Outage Information
How We Restore Power
A strong storm can cause widespread damage and power outages. Our restoration team works hard to make your outage as brief as possible. Learn how we get the lights back on and explore our tips and tools to help you stay prepared to weather any storm:
How We Provide Reliable Service
Providing our customers reliable service is a top priority, which is why we’ve invested time and resources into award-winning technology solutions that have led to fewer outages and shorter restoration times for our customers. It’s also why we have a 99.9% reliability rating.
Outage Prevention Technology
100% of our customers benefit from our outage prevention technology, which can sense the location of an outage, automatically reroute power and restore service. In situations where power cannot automatically be restored, this technology helps identify trouble spots on the grid, allowing us to efficiently deploy our crews and drone technology to these areas so that they can assess the situation and restore service as quickly as possible.
Grid Resiliency Security
Smart grid technology and enhanced security through wireless radar technology provides increased efficiency as well as physical and cyber security.
Routine Maintenance to Stay Storm-Ready
Our team regularly inspects our equipment, including the utility lines and poles that deliver power to your home, ensuring they can withstand severe weather to prevent outages.
How FISR Technology Works
Service Statistics
1.5 Million Poles and Towers
More than 84,000 Miles of Line
45,000 Square Miles of Service Territory
1.5 Million Customers
99.9% Reliability
Meter Box Damage
Here’s something important to know about your meter box – it actually belongs to you, not Alabama Power. If it’s damaged by weather or an accident, you’ll need to contact a licensed electrician to make repairs before we’re allowed to restore power. We know this can be frustrating, especially after waiting for service to come back on, but these rules are in place to keep you and your home safe.
Power Outages FAQs
Does Alabama Power turn off the power before a storm?
No. When a major storm strikes, our computerized system keeps up with the lines and substations that go out of service. This is valuable knowledge because the company knows where to begin restoration once it is safe to do so. If power were turned off, we would have no idea where the major damage was, and restoration would be slowed. Also, turning off all the power ahead of a storm creates a huge safety problem after the storm passes. Once the system lets the operator know which lines are out, the operator will not turn that line back on until repairs are made.
Should I stop the crews in the bucket trucks to let them know my power is out?
No. While our line crews are happy to assist customers where possible, stopping them to ask questions or make special requests only slows restoration. If power has been restored to your entire neighborhood, but you are without power, check your meter box for damage, or call our Customer Service line at 1-800-888-2726.
Why are crews leaving my neighborhood when power is still out?
Crews could be leaving for a variety of reasons: they need to pick up more supplies to continue restoration; conditions have become unsafe; or the problem needs additional work.
Should I call Alabama Power every day that my power is out to make sure the company knows I don’t have electricity?
Following a severe storm with widespread power interruptions, customers can report their outages online, via the smartphone app or by calling Customer Service. The company knows where the power is out, because its automated system alerts a technician when a line goes off. If it is crucial for you to have power to treat a life-threatening condition, please also call our Customer Service line at 1-800-888-2726 to let them know about the situation. As the restoration progresses, we will announce through the media if residents in specific areas should call in if they’re still without power.
If my home has structural damage, can’t Alabama Power go ahead and turn power back on before repairs are made?
No. Each county has guidelines that the company must follow in connecting service. The first consideration – for both the county and Alabama Power – is protecting the homeowner’s safety. As a general rule, a licensed contractor must make repairs and an inspection permit must be issued by the county before we can restore electricity to a damaged structure.
Why can’t all power lines go underground to keep power from going out?
Putting power lines underground is not always the most cost-effective solution to reliability. We use data analytics to determine where undergrounding our existing overhead powerlines makes the most sense from a reliability and cost perspective. While underground power lines are reliable, they do not prevent all outages from occurring.
Will my account with Alabama Power be credited for the time I was without power?
Alabama Power customers are only charged for electricity they use. Therefore, if your power is out, you will not be charged for it.
