The following steps must take place before O&R can restore electric service that has been interrupted as a result of fire, flood or other structural damage:

• The ranking police officer or fire chief on the scene declares the incident over. Fire, police and ambulance responders demobilize.
• The Building Inspector rules that the home or builing is safe to re-enter.
• Once your home or building is pronounced safe, the building owner must contact a qualified electrical contractor to assess whether the structure's electrical system has been damaged, and, if so, to make repairs.
• The electrical contractor should contact O&R's New Construction Services representative by contacting Customer Assistance to discuss the necessary steps for service to be restored following repairs.
• Once the electrical contractor either makes repairs or determines that no repairs are required, an inspection by an electrical inspection agency is then necessary before O&R can restore service. An independent third party conducts this inspection, usually at the request of your electrical contractor. The agency's inspector is specially trained and bonded for this safety certification process and is authorized to do such work by the municipality.
• When the building's electric system meets the safety specifications of the National Electric Code, the inspection agency will notify O&R that the building is ready to be re-energized. O&R will then restore electric service as quickly as possible.