A releasable power assembly prevents damage to plugs and receptacles connected to refrigerated shipping containers (reefers). Reefers are temporarily stored in shipping port reefer scaffolds and then loaded onto or unloaded off of ground transportation or freighters. However, errors in port command and control systems may result in the failure to unplug reefers prior to loading or unloading. Conventional reefer power plugs and receptacles are twist-locked together and damaged or destroyed if not manually disconnected prior to reefer movement. An advantageous releasable power assembly automatically unlatches before reaching a breaking point for failure to disconnect plug and receptacle.