Where to call if the lights in the apartment are turned off - service numbers and possible reasons

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.

Where to call when the power goes out

And first of all, let's look at the services that you can call when the power goes out. These include:

• dispatch service of the electric company;
• housing and communal services emergency number;
• city ​​dispatch service;
• rescue service - 112.

Each number is individual and depends on the region of residence. As a rule, you can find them either on receipts or on the official website of the city, where there is a section with information about all organizations.

Who to call if there is no electricity in your house or apartment?

1. A universal telephone, if there is no electricity in the house, apartment, and in general “for all occasions” - 112 . This is the Emergency Service number, which is available even if the phone’s SIM card is missing. Your call will be accepted and, if necessary, forwarded to specialists. Technical service 01 will also help.
2. You can contact your management company, where they most likely have the necessary information.
3. If you have a payment receipt at hand, look, it should indicate the emergency number - you can also call it.
4. an emergency service in your area. Use a directory or the Internet to find out the required phone number. And the best thing is to find out in advance all the necessary emergency numbers of utility companies and record them in your mobile phone.
5. Energy company hotlines will also tell you what the problem is. Find the corresponding number on your electricity supplier's website and save it.

Emergency numbers

Reasons for shutdown

Now regarding the grounds for turning off electricity. There are not so many of them, which makes it faster and easier to determine the reason for the lack of light, and, therefore, to contact the appropriate authorities more quickly. However, there is still nothing you can do about some of them.

Automatic circuit breakers

This is the case when traffic jams fly out in the apartment. They indicate the correct operation of the machine on the dashboard. Fixing this problem is quite simple: you need to return all switches to their original state. However, first we need to neutralize the reasons for the power outage. If it is not possible to do this or eliminate them, then it is not recommended to turn the power supply back on. Otherwise, there is a high probability of repeating the shutdown with possible burning of the wires due to the increased load.

Scheduled work

The most common “reason” for disconnection, because it does not require anything from the tenant other than waiting. However, in this case, there should always be warnings about power outages. And they are often present in the following places:

• website of the company that supplies energy;
• on any information platform of the management company that turns off the power: social network, website, email newsletter, and so on;
• Internet resource of the government of the region of residence;
• local media, TV and radio;
• advertisements that are usually placed in entrances or doors to houses.

The main thing to clearly remember is that shutdown is extremely rare without notification. If this does happen, then the management company is responsible for not complying with the terms of the contract for the provision of utility services. It is also recommended to call them directly and find out the reason.

Accident

Examples of situations where there may not be early notification from utility companies include accidents. Their cause could be anything:

• network congestion;
• broken equipment;
• natural disasters and so on.

It is impossible to predict repair times or when an accident will occur. You can only find out approximate dates, which are calculated at the emergency line in accordance with the knowledge of the damage, but they are not always accurate. Moreover, the repair periods are not fixed in any way by law, and therefore we can only rely on the professionalism of the engineers who will carry out the repairs. If you live in an area where accidents are a common problem, then it is recommended to buy a generator as an additional power source. This will make life a little more convenient.

Non-payment

It is legally possible to turn off electricity for non-payment, as this is an official sanction. Many do not fully understand whether such a disconnection is legal - yes, it is legal. However, there is almost always a notification from the management company and a corresponding “delay” of 10 days. During this time, you can not only use electricity freely, but also pay for it. Therefore, it is unlikely that lights will be turned off for non-payment at any specific time.

Here's what to do if the lights are turned off for non-payment:

1. Find the contract and find the details in it, as well as the date of payment. If it is not there, then you can always call the company that is responsible for supplying electricity to the house.
2. Pay all debts and wait. If there is no electricity even after payment, then you need to leave a request to the management company either in person or remotely.

If the shutdown is considered unlawful, then you can make a corresponding complaint to the energy sales representative. First you need to collect all receipts and statements that indicate payments received into the company’s account. If you fully prove your case, reconnecting electricity after a shutdown will not cost anything, and energy sales will try to compensate for the damage.

Agreement conditions

If we are talking about a contract, then there can be many circumstances surrounding the power outage. You only need to remember one thing - a standard contract is, as a rule, indefinite. If it states otherwise, then power outage for non-payment is not the only reason. These may also include:

• the will of the owner to limit the supply of energy to a specific room that has not been used for a long time: there is no point in connecting electricity to such places, since it is a waste of money;
• expiration of the electrical circuit: relevant for construction sites where the shutdown will be carried out immediately after completion of all work or ahead of schedule;
• mutual termination of the contract: the disconnection procedure begins within three days after the parties reach an agreement.

However, before its termination, it is necessary to pay the entire amount of the resource supplied to a specific person so that there can be no talk of any debt.

Disconnection periods by law

Emergency numbers

If a power outage lasts more than 24 hours, the supplier is obliged to compensate consumers for the damage. This is the deadline if planned work is being carried out. The total power outage time per year should not exceed 72 hours.

If these standards are not observed, then residents have every right to go to court and point out that the terms of the contract were ignored.

Is it legal to disconnect for non-payment?

Do they have the right to turn off the lights for non-payment? Management companies enter into an agreement with residents, which clearly states its terms. Yes, they can turn off the lights for non-payment, but the legislation will not allow them to do what they want in a short time. That is why they first warn residents a week before the payment date, and also wait ten days after. Thus, each citizen has a certain period when electricity can be restored, which can be turned off for non-payment. There is also a popular opinion that switching off is carried out only for some specific debt. It is erroneous because only the first month overdue is sufficient.

