When the lights go out in Temecula or Murrieta, it is rarely a quiet inconvenience. A Santa Ana wind event or a planned utility shutoff can leave a home without power for hours, and in some cases days, right when refrigerators, garage doors, well pumps, and medical equipment need it most. Most homeowners only think about outage preparedness after the power has already failed, when it is too late to do much more than wait it out in the dark.
Quick answer: Preparing for a power outage means having a charged flashlight, a battery or crank radio, a stocked food and water supply, a plan for refrigerated medication, and a safe way to restore partial power if needed, whether that is a portable generator with a transfer switch, a battery backup system, or simply knowing which breaker to check first. The electrical side, generator hookups, transfer switches, surge protection, and circuit troubleshooting, is where a licensed electrician makes the biggest difference.
Why We Lose Power Here: Santa Ana Winds, Wildfire Risk, and PSPS Shutoffs
Southern California Edison serves most homes and businesses in our service area, and SCE operates a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program as part of its wildfire mitigation efforts. During periods of extreme fire weather, strong, dry Santa Ana winds combined with low humidity and dry vegetation, SCE can proactively de-energize specific circuits to reduce the chance that wind-damaged power lines start a fire. These shutoffs are planned, but the timing and duration are not always predictable, and a PSPS event can affect a neighborhood for anywhere from several hours to a few days.
Outside of PSPS events, outages in our area also come from more ordinary causes: a transformer failure, a vehicle accident that takes down a line, equipment age, or storm damage to overhead wires. Whatever the cause, the preparation steps are largely the same. The difference with wind-season outages is that they are often forecastable a day or two in advance, which gives homeowners a window to prepare rather than being caught off guard.
We bring this up first because it changes how we recommend you prepare. If outages in your area are typically short and unplanned, a flashlight and a cooler of ice may be enough. If you are in a PSPS-prone part of our service area and outages tend to stretch into multiple days during wind season, it is worth having a real backup power plan, not just a drawer of batteries.
Build a Power Outage Kit Before You Need It
The best time to put together a power outage kit is on a calm, sunny day, not while you are already in the dark searching for a flashlight. A practical kit for your household includes a flashlight or headlamp for each household member with fresh batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio so you can follow emergency alerts if cell service is affected, a portable phone charger or power bank kept charged at all times, a supply of drinking water and non-perishable food that does not require refrigeration or cooking, a manual can opener, and a basic first aid kit.
Beyond the basics, we also recommend keeping a written list of your home’s circuit breaker labels taped inside the panel door, a list of emergency contact numbers including your electrician, and small bills or cash on hand, since card readers and ATMs may not work during an outage. If anyone in the household depends on refrigerated medication or powered medical equipment, that goes into its own plan, which we cover later in this guide.
If you already own a portable generator, check now, not during the outage, that you have enough fuel stored safely, that the generator starts reliably, and that you have the correct extension cords and connections on hand. A generator that has not been tested in a year is a bad surprise during a wind event.
What to Do the Moment the Power Goes Out
The first few minutes after a power outage set the tone for how smoothly the rest of it goes. Unplug or turn off sensitive electronics, computers, televisions, and anything with a digital display, so a power surge when electricity returns does not damage them. Leave one lamp or light switch on so you will know immediately when power is restored. Check your electrical panel to see whether the outage is affecting your whole home or just part of it; a tripped breaker or a partial outage limited to certain rooms points to a problem inside your home rather than a utility issue, and we cover that distinction in more detail below.
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A full freezer can typically hold its temperature for roughly 48 hours if left unopened, and a half-full freezer for about 24 hours; a refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about four hours. If you have a whole house generator or portable generator ready, this is when a properly installed transfer switch earns its cost, since it lets you restore power to key circuits without running extension cords through windows or doors.
If the outage coincides with high winds or storm activity, stay away from downed power lines, assume any line on the ground is energized, and report it to SCE and your local fire department rather than approaching it yourself.
