When the power goes out, how do you report it?
For many people in Texas, this is not an easy question to answer.
The reason is simple: You may not know who you should contact when your area loses power.
In this blog post, we will cover who to call to report a power outage in your area and how best to reach them if there's an emergency.
Table of Contents
- Before Reporting a Power Outage, Determine if More Customers Are Affected
- To Report a Power Outage in Texas, Do You Contact Your REP?
- How to Report Electricity Outages to Texas TDUs: Determine the TDU for Your Location and Contact Them
- CenterPoint Energy
- Oncor
- Texas-New Mexico Power Company
- AEP Texas Central
- AEP Texas North
- What to Do Once You Have Reported a Power Outage in Your Area
- 4 Tips for Navigating a Power Outage in Your Area
- 3 Tips to Keep Your Home Prepared for a Power Outage in Your Area
Before Reporting a Power Outage, Determine if More Customers Are Affected
Before you report a power outage, it is important to determine how many customers are affected.
If you are the only customer affected, it is likely just your home, which could mean that ...
- There is not a true power outage;
- Your main breaker has tripped; or
- Your electricity bill has gone unpaid
However, there is a possibility that you are not the only one affected.
You can find out how many other residents in your area are without power by:
- Contacting your TDU (transmission and distribution utility); or
- Calling a neighbor who might have already reported their outage
After determining if other customers in your area lost power, you are ready to report your emergency.
To Report a Power Outage in Texas, Do You Contact Your REP?
The short answer is no.
The transmission and distribution of electricity is handled by TDUs in Texas.
REPs (retail electricity providers) can only facilitate a retail sale from one TDU to you.
This means that your electricity provider isn't able to do anything about an outage or power cut unless it has been turned off for non-payment.
How to Report Electricity Outages to Texas TDUs: Determine the TDU for Your Location and Contact Them
The first step, when reporting power outages in Texas, is to know:
- Which TDU handles electricity in your area; and
- How best to reach them
Then you can contact the TDU that serves your location. Notifying them will help ensure they know what's happening right away and are on their way out with any necessary assistance.
Keep reading to find out more information about the various TDUs in Texas and how to contact yours.
CenterPoint Energy
CenterPoint Energy provides electricity to the Houston metropolitan area and neighboring counties.
It services approximately 15 REPs, including Gexa Energy.
With a vast range of territory, CenterPoint serves about 2 million homes and businesses.
How to Contact CenterPoint Energy
For customer service or to report an electric power outage, call:
- 713-207-2222; or
- 800-332-7143
You can also email customer service by visiting their contact page.
Want to view an outage tracker? CenterPoint has an up-to-date service map of their service area for you to view 24/7.
To find more information about CenterPoint Energy, check out their website.
Oncor
Oncor is the sole provider of power to customers in almost 400 communities with over 10 million residential and commercial customers.
North Texans who live in the DFW metroplex typically have their electricity delivered by Oncor.
Some cities Oncor serves include Dallas, Odessa, Tyler, Waco, Fort Worth, Killeen, and Wichita Falls.
How to Contact Oncor
The best way to reach Oncor is by calling them at (888) 313-6862.
On their website, under the "Outages and Weather" tab, you can:
- Report an outage
- Check outage status
- View a real-time service area map
You can also contact their customer service department by emailing them at contactcenter@oncor.com or by visiting their contact page.
Texas-New Mexico Power Company
Texas-New Mexico Power Company is a TDU that is now exclusively serving Texas.
The company services an area that powers more than 260,000 homes and businesses in ...
- North Central Texas
- Gulf Coast, Texas; and
- West Texas
How to Contact Texas-New Mexico Power Company
If you need to contact Texas-New Mexico Power Company to report an electric power outage, call 888-866-7456.
To view the TNMP service area, as well as see estimated restoration time, visit their live power outage map.
You can also email Texas-New Mexico Power by visiting their contact page and filling out a contact form.
To find more information about Texas-New Mexico Power Company, check out their website.
AEP Texas Central
AEP Texas Central Company is the TDU responsible for providing electricity to around 800,000 customers in South Texas.
With its headquarters located in Corpus Christi, it serves cities such as Laredo, McAllen, and Victoria.
