) of the power-receiving equipment installed by the owner of the apartment or house. This is due to a violation of electrical safety measures, which can cause serious consequences.

In such cases, the decision to turn off the lights is made by an inspector from Rostechnodzor or based on the results of an inspection by a special commission of the Criminal Code. In this case, the owner of the apartment is given a corresponding notice in advance.

Economic

These grounds are directly related to the violation of the terms of the contract (or lack thereof) between the supplier and the consumer, which caused losses to the electricity supplier. Based on current legislation, the service provider may stop supplying electricity (following the appropriate shutdown procedure) in the following cases:

1. When a certain amount of debt is exceeded. It may vary depending on the region and the terms of the service agreement. As a rule, the supplier initiates the disconnection procedure (this will be discussed in detail separately) when the debt of defaulters exceeds the monthly norm three times. But cases were also described when they “cut off the light” with debts of 100-200 rubles.
2. If the inspectors of the company providing the services are not allowed to check the metering device for more than six months.
3. Unaccounted use of electricity, that is, its theft. This can be either a connection that bypasses the meter, or interference with its operation.
4. Connecting to the electrical network without a corresponding contract for the provision of services (illegal use of electricity).

   
   A classic example of an unauthorized connection is “throwing” an overhead line

In the last two cases, in addition to turning off the lights, the violator will face a serious fine.

What is the procedure for turning off electricity for non-payment in 2020?

• occurrence of emergencies on central utility networks;
• occurrence of emergencies or natural disasters;
• detection of illegal connection of residents to common building networks;
• use by consumers of devices with power exceeding permissible values;
• carrying out maintenance and preventative repairs of networks;
• detection of incomplete payment for services by the consumer.

This is interesting: How much will Group 3 disabled people receive in 2020

Description of shutdown procedure

There is an established procedure, in case of violation of which the consumer has the right to contact the supervisory authorities or appeal the actions of the electric company in court. In accordance with Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354, if there is a delay in payment, the supplier, before turning off the lights, must send the first notification to the consumer with an offer to pay the debt.

The text of the notification indicates the amount of debt and the date of disconnection (or limitation) of services (usually after 20 days). If the debt has not been repaid during the specified period, the provision of services is limited for a period of 10 days, and the debtor is re-informed; after this period, the disconnection procedure is initiated. If it is not technically possible to limit the consumer, then the company can immediately proceed to de-energization measures.

Example of a claim notice

The warning may be delivered in person or sent by registered mail. If the consumer evades receiving notification, then permission to disconnect can be obtained in court. In this case, the debtor still bears the burden of legal costs. Once the court has given permission, the service provider has every right to turn off the electricity.

In addition to notification of the possibility of disconnection, the consumer can be informed in the following ways:

• by calling the telephone number specified in the contract;
• by email (if specified in the contract);
• notification upon entering the State Housing and Public Utilities Information System;
• a warning about the presence of a debt for electricity, printed on the receipt for housing and communal services.

Often, management companies who fail to pay utility bills motivate consumers to pay off their debts by turning off the lights. If the service agreement is signed directly with the energy company, then this is an illegal action by the utility. When providing services through an intermediary (management company), if rent is not paid, the housing office may “cut off” the power (turn off the electricity).

To avoid the problems listed above, pay on time for services provided and do not delay payment of debts to utility services.

You need to pay for electricity on time

What can you do when the lights go out?

First of all, you need to find out why the light went out. You can obtain information by calling the appropriate service (numbers and names will be given separately). If the cause of the shutdown was an accident, then you must wait until it is repaired by repairmen. In this case, there is no way to influence the situation.

The lack of electricity may be due to scheduled work; in this case, the lights can be connected either after an hour or 24 hours. Notification that the lights will be turned off is given in advance. If there was no warning, then there is a high probability that it was simply not noticed. Energy companies are subject to serious penalties for illegal power outages, so the procedure for this event has been worked out to the point of automaticity.

If the wires were “cut” due to a debt, then in order to reconnect the light you must go through the appropriate procedure, having first fully repaid the debt. After this, you need to contact the regional distribution zone and submit an application. You must have a passport, a contract for the provision of services and receipts for payment of debt around the world.

After all organizational issues have been resolved, connection is made within 3 to 5 days (in cities and villages, respectively). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO4xmD60hlE

Power supply of objects

You can connect electricity in your apartment if your electricity supply is cut off, you can get power to your neighbor (of course, after warning him, talking to him), you can throw a wire from the access wiring, as electricians say, “I’m sniffling.” but this is illegal, if you get caught, you will get all this, by connecting it to the entrance you will receive electricity and will be in danger of using it all the time.

You can agree with your neighbors and carry out the transfer to your apartment, naturally compensating the costs for your rescuers; if your wiring is in order and it is disconnected from the power supply line, then you can attach not a socket, but a plug at the end of the transfer, inserting it into your socket you will give electricity is completely supplied to the network of the entire house (apartment).

18 Jul 2021 glavurist 625

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Who to call and contact if the power goes out?

If the power goes out, in the capital you can contact MOESK at the multi-channel telephone number 8-800-7004-070. Those who have signed an agreement with Mosenergosbyt should call 8-800-5550-555 or 8-495-9819-819. Residents in the Moscow region and other regions of the Russian Federation should contact the dispatch services of regional distribution zones. It is advisable to find out and write down the numbers in advance.

Residents of Kiev in a similar situation can contact Kievenergo by calling the short number 15-88 or dialing 044-2021-588. Residents of other settlements can obtain the necessary information from the regional distribution zone if they have written down the service numbers in advance.

Residents of the Republic of Belarus should call the control room of the Housing Office. If the outage occurs outside of business hours or on weekends, you should call ZHREO. As a rule, the numbers of these services can be found on the entrance doors. An alternative option is to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations (number 101), they will tell you the required phone number or switch you to the dispatch service.