However, there are circumstances that are legally recognized as unlawful. Here is their list:

1. Disconnection for non-payment of rent. Housing and communal services can turn off the lights only if there are active long-term electricity bills. If the lights in the apartment periodically go out due to unpaid rent, then most likely the reason is the illegal actions of the housing and communal services.
2. Switching off in case of debts in winter in those residential premises that, in accordance with official documents, are connected and receive heating from electrical appliances.
3. Introducing restrictions on energy consumption not only for the debtor, but also for neighbors. This fact is regulated by the federal law “On Electric Power Industry”. The company should disable only individually, and not in general.
4. If the owner of the home has submitted a corresponding application stating that disconnecting the electricity, even if one pays for it, could lead to the death of a person, since it depends on electricity, then turning off the light will be illegal. Typically, those who need such help are people who require special care or those who have nutritional problems. For some reason, many people ignore this fact, but such an application must be submitted before July 1 of each year.
5. Exceeding the time for repair work, if the cause is not an accident.
6. Lack of restoration of energy supply if electricity is turned off for non-payment.
7. Failure to follow the procedure to restore power.

If the electricity was turned off for non-payment, how much does it cost to connect? Not at all. It is enough just to pay the entire amount of the debt.

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.

Is it possible to connect the power yourself in case of a blackout?

Now let's talk about not how to connect, but what responsibility people will bear when deciding to arbitrarily set up the electricity supply. And first of all, let’s highlight that there are two “types” of such a connection:

1. Unaccounted for. The connection is made indirectly through those devices that are responsible for conducting electricity to a specific apartment. This means that although the contract is concluded with a specific organization, payment is made only for part of the energy used.
2. Non-contractual. There is a connection to the network, but it was created without a corresponding agreement. The owner does not pay anything, but uses the resource.

If we talk about the fine for unauthorized connection of electricity after a shutdown, it could be as follows:

• individuals - up to 15,000 rubles;
• legal entities - up to 200,000 rubles;

In addition, it is also necessary to pay not only the established fine, but also the cost of all the energy that was used “bypassing” the metering. The amounts vary greatly depending on the company. Can the lights be turned off for non-payment or interference with work again? Yes, but there will be litigation and even greater fines than before. And if we talk about how much it costs to independently connect the lights after a shutdown, then we can safely use as an example the size of the fine, legal costs and additional expenses.

How to safely turn off the electricity on the panel

Many people live in Khrushchev-era apartments, that is, in old-style apartments. The houses in which they are located were built in the first decades of the last century. Many of them still have ceramic stoppers.

They exist in two types: with and without a button. But you shouldn’t be scared - turning them off is easy, just like automatic toggle switches.

Stopper without button (manual)

This type of plug can stand separately: one for zero, the other for phase. Regardless of this, you can turn them off by simply unscrewing them.

Automatic stopper (with buttons)

This type of plug should also not cause misunderstandings. To turn off the power to the apartment, you just need to press the largest button.

How to turn off a circuit breaker in a panel

Everything is simple here too. To de-energize the apartment, move the key to the “Off” position (or a zero is drawn, on the switched one there is a dash, a one).

• To turn on the machine, the toggle switch rises up, that is, you just need to lower it (check that it is not upside down).
• Usually, when switching, the red color indicates that the machine is in operation. And green is a used machine, that is, turned off.

The circuit breaker cuts off the power supply and trips, as a rule, when there is a short circuit or a prolonged excess of the electrical load. Comprehensive protection.

If blackouts were illegal

And first of all, where to call in cases where the power is turned off - the management company for electricity and utilities, from where you can get access to the rest. However, what to do if the shutdown was illegal. Here are the options:

• complaint to the company that supplies energy;
• applications to the administration, Rospotrebnadzor and the prosecutor's office.

Depending on the nature of the violation, motives and consequences, the following liability may be assigned:

1. Administrative. Relevant during outages of this type, when the result is a breakdown of any electrical equipment. In addition, actions can also be considered as arbitrariness, which leads to a fine. If frequent shutdowns occur, a fine is paid due to failure to maintain utility services. And the payment is made not only by the organization, but also by its management, if they were directly related to power outages. In addition, the homeowner can also legally demand compensation for damage, but the amount is not legally fixed and is determined during the trial.
2. Criminal. In special cases, arbitrariness is not always punished in accordance with the administrative code. There are exceptions when the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation applies. The person who is responsible may not only pay a fine, but also be sentenced to community service and imprisonment. Moreover, if the consequences of deprivation of electricity include damage to health or large financial expenses, then the list of sanctions remains the same. In special situations, when this leads to the death of a person, the person responsible may be forever prohibited from holding leadership positions in such organizations, deprived of freedom or working in the provision of these services. It all depends on the degree of his involvement, the inability to help the victim and whether he has legal rights: this means relevant applications. They can actually cause an "exception" in cases of indefinite power outages.

Reconnecting the electricity does not cost anything, so if employees offer to do this for money, then this should also be reported.

There are many legal reasons for cutting off electricity, but this in no way justifies its complete absence. It is knowledge of the timing of disconnections, as well as the leverage over housing services, that will allow you to defend your rights and receive the services for which you pay. However, none of this will work if each resident takes responsibility for interfering with the electricity of the entire house. Independence in such matters brings more harm than good, as well as penalties for the initiator in the form of fines or administrative liability.

When not to tamper with the shield

Indeed, not in all cases it is worth touching the electrical panel. There are several cases.

The lights were turned off in the entire house. In this case, interfering with the shield will not bring any effect. It’s clear that this won’t be the case. Therefore, you should first make sure that there is no light in other houses.

If the junction box is faulty, it is also called a junction box. This is a kind of splitter. The wires from the panel come there and are distributed throughout the apartment. Wires can oxidize and fail. In this case, interfering with the shield will not bring any effect.

If the electric meter is faulty. This may mislead you into thinking that electricity has completely stopped and is not being consumed. This is not an indicator at all and you can get a discharge.

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.

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.