Call now and Justin will talk you through it. (618) 530-1809
Urgent
Electrical emergency in Alton, IL
If power drops to part of the house, call Justin during posted hours. If you smell burning, see sparks or smoke, or find a hot panel, stop using the circuit and follow the safety steps below first. Emergency calls carry an additional charge.
Emergency electrician for Alton and the Metro East
Lights Out Electric handles urgent electrical calls across Madison and St. Clair counties in the Illinois-side Metro East: lost power to part of a house, a hot panel, a burning smell at an outlet, sparking or exposed wiring. Justin Walker answers his own phone at (618) 530-1809, Monday to Friday, 7 to 3. Emergency calls carry an additional charge.
When to treat it as urgent
Some electrical problems can wait for a scheduled visit. These should not. Call right away if you notice:
- Lost power to rooms or circuits while the utility is otherwise on
- A burning smell, smoke, or scorch marks at an outlet or the panel
- Sparking, arcing, or loud buzzing from a device or the panel
- A panel or breaker that is hot to the touch
- Exposed, damaged, or sparking wiring
- Water near electrical panels, outlets, or fixtures
What to do right now
Until the situation is assessed, keep yourself safe:
- If you see fire, smell strong burning, or fear immediate danger, call 911 first
- Stop using the affected outlet, fixture, or circuit
- If you can reach the panel safely and dry, switch off the main breaker
- Keep away from any water that is near electrical equipment
- Do not attempt repairs inside a live panel
- Then call Justin and describe what is happening
How Justin works an urgent call
Justin Walker has run Lights Out Electric himself since 2021, so the person who picks up is the person who does the work. He gathers the details while you are still on the phone: what stopped working, what it smells like, what you already tried. From there he traces the trouble back to its source, whether that is a tripped breaker, a failed circuit, damaged wiring, or a damaged outlet.
A breaker that will not stay on and outlets that went dark call for wiring repair and troubleshooting. A hot or buzzing panel needs inspection before Justin recommends repair, panel replacement, or a service upgrade. Describe what is happening and Justin will tell you what he needs to inspect.
Been there
“I had no power in 2 of my bedrooms”
Recommends on Facebook
I had no power in 2 of my bedrooms. I tried doing it myself but couldn't pinpoint the problem. Gave Justin a call, came out the next day and fixed the problem! Very knowledgeable about his work, definitely recommend him if you need electrical work done!
Recommends on Facebook
Fast, Quick and Reliable. They were helpful and made the entire project hassle-free!
In the dark right now
What people ask at the worst moment
Why does my breaker keep tripping?
A breaker can keep tripping because a circuit is overloaded or because a short or ground fault is present. Resetting it repeatedly does not repair the cause. Justin traces the circuit to find and repair the fault.
Half the outlets in a room stopped working. What causes that?
Common causes of dead outlets in part of a room include a tripped upstream GFCI, a loose device-box connection, a failed backstab connection, or a broken neutral. Justin tests the circuit to locate the failed point before replacing parts.
I smell something burning near an outlet. Is that an emergency?
A burning smell at an outlet, panel, or switch is an urgent warning. Stop using the circuit. If the panel is dry and safe to reach, turn off the affected breaker, then call (618) 530-1809. If you see fire or smoke, call 911 first.
How fast can you get out for an electrical emergency?
Response time depends on Justin's current job and location. Call (618) 530-1809 during posted hours, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and describe what is happening. Justin will tell you whether an emergency visit is available. Emergency calls carry an additional charge.
Last updated October 14, 2026.
Don’t sit in the dark guessing
Call and say what is happening. Justin will tell you what he needs to look at and where it lands on the schedule.
Justin answers his own phone Emergency calls carry an additional charge 100% recommended on Facebook