What's a cable fault?
When outage is limited to your property, chances are there’s an issue with the power line connecting your house to the network.
What is a cable fault?
A cable fault is when an electrical cable’s current is disrupted, meaning the normal flow of electricity is partially or fully disconnected. These faults may occur to any overhead or underground cables.
What differentiates a cable fault from other outages?
Without a professional, it may be difficult to differentiate a cable fault from other reasons for power issues. Typically, a cable fault affects one home or building. So, if the power is out or flickering at your home, but your neighbours’ electricity is on, it could be that the problem is due to a damaged power cable that delivers electricity to your
What causes cable faults?
A cable fault can be caused by:
- Accidental damage when digging with tools - contact Alberta One Call at 1-800-242-3447 to find buried utilities on your property.
- Aging or decaying wire materials
- Tree roots
- Thawing or freezing ground
What to do if you suspect there’s a cable fault.
First and most importantly, please stay safe - A damaged wire should be considered as dangerous as an undamaged wire.
Do not try to find or repair a damaged cable. If you think you have a damaged cable on your property, please call ENMAX Power Trouble Response, 403-514-6100.
We’ll send our crew to find the approximate location of the damaged section of power cable.
When possible, our crews will temporarily connect your home with partial power until the full repairs can be made.
Who is responsible for repairs?
Tip: Many customers do not realize that they may have coverage through their home insurance policy for the repair. As cable fault repairs can be costly, ENMAX Power always recommends that customers contact their insurance provider.
If the damage is within your property line.
Our crews are not authorized to repair power cables on private property. This means that you (or if you’re renting, the property owner) will need to hire a certified electrician who will:
- Obtain permits and approvals.
- Use the approximate location provided by ENMAX as a guide to confirming the fault location, and coordinate having the power disconnected and reconnected.
- Uncover, repair and backfill underground wire.
If the damage is not within your property line.
Our crews will repair damaged power cables in areas beyond your property line or within a utility right-of way. In these cases, you will be notified when the work will be done and what to expect. You will not be charged for this work.
If you have questions about repairs being made to a cable on your property, contact ENMAX Power Customer Relations at 403-514-3990
