There are many things that you should look out for when it comes to a possibly dangerous outlet. Some common signs are if the electrical plug no longer fits tightly in the outlet, if the outlet is broken or cracked or if the outlet is warm to the touch. If you notice any of these signs, the outlet may be unsafe and should be replaced right away. Contact CVEC if you would like someone to check any outlets you may be worried about.
The first thing you should do is disconnect any devices that may have caused the breaker to overload. Turn the breaker completely off and then back on again. If this does not reset the breaker, there could be something else causing the problem and you should call CVEC to schedule an appointment.
This usually happens when you turn on a large appliance (ex: washing machine, vacuum, etc), which is completely normal. However, if you are experiencing this problem repeatedly, your circuit may be near capacity. You can usually fix this problem by balancing out the electrical load, upgrading your service panel, or installing a dedicated circuit for the larger devices. Call CVEC to have this issue fixed.