What a "lost service leg" or ConEd phase-out actually is
Power comes into most NYC buildings on a 120/240V split-phase service — two "hot" legs from Con Edison plus a neutral. Your 120V circuits (most lights and outlets) each run off one leg or the other; your 240V equipment (central AC, some ranges, large motors, commercial refrigeration) needs both legs together.
When one incoming leg is lost — a failed utility connection, a burned service conductor, a problem in the ConEd feed — you get the classic symptom: some of the building has power and some doesn’t, lights may glow dim or flicker, and 240V equipment stops entirely. This is a utility-side fault, and Con Edison identifies the incoming service wire as their responsibility to repair.
Why you shouldn’t just "jump" the dead leg
It can be tempting — or a cheaper contractor may offer — to simply bridge the live leg onto the dead one to get everything back on. We don’t do that, and you shouldn’t let anyone else. Tying both legs to one source causes serious problems:
- 240V loads see the wrong voltage and can be damaged or create a hazard.
- Multiwire (shared-neutral) circuits can overload the neutral — a fire risk.
- The single live leg gets overloaded carrying the whole building.
- Backfeed danger when Con Edison restores the missing leg, putting their crews and your equipment at risk.
A safe temporary restoration is engineered around your actual service and panel configuration — restoring the 120V loads that can run safely on the available leg, and deliberately isolating the ones that can’t.
What our emergency temporary-power restoration includes
We come out, confirm the fault, and set up a safe temporary configuration so your building can keep operating while ConEd works:
- Test incoming service voltage and confirm which leg is lost
- Identify and isolate affected and 240V loads that can’t be safely served
- Establish a safe temporary power configuration for eligible 120V circuits
- Test the restored circuits and label what’s live vs. off
- Coordinate the eventual return to normal service once ConEd repairs the leg
Temporary service only. 240V equipment and any load that can’t be safely served under the temporary setup stays disconnected until the utility feed is restored.
What it costs
For a straightforward emergency temporary restoration, our pricing starts at a fixed $1,500. That covers the diagnosis, load isolation, safe temporary configuration, and testing described above — assuming the service equipment itself is in serviceable condition and the outage originates on the ConEd side.
There is a second visit after Con Edison repairs the service to remove the temporary configuration, restore the panel to normal, and verify both legs. For commercial buildings — where keeping lights, POS, and refrigeration running matters — we recommend the complete package (temporary restoration + return visit) at $1,950, so there’s no surprise second invoice. Con Edison repairs, replacement of damaged service equipment, permits, temporary generators, and permanent repairs are billed separately.
Frequently asked questions
Almost always because one of the two incoming Con Edison service legs has been lost. Your 120V circuits split across the two legs, so the half fed by the dead leg goes out while the other half keeps working. 240V equipment, which needs both legs, stops entirely.
The incoming utility service conductors are Con Edison's responsibility to repair. What we do is restore eligible power safely on your side while their repair is pending, then return your panel to normal once they've fixed the leg.
No — and you shouldn't let anyone do that. Bridging one leg to both sides can damage 240V equipment, overload shared neutrals and the single live leg, and dangerously backfeed the utility when Con Edison restores service. A safe temporary setup is engineered around your specific panel.
We restore the 120V loads that can run safely on the available leg — typically most lights, outlets, and small equipment. 240V equipment (central AC, large motors, commercial refrigeration compressors) and anything that can't be safely served stays off until the utility feed is restored.
We offer 24/7 emergency response across the five boroughs. If there's burning smell, sparks, or scorching at the meter or panel, keep clear and call us immediately at (877) 976-7353.
Yes — a return visit removes the temporary configuration, restores the panel to normal, and verifies both legs. You can pay it separately or take the complete package up front so there's no surprise invoice later.
Service areas — emergency power restoration across NYC
MP Electric NYC provides emergency power restoration throughout all five boroughs. We have specific experience with the building types, utility infrastructure, and DOB district office requirements in each area:
- Brooklyn — brownstones, pre-war multi-family, and new construction across Park Slope, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Williamsburg, DUMBO, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and all Brooklyn neighborhoods
- Queens — attached and detached houses, co-ops, and commercial buildings in Astoria, Jackson Heights, Flushing, Forest Hills, Jamaica, Long Island City, and throughout Queens
- Manhattan — co-ops, condos, townhouses, and pre-war apartments in all Manhattan neighborhoods
- Bronx — single-family, multi-family, and commercial throughout all Bronx neighborhoods
- Staten Island — single-family residential; available on request
What our customers say
"Half our building went dark on a Sunday — one leg out. MP Electric was on-site within two days, filed the permit same week, and got the work done before the deadline. They handled ConEd coordination completely — I didn't make a single call to ConEd myself."
"We needed a 100A to 200A service upgrade for our 1930s brownstone before we could keep the store running. MP Electric restored our working circuits safely and came back to normalize the panel after ConEd as one coordinated job. Everything was permitted, ConEd showed up on schedule, and the inspector signed off first visit."
"Our co-op board was skeptical about the scope of the work but MP Electric provided detailed documentation and coordinated with our super throughout. Clean work, no damage to the building exterior, fully permitted. Exactly what you want in a pre-war building."
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Lost half your power? Call now
We test your incoming service, identify the lost leg, and panel on-site and give you a written fixed-price quote the same day. No obligation, no upselling — just a clear picture of what needs to be done and what it costs.
