Why does my power keep going out but my neighbors' doesn't?

If only your home loses power while neighbors keep theirs, the problem is almost always on your side of the meter — a tripped breaker, an overloaded circuit, a failing main breaker or panel, or a loose service connection between the utility's line and your home. Repeated trips point to a circuit that's overloaded or a wiring fault; call a licensed electrician. If the loose connection is on the utility's drop line to your house, your utility fixes that — report it to them.

Why does my power flicker or blink for a second and come back?

Brief blinks usually mean the grid is working as designed. When a temporary fault occurs — a branch brushing a line, an animal, a lightning surge — a protective device called a recloser cuts power for a moment and then restores it once the fault clears, instead of leaving the whole neighborhood out. Frequent blinks can signal a tree touching a line or aging equipment nearby; report a pattern to your utility so they can inspect it.

What is the most common cause of power outages?

Weather is the single largest cause — wind, storms, ice, lightning, and heat drive most large outages. Trees and vegetation contacting lines, equipment failure (transformers, poles, conductors), and animals are the next most common. A smaller share comes from vehicle accidents hitting poles, planned maintenance, and public-safety shutoffs during wildfire risk.

How do I find out what's causing outages in my area?

Look up your county on MassOutage. Each county page has a "What causes outages here" breakdown built from utility-reported causes, plus a decade of local history and the natural hazards most likely to cause outages there — so you can see whether your area's problem is storms, trees, equipment, or something else.

Why does my power keep going out?

How to tell whether it's your home or the grid, what keeps causing it, and what those brief flickers actually mean.

Last updated July 9, 2026

The first thing to check is whether the outage is just your home or the whole area. If only your house goes dark, the cause is usually on your side of the meter — a tripped breaker, an overloaded circuit, or a failing panel. If the whole street is out, it's the grid, and the most common causes are weather, trees contacting lines, equipment failure, and animals. Brief one-second flickers are usually the grid protecting itself and restoring power automatically.

Is it just my house, or the whole neighborhood?

This is the key question. Look outside: are neighbors' lights and streetlights on?

Only your home is out — the fault is on your side of the meter. Check your main breaker and individual circuit breakers. Repeated trips mean an overloaded circuit or a wiring fault; call a licensed electrician. A whole-home outage with a warm or scorched panel is urgent.
The whole street is out— it's the grid. Report it to your utility and check your county's live status; nothing in your home will fix it.
Power dips when a big appliance starts(AC, dryer, well pump) — that's a circuit or service sized too small, or a loose connection.

What does a brief flicker or blink mean?

A blink that lasts a second and comes right back usually means the grid is doing its job. When a temporary fault hits a line — a branch brushing it, an animal, a lightning surge — a protective device called a recloser briefly cuts power and then restores it once the fault clears, rather than leaving the neighborhood out for hours. Occasional blinks are normal; a patternof them often means a tree is touching a line or nearby equipment is aging, and it's worth reporting to your utility so they can inspect it.

The most common causes of outages

These are the categories utilities report, in rough order of how much outage-time they cause nationally. Your area's mix can differ — check your county's breakdown below.

Weather & storms

Wind, ice, lightning, snow, hurricanes, and extreme heat — the single largest cause of major outages.

Trees & vegetation

Branches and whole trees falling onto or brushing power lines, especially during storms.

Equipment failure

Transformers, poles, conductors, fuses, and cables that fail with age, overload, or damage.

Animals & wildlife

Squirrels, birds, and snakes bridging energized equipment and tripping protection.

Vehicles & accidents

Cars striking utility poles, and construction hitting overhead or buried lines.

Public-safety shutoffs

Utilities de-energizing lines on purpose during high wildfire risk (PSPS).

Planned maintenance

Scheduled work to upgrade or repair equipment, usually announced in advance.

Vandalism & theft

Deliberate damage or copper theft at substations and equipment.

See what causes outages where you live

Causes vary a lot by place — a coastal county is mostly storms, a rural one mostly trees and equipment. Look up your county on MassOutagefor a “What causes outages here” breakdown from real utility reports, a decade of local history, and the hazards most likely to cause outages there. When one does hit, our power-outage safety checklist covers what to do — and how long outages usually last sets expectations once one starts.

Why your power keeps going out: FAQ

Why does my power keep going out but my neighbors' doesn't?: If only your home loses power while neighbors keep theirs, the problem is almost always on your side of the meter — a tripped breaker, an overloaded circuit, a failing main breaker or panel, or a loose service connection between the utility's line and your home. Repeated trips point to a circuit that's overloaded or a wiring fault; call a licensed electrician. If the loose connection is on the utility's drop line to your house, your utility fixes that — report it to them.
Why does my power flicker or blink for a second and come back?: Brief blinks usually mean the grid is working as designed. When a temporary fault occurs — a branch brushing a line, an animal, a lightning surge — a protective device called a recloser cuts power for a moment and then restores it once the fault clears, instead of leaving the whole neighborhood out. Frequent blinks can signal a tree touching a line or aging equipment nearby; report a pattern to your utility so they can inspect it.
What is the most common cause of power outages?: Weather is the single largest cause — wind, storms, ice, lightning, and heat drive most large outages. Trees and vegetation contacting lines, equipment failure (transformers, poles, conductors), and animals are the next most common. A smaller share comes from vehicle accidents hitting poles, planned maintenance, and public-safety shutoffs during wildfire risk.
How do I find out what's causing outages in my area?: Look up your county on MassOutage. Each county page has a "What causes outages here" breakdown built from utility-reported causes, plus a decade of local history and the natural hazards most likely to cause outages there — so you can see whether your area's problem is storms, trees, equipment, or something else.

A warm, buzzing, or scorched electrical panel, or a burning smell, is a fire hazard — cut power at the main if it's safe to do so and call an electrician or 911. Always treat a downed power line as live: stay at least 35 feet away and report it to your utility and 911.