How to Contact AEP Texas Central
Report your power outage to AEP Texas Central by calling customer service at 1-877-373-4858.
To check the status of an electrical outage, visit here or call 1-866-223-8508.
You can also visit their website to report various issues with your power.
AEP Texas North
AEP Texas North Company serves approximately 5.5 million customers in 11 states, including Texas.
This includes cities in Texas, such as Vernon, Abilene, and San Angelo.
The company provides power to a wide range of REPs, including Gexa.
How to Contact AEP Texas North
If you need to report your power outage to AEP Texas Central, contact their customer service by calling 1-877-373-4858.
Are you trying to find out the status of a power outage? Then, visit this page or call 1-866-223-8508.
You can also visit their website for more information about reporting various power-related issues, such as outages or response times.
What to Do Once You Have Reported a Power Outage in Your Area
Once you have reported a power outage in your area, you should …
- Turn off major appliances and electronics to avoid further damage.
- Turn on lights inside the house for safety purposes, if the power goes out at night or during work hours.
- Be aware of how long the repair process will take and how your utility will restore power.
If you are not receiving updates from your utility, remember to be patient and register for updates.
Be Patient
During a power outage, TDUs work as fast as they can to restore power.
The TDUs want to provide you with safe and reliable service at all times.
If you are not receiving any updates from your utility, remember to be patient. The power will be restored in due time.
Register for Updates
You can register for updates from your utility company by visiting their website or calling customer service.
You will be notified when the power is restored in your area.
TDU updates can also include:
- Outage reports
- Alerts
- Safety tips
- And more
4 Tips for Navigating a Power Outage in Your Area
If you've ever been in a situation where your power has gone out, then you know that it can be a very scary time.
What should you do?
Luckily, there are a few power outage tips you can employ to ensure a safe and as comfortable as possible experience for you and your neighbors.
#1: Keep Refrigerator and Freezer Closed
If you have a refrigerator or freezer, it is best to keep the doors closed during an outage.
This will help your food stay cold and last as long as possible.
If you have lost power for a day, it’s best to ...
- Discard any perishable food.
- Gather any ice or frozen foods from the freezer and place them in a cooler.
- Place all other foods that need refrigeration into the cooler.
When the power comes back on, you should discard any spoiled food.
#2: Don’t Heat Your Home With Natural Gas Appliances
If you are using natural gas appliances to heat your home, try not to do so during a power outage.
Because these sources can cause carbon monoxide poisoning — it could be deadly if there is no ventilation in the house.
#3: Identify Established Heating and Cooling Locations in Your Area
If you live in an area that is prone to power outages and extreme weather, you will want to identify established heating and cooling locations.
These can be places like nearby churches or public buildings with generators.
You should know how to get there and how you can contact the location before an outage occurs.
If power outages are a regular occurrence in your area, then it might be worth investing in a backup generator for critical loads such as heating or cooling systems.
This would allow you to have heat or air conditioning even when the electric grid is down.
#4: Prevent Appliance Damage From Power Surges
Having a surge protector on your appliances will help to prevent damage from power surges.
Power surges can happen even during regular use, and are caused by an overcharge of electricity.
When they happen, the appliance's fuse is blown and will need to be replaced or repaired.
If a power surge occurs, be sure to check the circuit breaker to ensure it has not been tripped.
If you are experiencing a power surge, turn off all appliances and unplug them from the socket or wall outlet.
This should help your appliances last longer with less risk of heat damage due to surges during use.
3 Tips to Keep Your Home Prepared for a Power Outage in Your Area
Power outages are always a concern for homeowners, especially in Texas, where heat and humidity can reach dangerous levels when power is cut off.
The following 3 tips will help keep you prepared:
- Have alternate sources for power and light, such as generators, flashlights, lanterns, etc.
- Keep extra non-perishable foods on hand, like canned goods and dry foods.
- Anticipate your medical needs in case you need electricity for medical devices or need to store medication that requires refrigeration.
Keeping these tips handy will help make sure you're ready should there be an outage near you.
Don't forget to check on other members of your family who may live nearby and share this post with them to spread awareness.