Report an Outage

What should I do if I think I have an electric outage?

If you believe your power is out, there are several things you can check before contacting BPW:

• Check your breakers or fuse box to make sure a breaker has not tripped.
• Look to see if neighboring homes or businesses have power.
• Check for GFCI outlets that may need to be reset, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, or outdoor areas.
• Make sure your account is current and service has not been disconnected for nonpayment.
• Look outside for obvious hazards such as fallen trees, damaged power lines, or sparking equipment.
• Stay far away from any downed power lines and report them immediately.
• Check BPW outage alerts, website, or social media pages for known outages or restoration updates. To sign up to receive alerts, join Smarthub.

Restoration Priority:

Crews fix problems that benefit the most people first, rather than when the outage was reported.

1. Substations
2. Main Distribution Lines
3. Taps off Distribution Lines
4. Individual Service Drops

What should I do if I think I have a water outage?

If you believe your water service is out, there are a few things you can check before contacting BPW:

• Check with neighbors to see if they are experiencing the same issue.
• Make sure your water has not been turned off at the meter or inside the home.
• Check for frozen pipes during cold weather.
• Pipes are especially vulnerable in crawl spaces, garages, attics, or along exterior walls.
• If you suspect frozen pipes, use caution when thawing and never use an open flame.
• Inspect for leaks or burst pipes around your home or property.
• Verify that your account is current and that service has not been disconnected for nonpayment.
• Check BPW outage notices or social media updates for known issues or repairs in your area.
• If everything appears normal and you still do not have water service, contact BPW so crews can investigate further.

How are water outages restored?

Unlike electric outages, water outages do not usually have a restoration priority system based on the number of customers affected. Water outages are typically localized to the specific area where the problem exists, such as a water main break, leak, or damaged line.

When an outage occurs, crews with the Board of Public Works (BPW) focus on repairing the problem at hand as quickly and safely as possible. Once the damaged section is repaired, tested, and returned to operation, water service is generally restored to all customers connected to that section of line.

After service returns, customers may notice temporary low pressure, air in the lines, or discolored water while the system stabilizes.