Outage Alerts

A person in a grey and black plaid flannel button down shirt with a white shirt underneath is holding a mobile phone device in both hands. The focus of the image is on the mobile device.

City Light is testing a new unplanned outage alert system.

We are testing a new unplanned power outage notification system, which will send alerts to customers about power outages and restorations.

During this pilot phase, alerts will be sent only for outages affecting a small number of customers. Larger or high-volume outages will be included once the system is fully implemented. Customers in the underground network distribution areas in downtown Seattle, First Hill, and the University District will not receive notifications.

To ensure you receive these timely alerts, please log in to your Utility Services Website account and verify that your contact information is current. You can also set preferences to receive the alerts by text, email or both.

Receive outage alerts via text or email – anywhere, anytime.

Get 24/7 text and email updates whenever an unplanned outage impacts your home or business. If your City Light account includes a mobile phone number or email address, you’ll be automatically enrolled to receive outage and restoration alerts.

  • Outage alert – You’ll usually get a message within 5–10 minutes if there’s an outage in your area. During major events, like windstorms, alerts may take longer to arrive.
  • Power restoration – We’ll notify you as soon as your power is back on.

Follow the steps below to set your preferences or opt out of alerts. Notifications will come from (888) 442-7594 and no-reply@seattle.gov—save these to your contacts so you don’t miss them.

To get outage notifications, you must register for text alerts before an outage begins. If you register after an outage has started, you won’t receive alerts for that event, but will begin to receive new alerts the next day.

Participation in the system is free, however standard text and data rates may apply.

How to Manage Outage Alerts

Customers are automatically enrolled if you have a mobile number or email in your Utility Services Website Profile. If you would like to modify your enrollment:

  1. Log into your Utility Services Website account.
    • If you do not yet have a profile, create a profile. You will need your account number, billing zip code, first and last name on account, and phone number to register.
  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.
    • Note: You must call (206) 684-3000 Monday - Friday between 7:30 a.m and 6 p.m. to remove mobile numbers and/or email addresses.
  3. Click the Notifications & Alerts tab to expand the Power Outage dropdown list and view your power outage alert settings.
  4. Click the checkbox to select text or email alerts or both. Click save.

  1. Log into your Utility Services Website account.
  2. Under My Profile, click the Notifications & Alerts tab and expand the Power Outage dropdown list to view your power outage alerts settings.
  3. Click the checkbox to unselect text and/to email alerts. Click save.

For assistance, call (206) 684-3000 Monday – Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Interpretation services are available at no cost to you.

City Light

Dawn Lindell, General Manager and CEO
Address: 700 5th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34023, Seattle, WA, 98124-4023
Phone: (206) 684-3000
SCL_ExternalComms@seattle.gov

Seattle City Light was created by the citizens of Seattle in 1902 to provide affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible electric power to the City of Seattle and neighboring suburbs.