EMERGENCY SERVICES

Emergency Electrical and HVAC Services in the PECO Area

The lights go out, the furnace stops, or the AC goes silent in the middle of a storm. In that moment, your home can go from comfortable to stressful in a few minutes.

In the Philadelphia and PECO service area, emergency power sources and safe repairs help keep your home livable when the weather turns bad. With the right plan, electrical and HVAC contractors work alongside PECO so your lights, heat, and cooling come back as fast as possible. If something feels unsafe, call a qualified contractor right away and protect your property, tenants, and family.

What Counts as an Electrical or HVAC Emergency?

An emergency is any problem that threatens safety or makes your home unlivable. If you feel scared to touch a switch, or the house cannot stay warm or cool enough, it is time to call for help.

Electrical issues can turn dangerous very quickly. HVAC failures can damage the home and harm people inside. Once you see smoke, smell burning, or lose major power or comfort, stop trying DIY fixes. Do not keep resetting breakers or opening equipment.



Utility issues and in-home issues are not the same. PECO handles the power coming to your home. Contractors handle the wiring, panels, outlets, and HVAC equipment inside the building. When you know which is which, you can get help faster.

Serious Electrical Problems That Need Immediate Service

Some electrical issues are clear red flags and need service right away:

• Sparking outlets or switches
• Burning or melting smells near wiring or panels
• Breakers that trip over and over
• Lights dimming or flickering with a partial loss of power
• Electrical panels or outlets that are wet after a storm

If you see or smell any of this, step away from the area and keep others back. Do not touch wet equipment or try to pull a hot breaker. Call a electrician right away. After the problem is repaired, your contractor can talk with you about safe emergency power sources so your home has backup power the next time an outage hits.

HVAC Failures That Put Comfort and Health at Risk

When heat fails in winter or cooling fails during a heat wave, the home can become unsafe, not just uncomfortable. Kids, older adults, and people with medical conditions feel these changes first.

Signs of an HVAC emergency include no heat, no cooling, burning smells from vents, smoke, or loud grinding noises from equipment. If the home is getting too hot or too cold and the system will not respond, call an HVAC contractor right away.

What To Do First: PECO Report Outage Steps and Safety Checks

When the power goes out, the first step is to figure out if it is a utility problem or an in-home problem. A simple way to start is to look outside. If the whole block is dark, it is likely a utility outage.

Use the online and phone options that PECO provides to start a PECO report outage and follow their guidance. You can find details on how to reach them on the PECO Emergency Contact Information page.

If neighbors have power and only your home is out, or if just part of the house is affected, call an electrical contractor. Property managers should keep a written list of emergency contacts for PECO, electricians, and HVAC contractors in a known place so staff can act quickly.

When To Call PECO and When To Call an Electric or HVAC Contractor

Call PECO when power lines are down, when a tree has hit a line, or when a wide area around you has no power. Stay far away from downed lines and anything that is touching them.

Call an electrical or HVAC contractor when only your home, one unit, one room, or a few outlets are out. Buzzing panels, scorch marks, damaged cords, failed furnaces, or AC units that will not start are in-home issues. Keep people away from wet panels, flooded basements with electrical gear, and any equipment that smells like burning plastic.

How Emergency Power Systems Keep Your Home Running

Well planned emergency power systems can keep your home safe and comfortable during an outage. These systems can include portable generators, whole-house generators, or battery backups. A contractor can size the system to match your home and your budget.

Backup power protects more than just lights. It can keep refrigerators cold, medical equipment running, sump pumps working, and heating or cooling equipment powered during a long outage. For many homeowners and property managers, that means less damage, fewer spoiled items, and a much safer building when storms hit.

PECO Emergency Resources

Electrical or Gas Emergency
If you see downed power lines or smell natural gas, leave the area immediately and then call PECO at 1-800-841-4141 or 1-844-841-4151 (alternate number). Representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Report an Outage/View Outage Map
Lights out? Let PECO know! You can quickly and easily report your outage online here.

PECO customers can view all active outages here.

PECO Customer Service
Phone: 1-800-494-4000. Representatives are available 7 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday.



Online: Use this form for billing, meter reading, property damage claims, service requests, and energy efficiency questions. For faster service please have your PECO account number available..

PECO Savings

When you are a PECO customer, you may be eligible for savings on energy-efficient heating and cooling products, ENERGY-STAR certified water heaters and home appliances, and LED lighting.

All available rebates and discounts can be found here.

PECO’s Energy Efficiency Line: 1-888-5-PECO-SAVE

PECO Energy Assessment
Schedule an Energy Assessment today to discover where your home is wasting energy and enhance year-round comfort.

Natural Gas Conversion
Looking to convert to natural gas? Check if natural gas is available in your area and learn more about natural gas rebates and credits here.

Other PECO Services

PECO Electric and Gas Service Requests (establishing new service)
1-800-454-4100, Option 1 – Establish New Electric Service
1-800-454-4100, Option 2 – Establish new Gas Service

PECO Income Based Customer Assistance Programs


My Account/Customers Support call
1-800-774-7040 | Customer Assistance Program (CAP)
1-800-34 -HELP-4 | Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
1-800-675-0222 | Low Income Usage Reduction Program LIURP
1-800-403-6806 | Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF)
1-800-774-7040 | Customer Assistance & Referral Evaluation Services (CARES)

Backup Options: From Portable Generators to Whole-House Solutions

Portable generators are a simple option for short outages. They can power a few key circuits, like a fridge, some lights, and maybe a small heater. You need to use them outdoors and follow all safety rules.

Automatic standby generators cost more, but they start by themselves when the power fails and can run most or all of the home. A licensed electrical contractor must install a transfer switch, handle permits, and set everything up so power does not backfeed into PECO lines. This protects utility workers and gives you peace of mind.

Planning Ahead With a Trusted Local Contractor

The best time to plan for the next storm is before it hits. Talk with a trusted electrical and HVAC contractor about emergency power sources, system size, fuel options, and simple maintenance.

If you live or manage property in the Philadelphia and PECO service area, look for local member contractors who know area codes, PECO rules, and rebate options that can reduce upgrade costs.

Be Ready Before the Next Outage

Knowing what counts as an emergency, how to handle PECO outage steps, and how emergency power systems protect your home gives you a real advantage. When trouble hits, you will waste less time and avoid risky DIY fixes.

If you are facing an electrical or HVAC emergency right now, or if you want a backup power plan in place, contact a qualified electrical and HVAC contractor in your area today. A short call can protect your home, your comfort, and the people who count on you.

How To Join

Joining is simple, unlike the often more complex processes for general contractors. Be sure you match the requirements noted above. Then…

1. Review these benefits with your leadership team.
2. Call EAP to ask questions and talk through your company’s needs.
3. Fill out the contractor membership form while you have this page open.

Take the next step today so your team can start using training, wellness, and business programs right away. EAP membership supports the entire operation involving construction work.