Calling out an emergency electrician in the middle of the night involves high costs — emergency surcharges can be 500–1,500 SEK on top of the normal rate. However, with certain electrical faults, it is directly life-threatening to wait. Here is a clear guide on when you must act — and when you can go back to sleep.
Call an emergency electrician immediately if:
🔴 Smell of burning plastic or fish
The smell of burning plastic or a fishy odor from an outlet, switch, or electrical panel is an acute sign that cables or contacts are starting to melt. Turn off the main power immediately and call an emergency electrician. Risk: fire.
🔴 Water leak near electricity
If an ongoing water leak spreads towards the electrical panel, fixed outlets in the bathroom/kitchen, or outdoor lighting fixtures. Water + electricity = immediate mortal danger. Turn off the main power and evacuate if necessary.
🔴 Power outage + burning smell during the coldest week
If your heat pump or electric boiler has stopped when it is freezing outside and the house is rapidly cooling down, you risk freeze damage to the water pipes within a few hours. Call emergency service.
🔴 Lightning strike on the property
If lightning has struck and knocked out the electrical system, there may be hidden cable damage in the walls. Never turn the power back on without an electrician inspecting the installation.
🔴 Sparks or electrical arcs
Visible sparks from an outlet, electrical panel, or junction box are always an emergency. Turn off the power and call for emergency service.
What can wait until the next weekday?
🟡 An outlet stopped working (without smell)
Most likely a tripped fuse or a defective outlet. Note where the outlet is, avoid using it, and call an electrician on Monday morning.
🟡 The EV charger is not charging the car
Frustrating, but rarely dangerous — as long as there is no burning smell. Check that the fuse hasn't tripped in the electrical panel and that the charger is not in a safe mode (try a factory reset).
🟡 The whole neighborhood is dark
If the street lighting and your neighbors are also without power, it is the grid owner's fault, not your electrical installation. Call your grid owner's fault reporting line (Ellevio, Vattenfall Eldistribution, E.ON) — not a private electrician.
🟡 The RCD (Jordfelsbrytare) trips repeatedly
Do NOT just keep flipping it back up over and over. Go through our step-by-step troubleshooting guide to isolate the fault. If you cannot find the cause — call an electrician during daytime hours.
What does an emergency electrician cost?
Costs vary, but a benchmark for Stockholm in 2026:
| Time | Normal Price | Emergency Surcharge | Total Approx |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday 07:00–16:00 | 900–1,200 SEK/h | 0 | 900–1,200 SEK/h |
| 16:00–22:00 (Overtime) | 900–1,200 SEK/h | +500 SEK | 1,400–1,700 SEK/h |
| Night 22:00–07:00 | 900–1,200 SEK/h | +1,000 SEK | 1,900–2,200 SEK/h |
| Weekend/Public Holiday | 900–1,200 SEK/h | +1,200 SEK | 2,100–2,400 SEK/h |
Note: travel costs are usually added. The ROT deduction does not apply to the emergency surcharge.
Frequently Asked Questions about Emergency Electricians
What do I do if the power goes out in the whole house but the neighbors have power? Check the electrical panel — the main fuse has likely tripped. If you can reset it and the power is stable, you do not need to call emergency service. If it trips again immediately — call an emergency electrician.
Can I replace a broken outlet myself? No. All work inside fixed electrical installations requires a certified electrician according to Swedish legislation. Exceptions: replacing fluorescent tubes/bulbs and plugging in cords (not fixed outlets).
Need help with this?
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Free QuoteAcute electrical fault in Stockholm?
Smista El offers emergency services for acute electrical faults in Greater Stockholm. Call us — we will help you assess whether it is an emergency and send certified electricians quickly.
