In older homes, it is often assumed that when all the lights go out that all of the power in the home is affected. This is not always the case. It is not uncommon to have a majority if not all of the lights on one circuit in older homes. A simple way to test this is to try and run your electric dryer and see if not only it turns on, but that it heats up. You can also see if the the oven gets warm if it’s all electric. If either of these items work, it is very likely that the electrical providence is isolated to one circuit in particular. If neither of these items work, it is suggested that you contact the power company to make sure there isn’t a fault in their end before hiring an electrical contractor.