Backup Power Options for Local Homes
Homeowners who want to keep the lights, refrigerator, and a few essential circuits running during an outage generally choose from a few options. Each has a different installation scope, and each interacts with your home’s electrical system differently, which is why we recommend an electrician evaluate your panel and service before you buy equipment.
| Option | How It Works | What It Can Power | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable generator | Gas or propane generator connected through a manual transfer switch or inlet box | Select circuits you choose: refrigerator, some lighting, a well pump | Must be run outdoors, away from windows and doors, and never backfed into an outlet |
| Standby (whole house) generator | Permanently installed, runs on natural gas or propane, starts automatically through an automatic transfer switch | Can cover your whole home or a pre-selected set of essential circuits | Requires a dedicated gas line, a concrete pad, and permitted electrical work |
| Battery backup system | Stores electricity, often paired with solar, and switches over automatically during an outage | Essential circuits for several hours; duration depends on battery size and load | No fuel or exhaust to manage, but runtime is limited without solar recharging or a generator |
| Whole house surge protector | Installed at the main panel to guard every circuit from voltage spikes | Does not restore power, but protects your equipment when power is restored or fluctuates | A smart pairing with any backup power option, since outages often bring voltage swings |
Not every home needs a standby generator. If your outages are short and infrequent, a battery backup system or even a well-chosen portable generator setup may cover your needs at a lower cost. If you are in a wind-prone part of our service area where multi-day PSPS events are more common, a standby generator with an automatic transfer switch gives you the least amount of manual work when the power actually goes out. For a closer look at sizing and planning, see our full guide to home backup generator installation. Whatever option you choose, pairing it with a whole house surge protector helps guard your appliances and electronics from the voltage swings that often come with outages and power restoration.
Generator Safety: Carbon Monoxide, Placement, and Why a Transfer Switch Matters
A generator that is wired or operated incorrectly is more dangerous than having no backup power at all. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned for years that portable generators must run outdoors only, far from windows, doors, and vents, and never inside a garage even with the door open, because carbon monoxide from the exhaust can build up quickly and silently. We strongly recommend a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home, hardwired or battery-operated, regardless of whether you own a generator.
On the electrical side, a portable or standby generator must never be plugged directly into a wall outlet or wired without a transfer switch. Doing so can backfeed electricity into the utility lines, which puts utility workers at serious risk and can damage your home’s wiring and appliances. A properly installed transfer switch, manual or automatic, isolates your home’s circuits from the utility grid while the generator is running, so power only flows where it is supposed to. This is not a job for extension cords and good intentions; it requires a licensed electrician to size the switch correctly for your generator and panel, and in most cases a permit and inspection. If you are deciding between a manual and an automatic switch, our guide to automatic vs. manual transfer switches walks through the differences.
If you already have a generator but no transfer switch, that gap is one of the more common issues we find when homeowners call us after buying a generator online and realizing they cannot safely connect it to their home.
Staying Comfortable Without Power
Temecula and Murrieta summers can turn a power outage from an inconvenience into a heat safety issue quickly, especially for older adults, young children, and anyone with a medical condition that makes heat harder to tolerate. Without air conditioning, close blinds and curtains during the hottest part of the day, move to the lowest level of the home if possible, and check in on elderly neighbors or relatives who may not have backup power of their own.
If you have a gas fireplace, most units with electronic ignition will not operate without electricity, while older models with a standing pilot light may still work; check your owner’s manual or ask us if you are not sure which type you have. Solar panels without a battery backup system generally stop sending power to your home during a grid outage as well, since most residential solar setups are designed to shut down automatically when the grid goes down, as a safety measure, unless they are paired with battery storage that is specifically configured to operate independently.
Keep phones and essential devices charged using a power bank, and if you rely on a security system, garage door opener, or well pump, know ahead of time whether those have battery backup or need a generator circuit to function.
Food, Medication, and Refrigeration During an Extended Outage
Beyond the refrigerator and freezer timing guidance above, plan ahead for anyone in the household who depends on refrigerated medication, such as insulin. A small cooler with ice packs can bridge a gap of several hours, and many pharmacies can advise on safe short-term storage temperatures for specific medications during a known outage event. If someone in your home relies on powered medical equipment, such as an oxygen concentrator or a CPAP machine, talk with their equipment provider about backup battery options before wind season, not during an active shutoff.
For food safety, when in doubt, throw it out. Perishable food left above 40 degrees for more than a few hours should not be eaten, even if it looks and smells fine. A thermometer kept in the freezer is a simple way to know whether food stayed safely frozen during a longer outage.
