General or local outage: how to tell
According to EDF, the first reflex is to check the position of your main circuit breaker.
| Breaker position | What it means |
|---|---|
| Up position (1) | The installation is working normally: the outage comes from the grid. It's a general outage, already known to the distributor (Enedis). |
| Down position (0) | The breaker has tripped at your home: it's a local outage, caused by a faulty appliance or installation. |
For a local outage, EDF recommends turning off and unplugging your highest-power appliances (oven, hob, washing machine), resetting the breaker, then plugging appliances back in one by one until you find the one causing the issue.
First steps
Check the breaker
General or local: see the table above. This determines everything else.
Keep the fridge and freezer closed
Every opening speeds up the loss of cold. See our dedicated guide for durations and what to keep or throw out.
Light safely
A flashlight rather than a candle, to limit fire risk.
Unplug sensitive equipment
Computers and electronics, to avoid damage from a power surge when electricity returns.
The generator danger
This is the most important point in this guide. A generator produces carbon monoxide, an odourless, colourless, non-irritating gas, therefore undetectable without a device. According to the Ministry of Health, carbon monoxide poisoning is in France the leading cause of death by accidental poisoning in the home, with around 3,000 people poisoned every year and about a hundred deaths.
If the outage lasts
A general outage can last from a few minutes to several days, particularly after a storm has damaged power lines. If it drags on:
- Save your phone battery: it's your only means of contact and information.
- Keep your emergency kit within reach (light, battery radio, water, non-perishable food).
- If a relative depends on an electric medical device, see our guide on high-vital-risk relatives, which explains how to be notified in advance of a scheduled outage.
Preparing for the next outage
Nothing predicts a power outage, but a few simple things reduce its impact when it happens: a flashlight with charged batteries, a power bank for the phone, and a bit of water and food requiring no cooking. That's exactly the content of the official 72h emergency kit.
Mistakes to avoid
- Running a generator indoors, even "just 5 minutes" or "with the door open". Carbon monoxide builds up fast and without smell.
- Opening the fridge "to check". Every opening loses useful cold.
- Using unattended candles. A flashlight avoids the double risk of fire.
- Systematically calling the electricity supplier. For a general outage, they're almost always already informed.
Your supplies tracked, even without network
LASTLINE doesn't restore power, but can help you before the outage happens:
- calculate your self-sufficiency in days for water and food;
- keep your checklist (batteries, light, power bank) up to date;
- notify you of the weather warnings that often precede these outages (storms, thunderstorms).
LASTLINE doesn't receive direct information from Enedis about scheduled or ongoing outages.
Track my supplies with LASTLINEFrequently asked questions
How do I know if a power outage is general or local?
By looking at your main circuit breaker. In the up position (1), the installation is working normally and the outage comes from the grid: it's a general outage, handled by Enedis, no need to call. In the down position (0), the breaker has tripped at your home: it's a local outage, to sort out yourself.
Can a generator be used indoors?
No, never. A generator must only run outdoors, at least 6 metres from any door, window or air intake, according to health authorities. Used in a home, garage or basement, it releases carbon monoxide, an odourless gas that kills around a hundred people in France every year.
Should I call Enedis during a general outage?
Not necessary in most cases: a general outage is almost always already detected by the distributor, who is working to restore power. A call is still useful if the outage lasts abnormally long or if you're unsure of its origin.
How long can a power outage last?
From a few minutes to several days depending on the cause: a local incident is usually resolved quickly, while a storm that brought down power lines can leave an entire area without power for several days while repairs are made.
Sources
- EDF, Power failure, electricity outage: what to do?
- Ministry of Health, Carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Île-de-France Regional Health Agency, Carbon monoxide poisoning risk.
If you feel unwell while using a combustion appliance (generator, portable heater), go outside for fresh air and call 15 or 112.