Get outage alerts any time, anywhere.
Seattle City Light is testing a new unplanned power outage notification system to alert customers about power outages and restorations via text or email. We encourage you to log in to your Utility Services website account to verify your information to ensure you receive these timely alerts.
During this pilot phase, only outages affecting a small number of customers will trigger an alert. Large and high-volume outages will not be included until full implementation. Customers in the underground network distribution areas in downtown Seattle, First Hill, and the University District will not receive notifications.
At City Light, we strive to provide the best possible customer service. With this new feature, we can proactively communicate with customers when outages occur and when they are resolved. We understand that unplanned outages are inconvenient. Letting our customers know when their homes and businesses are affected allows them to make informed decisions, whether that means working from another location, picking up dinner on the way home, or staying with friends and family.
How does it work?
When a power outage affects your service address, text and email alerts will be sent out within 5-10 minutes. Communications will be sent from either 888-442-7594 or no-reply@seattle.gov notifying you of an outage at your home or business. Be sure to save this phone number and email address to your contacts to ensure swift and efficient delivery.
Once power is restored at your home or business, we will alert you that the power is back on.
Customers who already have a cell phone number or email address associated with their City Light accounts will automatically be enrolled to receive alerts. Participation in the system is free. However standard text and data rates may apply.
To set your preferences or to opt-out of receiving alerts, follow these instructions:
STEP 1: Log into your Utility Services website account.
- Please create a profile if you do not yet have one. You need your account number, zip code, first and last name on account, and phone number to register.
STEP 2: Under My Profile, click the Profile Settings tab.
- Add or edit the mobile number and/or email address listed with your account where you’d like to receive alerts.
STEP 3: Click the Notifications & Alerts tab to expand the Power Outage dropdown list to view your power outage notification settings.
Please note if you add or change your contact information or change your preferences it may take 24 hours to take effect.
If you prefer to speak to someone for assistance, please call 206-684-3000, Monday through Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for help updating your preferences.
With storm season already upon us, it’s important for us to be able to keep our customers up to date on power outages. We hope that you’ll find this valuable and look forward to better serving you. To learn more about preparing for a power outage, visit www.seattle.gov/poweroutage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of information will I receive when an outage occurs? You will receive two notifications: an outage alert and a restoration alert. The outage alert will include a link to our City Light Outage Map to view the outage cause or the estimated time of restoration (ETOR). The restoration alert will inform you that power is restored and will include our 206-684-3000 number to call if you are still experiencing power issues.
Is this for planned or unplanned outages? Outage alerts will be sent for unplanned outages only. During this testing phase, only outages affecting a small number of customers will trigger an alert. Large and high-volume outages will not be included until full implementation.
How soon after an outage will I receive a notification? You should receive a text and/or email within 5–10 minutes if there’s an outage at your home or business.
Can I report an outage in my area via text message or email? To report an outage at any time day or night, you will need to call 206-684-3000. You will need your City Light account number and the phone number associated with your account.
How do I know the email, text and call I received is really from Seattle City Light and not spam? Communications will be sent from either 888-442-7594 or no-reply@seattle.gov notifying you of an outage at your home or business. Be sure to save this phone number and email address to your contacts to ensure swift and efficient delivery. If you suspect that you might have been contacted by scammers, you can:
- Report a Scam
- Report a theft to Seattle Police Department
- Call 206-684-3000 to verify your account status.