Partial Power Outages and Circuit-Specific Problems
Not every loss of power is a utility outage. If some rooms or outlets have power while others do not, the problem is very likely inside your home rather than on SCE’s lines. Common causes include a tripped breaker, a tripped GFCI outlet feeding other outlets downstream, a loose connection at the panel, or in some cases a failing panel component. A tripped double-pole breaker can also cause a partial loss of 240-volt power to specific appliances, like an electric range or dryer, while 120-volt circuits keep working normally.
Start by checking your panel for any breaker that is in the middle position rather than fully on or off, and check GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, and garages for a tripped reset button. If resetting a breaker or GFCI does not hold, or if a breaker feels hot, smells like burning plastic, or trips repeatedly, stop trying to reset it and call a licensed electrician. Repeated tripping is your panel telling you something is wrong, not a nuisance to work around.
When to Call a Licensed Electrician (and What Not to DIY)
Preparation and supplies are things most homeowners can handle on their own. The electrical work behind outage readiness is not. As part of our residential electrician services, call us rather than attempting it yourself for any of the following: connecting a generator to your home’s electrical system, installing or replacing a transfer switch, troubleshooting a partial outage that does not resolve with a simple breaker reset, repeated breaker trips, a breaker or panel that feels warm or smells burnt, installing a whole house surge protector, or wiring a standby generator’s gas and electrical connections. Backfeeding a generator into your panel without a transfer switch, or wiring one yourself without the right disconnect and permit, can injure utility workers, damage your equipment, and in many cases void your homeowner’s insurance coverage for the resulting damage.
How We Handle It
When you call Lock and Alert Electrical about outage preparedness, generator hookups, or a partial power problem, we start with an assessment of your current panel, service size, and what you actually want backed up during an outage, whether that is the whole house or a handful of essential circuits. For generator and transfer switch installations, we handle the permitting your project requires, size the transfer switch to match your generator and panel, and coordinate the gas line work with a licensed plumber when a standby unit is involved. Once the installation is complete, we test the system under load to confirm the transfer switch operates correctly and that your essential circuits come on as expected, and we walk you through how to start and run the system before we leave. For troubleshooting calls, like a partial outage or a breaker that will not stay reset, we diagnose the actual cause rather than just resetting the breaker and hoping it holds, so you are not calling us back for the same issue next month.
If wind season has you thinking about what would happen if the power went out tonight, now is the time to call, not during the next PSPS alert. Contact Lock and Alert Electrical to schedule an assessment of your generator readiness, transfer switch, or electrical panel before Temecula and Murrieta’s next wind event.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we best prepare for a power outage?
The best preparation combines supplies and a plan: a stocked outage kit with flashlights, batteries, water, and non-perishable food, plus a clear idea of how you will restore power to essential circuits if the outage runs long. We recommend building the kit well before wind season and having your panel and any generator equipment checked by a licensed electrician so you are not solving electrical problems for the first time during an actual outage.
What should we buy to prepare for a power outage?
At minimum, buy flashlights or headlamps with extra batteries, a battery or hand-crank radio, a portable phone charger, bottled water, and shelf-stable food that needs no cooking. If you want backup power beyond that, a portable generator, a battery storage system, or a standby generator are the next step, and we can help you decide which fits your home and budget once we see your electrical panel and service size.
How do we get through several days without electricity?
Getting through a multi-day outage comes down to conserving what you have and prioritizing what truly needs power. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed, use flashlights instead of candles, charge devices sparingly, and if you have backup power, run only the circuits you actually need. For outages that regularly stretch past a day, we typically recommend a properly installed generator or battery system rather than relying on supplies alone.
What should we stock up on before a power outage?
Stock non-perishable food that does not require refrigeration or cooking, at least one gallon of water per person per day, batteries, a first aid kit, and cash for situations where card readers are down. We also suggest keeping a written list of your breaker labels and our phone number on hand, since a stocked pantry does not help if you cannot quickly identify which breaker or outlet is causing a problem.
What is the first thing we should do when the power goes out?
Check your electrical panel first to see if the outage affects your whole home or only part of it, since that tells you whether it is a utility problem or something inside your wiring. Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from a surge when power returns, leave one light switch on so you know when it’s back, and keep refrigerator and freezer doors shut.
Why did our power go out when our neighbor’s power is still on?
