How to Turn off Main Breaker
When National Grid is turning on or reconnecting electric service at your outside meter, you must take steps to ensure this happens safely.
If you do not complete the following steps, our service representative will not be able to reconnect your electricity, due to safety concerns.
In order for us to safely reconnect the electricity at your meter, you must:
Make sure the main breaker is in the ‘OFF’ position.
The most common location for the circuit breaker panels are:
- In the basement or on the opposite side of the meter
- Located somewhere in the apartment
You may need to contact landlord or maintenance to verify the location.
The main breaker can also be located in a box underneath or next to the meter.
Please verify the location of the circuit breaker panel before the day your electric service is scheduled for reconnection and make sure our service representative has access to the meter. If your meter is outside, we must be able to physically access the meter. The area surrounding the meter must:
- Be free of debris
- Not obstructed by fences or locked gates
- Be free from threat of any kind, such as a dog
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Frequently Asked Questions
The breaker needs to be off to ensure safety. If the breaker is on, there is the risk that an electrical appliance will be energized when we activate service at the meter creating an unsafe condition and a potential fire hazard.
You can check to see if your electricity is on by simply turning on your circuit breaker and trying a light switch or checking the tag on the meter. If the meter tag is gray or clear you can turn the main breaker on and turn on a light.
We cannot complete your service order if:
- The main breaker is not off
- There are unsafe conditions
- There isn’t access to the meter
- We’re experiencing storm related issues
- There is a gas or electric emergency priority
Our service representative will leave a door hanger card stating they have been at your property and were unable to complete the order. It will also indicate that you must call the contact center to reschedule the order for the next available day
If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-322-3223.