Quick answer: If your power is out in Seattle or nearby Puget Sound communities, check which utility supplies your address first. Seattle City Light’s official outage map covers its service territory and typically refreshes every five minutes; customers can report an outage at 206-684-3000. Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has a separate official outage map. Neither map is a promise that electricity will return by a particular time.
Updated November 8, 2026. This is a practical guide, not a live outage count or forecast of restoration times. Always consult your utility directly for your address.
Which Seattle power outage map should I use?
Start with your electricity bill or the provider named on your online account. Electric service varies across the Seattle metropolitan area, so your city name or ZIP code alone does not establish whether Seattle City Light or PSE is responsible. Use only the map and reporting channel of the utility serving the affected address.
| Provider | Where to check | How to report |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle City Light | Official outage map | Call 206-684-3000 |
| Puget Sound Energy | Official PSE outage map | Use PSE’s outage reporting service and account tools |
How to check Seattle City Light outages step by step
- Open the Seattle City Light outage page on a phone with mobile service.
- Look for a reported event near your service address and open the map marker or Events listing for details.
- Review the displayed cause and estimated restoration time, if available. Seattle City Light says an estimate often appears only after a crew reaches the scene and makes an initial assessment.
- If your area is missing from the map and your electricity is out, call 206-684-3000. Keep the phone number associated with your account or your account number handy.
According to Seattle City Light’s November 6, 2026 storm-preparedness update, the map generally updates every five minutes. It does not display outages in portions of the underground-network distribution systems serving downtown Seattle, First Hill and the University District. A blank map is therefore not proof that your household has power.
How to check PSE outages and restoration updates
Puget Sound Energy customers can visit PSE’s outage map and search for their address, city or ZIP code. PSE also supports reporting and account-specific notifications through its outage service and mobile tools. PSE warned in its November 6, 2026 storm advisory that gusty weather systems could cause interruptions. That warning was a preparedness notice, not confirmation that any particular home lost power.
What do outage status and estimated restoration time mean?
A map marker may indicate that an outage has been reported, a crew assigned, or a repair underway. Those stages are not the same as power being restored. Estimated restoration times can be updated as crews discover fallen trees, damaged transformers, inaccessible roads, or additional faults. During storms, map data can lag. If safety is at risk, never rely on a map instead of calling emergency services.
Downed power line: what to do immediately
Never touch a downed wire, a tree resting on a wire, or a flooded area near electrical equipment. Seattle City Light tells customers to stay at least 30 feet away and call 911 to report downed power lines. PSE advises at least 35 feet and lists 1-888-225-5773 or 911 for downed-line problems. Do not assume a line is safe because it appears dark, is not sparking or power is out nearby.
How to stay safe until electricity returns
Keep devices charged and use battery-powered lighting
Use a flashlight or battery lantern rather than an unattended candle. Have batteries, drinking water, necessary medications, blankets and a way to receive emergency updates. Seattle City Light’s storm-preparedness checklist recommends saving the outage map on your phone and subscribing to relevant alerts.
Avoid carbon monoxide from backup generators
Never run a gas generator, charcoal grill, camping stove or fuel-powered heater inside your house or garage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises running generators outdoors and more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, with working carbon monoxide detectors indoors. Opening a garage door does not make indoor generator use safe.
Protect refrigerated food
Try to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Exact food-safety decisions depend on elapsed time and temperature. Follow our separate US refrigerator and freezer safety guide during an outage rather than using the length of an outage alone as proof that food is safe.
What if power goes out again tonight?
Save the two provider links, verify who serves your address, and write down any essential account information before a storm. Recheck the utility’s real-time notice before posting a restoration time on social media. If severe weather also affects travel, our US winter car emergency kit guide offers additional practical preparation.
Official sources
Seattle City Light outages; Seattle City Light’s November 6, 2026 storm guide; PSE outage map; CDC carbon monoxide safety.
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Where can I check a Seattle power outage?
If Seattle City Light is your electric provider, use its official outage map at seattle.gov/city-light/outages. If you are served by PSE, use pse.com/outagemap instead.
What number do I call to report a Seattle City Light outage?
Call 206-684-3000 and have your account number or the phone number linked to your account ready.
Why is my Seattle outage missing from the map?
Seattle City Light says its outage map omits some underground-network areas in downtown Seattle, First Hill and the University District, and reports can take time to appear.
Can I use a generator in my garage during an outage?
No. CDC guidance says generators must operate outdoors, more than 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents, because carbon monoxide can be fatal.
