How to Report a Power Outage

Check Whether the Outage Is Already Reported

First, check whether your electric utility already knows about the outage. Open {site} and look for an outage map, outage center, service status, or report outage option. Use only the utility’s official website or customer account.

The outage map may let you search by service address or view an affected area. It may show that the outage is under investigation, that a crew has been assigned, or that service has been restored. Updates can be delayed, so a recent outage may not appear immediately.

If your location appears within a known outage, you may not need to submit another report. However, report it if the utility’s instructions ask every affected customer to respond, your address is not included, or your account shows no recorded outage.

If nearby homes have power, check your breaker panel only if it is safe and there are no signs of damaged electrical equipment. A problem affecting just your home may still need to be reported, but do not touch equipment that is wet, hot, sparking, or visibly damaged.

How to Report a Power Outage Online

To report a power outage online, find the outage reporting section on the utility’s official site. Some utilities allow reporting from a public form. Others require you to sign in to the customer account linked to the affected service address.

1. Choose the option to report a power outage or electrical outage.
2. Enter or select the affected service address.
3. Provide the account identifier or other verification details requested.
4. Confirm whether the power is completely off or only partly affected.
5. Add information about visible damage only when the form requests it.
6. Review the details and submit the report.

Keep the confirmation message, reference code, or screenshot if one is provided. This is the clearest way to confirm that power outage reporting was completed. If the page freezes or never displays confirmation, check the outage status again before resubmitting.

If you are asking “how do I report a power outage?” but mobile data is weak, try the utility’s phone reporting option. Do not rely on social media comments or unofficial neighborhood pages to notify the utility.

Report an Outage by Phone

Report a power outage by phone when the online form is unavailable, you cannot sign in, your connection is unreliable, or the utility directs customers to call. Use the verified outage contact displayed by the utility or in the contact block on this page.

Have your service address, account identifier, and callback number ready. Calling from a number already associated with the account may help an automated system locate the correct address, but you may still need to confirm it.

Automated outage reporting commonly asks you to identify the account or address, state whether power is out, and confirm the report. Listen until the system says the report was accepted or provides a reference. If it cannot locate the account, follow the prompt for additional help rather than entering unrelated information repeatedly.

Heavy call volume can cause delays during a widespread outage. If the automated system confirms your report, staying on the line may not provide a faster restoration update.

Information Needed for an Outage Report

Exact requirements vary by utility. Gather the following details before you report an electrical outage:

• The full service address where electricity is out.
• The account number, customer identifier, or another account verification detail.
• A callback number where the utility can reach you.
• The account holder’s name, if requested.
• Whether the entire property or only part of it has lost power.
• When you first noticed the outage, if known.
• Any visible damage, unusual sound, smoke, sparks, or fallen equipment observed from a safe distance.
• Any confirmation or reference from an earlier report.

Do not approach damaged equipment to collect more details. A clear description from a safe location is more useful than taking a risk to inspect the cause.

Report Downed Lines and Electrical Hazards

Treat every downed wire as energized. Stay well away, keep children and pets back, and do not touch the wire or anything it contacts. Water, fences, trees, vehicles, and other objects near a damaged line may carry electricity.

Downed wires, sparking equipment, fire, smoke, or immediate danger require emergency action, not only a routine online outage report. Move to a safe place and contact emergency services when there is a fire, injury, or immediate threat. Also use the utility’s official emergency or downed-line contact so trained crews can respond.

Do not drive over a fallen wire or attempt to move it. If a wire falls on a vehicle, occupants should generally remain inside and contact emergency services unless fire or another immediate danger makes staying there unsafe. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

A routine outage form may not alert the correct team quickly enough to a specific hazard. Clearly state what you can see and the location, without guessing whether the line is electrical, telephone, or cable equipment.

Track the Outage After Reporting It

After you report power outage information, return to the official outage map or sign in to your customer account. Search the service address and look for a recorded report, current status, crew update, or restoration notice.

If notifications are available, choose the utility’s official text, call, or email alerts and confirm that your contact information is current. Notification choices and update frequency vary. An estimated restoration time can change as crews inspect damage, so treat it as an update rather than a promise.

If the map says power has been restored but your service remains off, submit a new report or contact the utility through its verified channel. Mention that the wider outage appears closed while your address is still without power.

Save the confirmation until service is stable. When deciding where to report a power outage, use the utility responsible for the affected service address, not an unofficial directory or community post.