If your neighbor still has power and you do not, the cause is almost always inside your home rather than on the utility’s lines. A tripped breaker, a tripped GFCI outlet, or a loose panel connection are the most common culprits. If resetting the breaker does not hold or the problem returns, that is a sign to call us rather than keep resetting it yourself.
What should we do during a power outage?
During the outage itself, conserve device battery life, keep perishable food protected by minimizing how often you open the refrigerator and freezer, and if you have a generator, run it outdoors only and through a properly installed transfer switch. Monitor local alerts for restoration updates, and avoid opening garage doors manually unless you know how to disengage the opener safely.
How do we stay warm during a power outage?
Layer clothing and blankets, close off rooms you are not using to concentrate warmth, and if you have a wood-burning or properly vented gas fireplace that does not depend on electronic ignition, that can supplement heat safely. Avoid using a gas oven or range as a heat source, and never bring a portable generator or charcoal grill indoors, since both produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
Will our gas fireplace work during a power outage?
It depends on the ignition type. Gas fireplaces with electronic ignition typically will not light without electricity, while older units with a standing pilot light often continue to work. If you are not sure which type you have, check your owner’s manual or ask us during your next electrical visit, since this is worth knowing before an outage, not during one.
Can we run a generator during a power outage, and how?
Yes, but only outdoors, away from windows, doors, and vents, and only connected to your home through a properly sized transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet or run it inside a garage, even with the door open. A transfer switch keeps your home’s circuits isolated from the utility grid so the generator powers only what you intend.
Do solar panels work during a power outage?
Most grid-tied solar systems automatically shut off during a utility outage as a safety measure, so they stop sending power to your home even though the sun is still out. The exception is a solar system paired with a battery storage unit configured for backup, which can continue powering selected circuits. If your solar system does not currently include battery backup, we can evaluate whether adding one makes sense for your home.
How do we fix a partial power outage in our house?
Start at your electrical panel and look for a breaker sitting in the middle position rather than fully on or off, then check GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, and garages for a tripped reset button. If resetting either one restores power and it stays on, the issue is resolved for now. If it trips again, feels warm, or won’t reset at all, stop and call us rather than keep resetting it.
What should be in a power outage kit?
A solid kit includes flashlights or headlamps with batteries, a battery or hand-crank radio, a portable charger, drinking water, shelf-stable food, a manual can opener, a first aid kit, cash, and a written list of your breaker labels and emergency contacts, including ours. If you depend on a generator, add fuel stored safely, the correct cords, and a reminder to test it before wind season starts.
What is a PSPS, and how do we prepare for one?
A Public Safety Power Shutoff is when Southern California Edison proactively turns off power to specific lines during extreme fire-weather conditions, like strong, dry Santa Ana winds, to reduce wildfire risk. Preparing for one means watching SCE’s alerts during wind season, keeping your outage kit stocked, and having any generator or transfer switch tested and ready, since a PSPS can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Do we need an electrician to install a backup generator?
Yes. Connecting a generator to your home’s wiring requires a transfer switch sized correctly for your panel and generator, proper grounding, and in most cases a permit and inspection. Doing this without a licensed electrician risks backfeeding power into utility lines, which endangers utility workers, and can damage your home’s electrical system or void insurance coverage if something goes wrong.
How much warning do we get before a PSPS shutoff?
SCE typically issues advance notice when conditions suggest a Public Safety Power Shutoff is likely, often a day or more ahead, though the exact timing and duration of any shutoff can change as weather conditions develop. We recommend treating any wind advisory during fire season as your cue to check your outage kit and backup power equipment rather than waiting for the final notice.
Is it safe to run a portable generator in the garage?
No, it is not safe, even with the garage door open. Portable generators produce carbon monoxide, a gas you cannot see or smell, and it can accumulate quickly in a garage or any partially enclosed space. Generators need to run outdoors, well away from windows, doors, and vents, with the exhaust pointed away from your home.
How long can our refrigerator and freezer keep food safe without power?
An unopened refrigerator typically keeps food safely cold for about four hours. A full freezer holds its temperature for roughly 48 hours if left unopened, and a half-full freezer for about 24 hours. Keeping the doors closed as much as possible during the outage is the single biggest factor in how much food you can safely keep.
