Outages and Emergencies FAQs
Outages and Emergencies FAQs
Emergencies
How do I report an electric or gas emergency?
If you think you are experiencing a natural gas or electric emergency, such as a natural gas leak or downed power line, leave the area immediately or stay clear of the line, then call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 or 911.
Notifications
How do I enable or disable mobile alerts?
You can control preferences for alerts and notifications within your online account. Sign in and visit "My Settings" to update your contact information and notification preferences. For SMS alerts, you can also text "Stop" to disable alerts at any time.
Will you let me know if my power goes out?
Yes! You can set up outage alerts and manage preferences for phone, email or text notifications by signing in to your PSE online account. We'll let you know if your power is out, your estimated restoration time and when your power has been restored.
Restoring Power
How can I tell when my power will be restored?
Click on a pin or shaded shape on the outage map to view the estimated restoration time for an individual outage.
Using The Usage Map
Do I need an online PSE account to report an outage?
No. You can report a power outage without an online PSE account. For the best experience, sign in with your PSE account to track and report outages, check status updates and get estimated restoration times for your service addresses. If you do not have a PSE account, you can still report an outage with a verified service address. You can create a free PSE account here.
Does the outage map show only Puget Sound Energy outages?
Yes. The outage map is a service we provide for Puget Sound Energy customers and only reflects power outages within PSE’s electric service area.
How can I use the outage map?
Use the map to track power outages in your neighborhood, report an outage or check status and estimated restoration times.
You can search the map by address, city or ZIP code. Click on a pin or shaded shape to view estimated restoration times, the cause and status of the outage and how many PSE customers are out of power in each location.
Is the outage map available for mobile devices?
Yes. The map is available as a free app and can be downloaded onto Android and Apple iOS devices.
What are the symbols on the outage map?
Multiple outages
Numbered outage pins indicate multiple and adjacent locations where there are outages. Click on the pin to zoom in on specific outages.
Red pin
Outage location
Red pin indicates the approximate location affected by an outage. Click on the pin to zoom in or view outage details.
Polygon shape
Neighborhood affected
Zoom in to view your neighborhood. Red-shaded shape indicates the affected area. Click on the shaded shape to view outage details. If there is an outage in close proximity to another, the shaded shapes may overlap.
Status pins
Status of your outage
Log in to your PSE account to view whether power is on or off at your home or business. An orange pin indicates power is off. A green pin indicates power is on.
What does “Crew assigned” mean?
The work is scheduled.
An assigned crew will often need to finish work at one site before moving to the next. Sometimes that could take several hours or longer.
We appreciate your patience.
What does “Estimated restoration time” mean?
Restoration times are estimates for how long it may take to restore your power. As more information becomes available, we may update the estimated restoration time. Conditions can change rapidly, especially during a storm or emergency, affecting the accuracy of information on the map.
We appreciate your patience.
What does “Outage reported” mean?
We’re aware of the outage. We need to assess the damage and decide which repairs are needed. During a storm or emergency, it can take additional time to do that.
Please report your outage , even if it already shows on the map. It’s important we hear from you.
What does “Repair crew on-site” mean?
A crew is on-site making repairs. Restoration times are tied to the amount of repairs that are needed. Some projects will take longer than others.
Safety is always a top priority.
What does “Waiting for repairs” mean?
The cause of the outage is identified.
A crew needs to be dispatched to make repairs. During a storm or emergency, our first repairs will be to transmission lines, substations or other major points in our system. That work needs to happen before focusing on the distribution network.
What information can I see on the outage map?
Current power outages and restoration information within PSE’s electric service area, as it becomes available.
Why do I see overlapping shaded shapes on the outage map?
In instances when there is an outage in close proximity to another outage, the shaded shapes may overlap. This is because the shaded shape is an approximation of the geographic area affected by an outage.
The change of color where the shaded shapes overlap has no impact to the estimated restoration times. Clicking on the shaded shape will provide the power outage status and estimated restoration time for that area.