Downed line or immediate electrical danger?
Move away and call 911. Never touch, approach, drive over, or try to move a downed line—or anything touching it. Keep children and pets away. Report the hazard to the delivery utility after contacting emergency services.
First: is the problem inside the property?
- Look outside or ask a neighbor whether the surrounding area is also dark.
- Check the main breaker only if you can reach it safely and there is no water, burning smell, heat, damaged equipment, or visible electrical hazard.
- If the neighbors have power and breakers appear normal, contact a licensed electrician or the property manager. Damage to customer-owned equipment can prevent restoration even after the utility repairs its lines.
- If the area is out, report it to the delivery utility and save the confirmation.
Texas delivery utility outage contacts
| Delivery utility | Outage contact | Service area starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Oncor | 888-313-4747; registered alert users can text OUT to 66267 | Much of North, Central, and West Texas |
| CenterPoint Energy | 713-207-2222 or 800-332-7143 | Greater Houston area |
| AEP Texas Central / North | 866-223-8508; hazards: 877-373-4858 | South, West, and parts of North Texas |
| TNMP | 888-866-7456 | Dispersed areas including Gulf Coast and West Texas communities |
A city or ZIP can overlap utility boundaries. Confirm the TDU printed on the bill or use the exact service address. Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives have their own outage contacts.
Who does what during an outage?
- Delivery utility (TDU): maintains poles, wires, meters, and local restoration in deregulated Texas areas.
- Retail electricity provider (REP): sells the plan, bills the account, and handles contract questions. Switching REPs does not change the outage company.
- Electrician or property owner: repairs customer-owned equipment such as a damaged weatherhead, meter base, panel, or internal wiring.
- ERCOT: operates most of the Texas grid but does not repair neighborhood power lines or take household outage reports.
While you wait for restoration
- Use flashlights instead of candles when possible.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Follow current food-safety guidance if the outage lasts.
- Unplug sensitive electronics if voltage has been unstable, and leave one light on to signal restoration.
- Never run a generator, grill, or fuel-burning heater indoors, in a garage, or near doors and windows. Carbon monoxide can kill without warning.
- If someone relies on powered medical equipment, use the emergency plan immediately; utility critical-care status does not guarantee uninterrupted service.
Prepare before the next storm
Save the outage number, enroll in utility alerts, charge batteries, test flashlights, identify a safe generator location if you own one, and write down the loads you actually need. Backup power can range from a small portable battery for phones and networking equipment to a permanently installed whole-home system.
Considering a home battery?
Learn how one Texas provider combines a retail electricity plan, automatic backup, and grid services—and what to verify before signing.
An outage is not a reason to choose a different retail provider
The same TDU restores service regardless of which competitive retail plan you buy. Shop on total bill, contract structure, customer service, and plan fit—not a claim that one REP can restore local lines faster.
Ready to compare the electricity contract?
See current plans for your address while keeping the outage company and delivery network clear.
Official contacts checked August 5, 2026: Oncor outage FAQ, CenterPoint Houston contacts, AEP Texas contacts, and TNMP contacts. Phone numbers and procedures can change; use the utility's official website for the latest information. Call 911 for immediate danger.