Is your power out — and is it the grid or your home?
Check live outage data for your area — then find out if it's a grid outage your utility will fix, or a problem inside your home for a licensed electrician.
How it works
- Check the feeds. We pull public outage data from utility and government sources for your ZIP, city, or county.
- See who's affected. A public outage usually means the grid is down and your utility will restore it.
- Rule out your home. If neighbors have power or only part of your home is dark, the problem is likely on your side — and an electrician can help.
Popular states
Common in-home power problems
Power outage questions
How do I check if there is a power outage in my area?
Enter your ZIP code above. We pull live outage data from public utility and government feeds for your ZIP, city, and county, then show whether an outage is reported near you and how many customers are affected.
Is the outage on the grid, or a problem in my home?
If your whole street is dark or the map shows an outage, it is a utility/grid outage and your electric company will restore it. If power is out only at your home while neighbors have it — or a breaker keeps tripping — the problem is likely inside your home, where a licensed electrician can help. An electrician cannot restore a utility-wide outage.
How do I report a power outage?
Report outages to your local electric utility — the company that bills you — since only they can dispatch crews and confirm a restoration time. For a downed power line, sparks, smoke, or a burning smell, call 911 first.
How long is food safe during a power outage?
Keep the doors closed: a refrigerator holds safe temperatures about 4 hours, and a full freezer about 48 hours (24 if half-full). Discard perishables held above 40°F for more than 2 hours. When in doubt, throw it out.
How long do power outages usually last?
Most are restored within a few hours, but it depends on the cause — a blown fuse may clear quickly, while major storms can take a day or more. Your utility posts estimated restoration times during active events.
When should I call an electrician instead of the utility?
Call a licensed electrician when the problem stops at your home: power out only at your house, breakers that keep tripping, partial power, or buzzing/warm outlets and discolored switches. Call the utility (or 911 for hazards) when the outage is on the grid side.
Staying safe during a power outage
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed — food stays safe ~4 hours in the fridge and ~48 hours in a full freezer (24 if half-full); throw out perishables left above 40°F for 2+ hours.
- Run generators outdoors only — at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent, exhaust facing away; never in a home, basement, or garage, even with the door open.
- Watch for carbon monoxide — never heat your home with a gas stove or oven; use a battery-powered CO alarm.
- Unplug appliances and electronics to protect them from a surge when power returns, and leave one light on so you’ll know when it’s back.
- Use flashlights, not candles, and check on older or medically vulnerable neighbors.
- Have a plan for medical devices and refrigerated medicine — move to a powered location if the outage lasts.
- A downed power line is a 911 emergency — never touch it or anything near it; it can be deadly even without sparks.
Food safety timer
Tell us when the power went out and we’ll estimate how long your refrigerated and frozen food stays safe.
Estimates follow CDC and USDA FoodSafety.gov guidance. When in doubt, throw it out.
Safety guidance summarized from Ready.gov, FEMA, the American Red Cross, the CDC, USDA FoodSafety.gov, CPSC, and ESFI.