Short answer
When part of the house loses power, it's usually a tripped breaker, a tripped main or a lost leg of the utility supply, or a failing connection at the panel, meter or service wires. Check the panel for tripped breakers and ask neighbors if they're affected. If lights are unusually bright in some rooms and dim in others, unplug electronics and call right away: that can be a lost neutral.
What's Probably Happening
Most homes get power as two 120-volt legs. Ordinary lights and outlets run on one leg or the other. Big appliances like dryers, ranges, water heaters and well pumps use both legs together for 240 volts. That setup explains why partial outages look the way they do.
A Tripped Breaker
The simplest answer. One breaker can feed more rooms than you'd expect, especially in older homes where a single circuit might run a bedroom, a hallway and part of a bathroom. Check the panel first.
One Leg of the Supply Is Lost
If about half the circuits are dead and your 240-volt appliances don't work or run weakly, one of the two legs is probably missing. The cause can be on the utility's side, such as a transformer fuse or a damaged service drop, or on yours, at the meter base, service entrance wires or main breaker. Storms, ice loads and falling branches are frequent culprits here.
A Loose or Failing Connection at the Panel
A connection at the main lugs, the main breaker or a bus can loosen and burn over time. The result can be a group of breakers that lose power together. This often comes with warmth, a smell or a buzz at the panel.
A Lost Neutral
The neutral balances the two legs. If it loosens or breaks, voltage swings: some lights get very bright, others very dim, and electronics can be damaged. This is the one to treat as urgent.
What You Can Safely Check Yourself
- Look at the panel for any tripped breakers, including the main. Reset a tripped breaker once, fully off then on. Don't remove the panel cover.
- Ask a neighbor or two whether they've lost power or seen flicker.
- From a safe distance, look at the wires running from the pole to your house and at the meter. Look for sagging wire, a pulled-away mast, or damage. Don't touch anything.
- Note which rooms and appliances work and which don't. Is it about half? Are the dryer and water heater out?
- If lights are unusually bright or dim, turn off and unplug computers, TVs and other electronics.
When to Stop and Call
- A wire is down, sagging or sparking: stay at least 30 feet away and call 911 and your utility (Consumers Energy at 1-800-477-5050, or Bay City Electric Light & Power inside Bay City).
- Neighbors are affected too: that's usually the utility's equipment. Report it to them.
- Lights are brighter than normal in some rooms and dim in others.
- The panel is warm, buzzing, or smells hot. If there is smoke, get everyone out and call 911.
- The utility says their side is fine but half the house is still out.
Problems at the meter base, service entrance or panel are work for a licensed electrician, and sometimes the utility has to disconnect power before it can be done. Call Select Electric at (989) 835-3587, tell us which circuits are out and what the utility said, and we'll take it from there.
Common Questions
Why would only half my house lose power?
Homes get two 120-volt legs of power. If one leg is lost, at the utility's equipment, the service wires, the meter or the main breaker, roughly half the circuits go dead and 240-volt appliances like the dryer, water heater or well pump stop working. A single tripped breaker can also knock out more than you'd expect.
Should I call the utility or an electrician first?
If neighbors are affected, or you see damage at the service drop or meter, call the utility first: Consumers Energy at 1-800-477-5050 across most of the area, or Bay City Electric Light & Power inside Bay City. If the utility says their side is fine, the problem is likely in your panel or service equipment, and that's for an electrician.
What does it mean if some lights are very bright and others very dim?
That can be a lost or loose neutral, where the voltage between the two legs becomes unbalanced. It can damage electronics and appliances quickly. Turn off and unplug sensitive equipment and get it checked right away.
Can ice or storms cause this?
Yes. Ice, wind and falling limbs can strain or damage the wires running to the house or the connections at the mast. After a Michigan ice storm, partial power is a common symptom. Stay clear of any sagging or downed wire.