Narrative:

On the climbout; I called for speed 250 KTS after takeoff check. During the after takeoff check; we received a 'dc emergency bus' yellow caution message. The first officer identified and canceled the single chime and finished the after takeoff check. After the after takeoff check was complete; I then called for the emergency non normal blue tab 'dc emergency bus' yellow message. The first officer then proceeded to run the emergency checklist. At the end of the checklist called for the aircraft to land at the nearest suitable airport. We then decided to return to ZZZ; but the one problem we had with the return was that we were over 8;000 pounds overweight. Once we figured that we were overweight; I notified ATC of the issue and told them we would need to hold somewhere to burn fuel off and where I would have time to talk to dispatch. At this time; ATC was giving us vectors around the airport. I handed the aircraft controls off to the first officer; so I could speak with dispatch. I called dispatch to inform them of the situation. Dispatch came back later with an answer. Dispatch and maintenance wanted me to do an overweight landing. After getting the profile for an overweight landing; I then proceeded to inform ATC that we would be returning to the airport and doing an overweight landing. ATC then asked if it was an emergency; and I informed that that it was not; but I would like for arff to be on standby. That if something should happen; I wanted them there just in case. I then took control of the aircraft from the first officer and resumed my pilot flying duties. We landed without any problems; came to a stop off the runways. Told arff they were no longer needed and we taxied to the gate. I wrote the aircraft up and talked to the chief pilot about the situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ900 flight crew experienced caution message DC EMER BUS after takeoff. They ran the procedure and returned to land overweight at their departure airport.

Narrative: On the climbout; I called for speed 250 KTS after takeoff check. During the after takeoff check; we received a 'DC Emergency Bus' yellow caution message. The First Officer identified and canceled the single chime and finished the after takeoff check. After the after takeoff check was complete; I then called for the emergency non normal blue tab 'DC Emergency Bus' yellow message. The First Officer then proceeded to run the emergency checklist. At the end of the checklist called for the aircraft to land at the nearest suitable airport. We then decided to return to ZZZ; but the one problem we had with the return was that we were over 8;000 LBS overweight. Once we figured that we were overweight; I notified ATC of the issue and told them we would need to hold somewhere to burn fuel off and where I would have time to talk to Dispatch. At this time; ATC was giving us vectors around the airport. I handed the aircraft controls off to the First Officer; so I could speak with Dispatch. I called Dispatch to inform them of the situation. Dispatch came back later with an answer. Dispatch and Maintenance wanted me to do an overweight landing. After getting the profile for an overweight landing; I then proceeded to inform ATC that we would be returning to the airport and doing an overweight landing. ATC then asked if it was an emergency; and I informed that that it was not; but I would like for ARFF to be on standby. That if something should happen; I wanted them there just in case. I then took control of the aircraft from the First Officer and resumed my Pilot Flying duties. We landed without any problems; came to a stop off the runways. Told ARFF they were no longer needed and we taxied to the gate. I wrote the aircraft up and talked to the Chief Pilot about the situation.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.