How does Alabama Power restore power after a storm?

Most of the time, it comes down to where each home connects to the system – not who has priority. Two houses on the same street can be served by different lines, a different circuit, or even a different substation. When a main line is repaired, every customer on that line comes back at once. A nearby home on a separate line may still be out until its own repair is made.

Our smart meters can detect most outages automatically, so in many cases we already know your power is out before you call. But reporting still helps. When you report through the app, website, text or phone, it adds detail that meters alone can’t provide – like a tree on a line, a downed pole or damage in a specific spot. That kind of information helps crews prepare before they arrive and can uncover issues that aren't obvious from the system view alone.

Major storms can break poles, damage miles of line and block roads with downed trees. Some repairs require heavy equipment and specialized crews. In a state that’s 70% forested and 42% rural, crews may have to clear access just to reach the damage. After the worst storms, the work can look less like “flipping a switch” and more like rebuilding sections of the system safely.

We monitor weather forecasts continuously and begin pre-staging crews, equipment and materials in areas expected to be hit – often days in advance. We also coordinate mutual assistance so additional crews and support teams can arrive quickly. When conditions allow, vegetation crews clear known risk areas ahead of the storm path. By the time the first tree falls, restoration planning is already underway.

A quick blink often means outage-prevention technology detected a problem – like a branch touching a line –isolated it, and automatically rerouted power before it turned into a longer outage. Think of it like a circuit breaker protecting your home’s wiring. In 2025, this technology helped prevent prolonged outages for more than 600,000 customers and avoided 112 million minutes of interruption across Alabama Power’s service area.

Alabama Power’s outage map shows real-time outage locations and estimated restoration times. Customers can also report outages and receive updates through the Alabama Power mobile app, by text, online or by phone. During major events, the company posts updates through its website and social media channels.