As Hearts raced into an early two-goal lead, the visitors must have been praying that the power cut in the stadium would be terminal.
But electricity was restored and Hearts ran riot to inflict Aberdeen's worst defeat of the season.
The Aberdeen defence struggled early on conceding two goals in the first 14 minutes of the match.
The first came after just three minutes of play as the Dons defence failed clear a Christian Nade effort and youngster Andrew Driver swooped in to knock the loose ball in off the post.
Ten minutes later and with Hearts running rampage, Andrius Velicka capitalised on an error by visiting goalkeeper Jamie Langfield to double the lead.
Langfield was beaten the air by Nade as he went up to collect the ball and Velicka only had to tap in from three yards out as the ball bobbled around the crowded penalty area.
Hearts continued to look the more dangerous and, but for some heroic defending from Richard Foster who was caught up in a classic tussle with Driver, it could have been worse.
The Dons' first real chance of the half came from substitute Chris Clark who struck the crossbar with virtually his first touch of the game.
Jeffrey de Visscher went one better on 38 minutes when he picked up a Scott Severin cross and blasted a low left-footed drive past Steve Banks.
Having looked as if they were completely out of the game with ten minutes of the first half remaining, Aberdeen looked ready to level matters.
But Hearts had other thoughts and quickly re-established their two-goal cushion at the start of the second half.
Michael Stewart's free-kick, won after a needless tackle by de Visscher, found Ibrahim Tall in the box and his glancing header flew past Langfield high in to the net to make it 3-1.
Nade scored his fourth goal in nine games as he made it 4-1 at the second time of asking.
After a solo run into the box, he found the bottom corner of the net after seeing his first shot blocked on the line.
The win moves Hearts level on points with the Dons but above them on goal difference and puts the Tynecastle side back in the race for a European place.