Outage Center
PrintPlease Note:
SDCEA has moved to enhanced system sensitivity (one-shot) due to the danger of wildfire across our service territory (Fire restrictions, Red Flag Warnings). Lines are set to de-energize quickly if a tree or debris contacts a line, minimizing ignition risk.
This may increase the likelihood of outages and create longer restoration times due to mandatory visual inspections of lines and equipment to ensure safety prior to restoration of power.
We understand outages are difficult and we will work to restore power as safely and efficiently as possible.
Thank you for your understanding as we navigate ongoing drought conditions and dry, windy conditions throughout our service territory.
SDCEA provides this map for the general use of our member consumers looking for information about current outages. We also provide general outage information on this website and on Facebook. The map also shows planned outages on the system, ie: if you see an outage indicated with a future date.
If you have an outage to report that is not depicted on this map, please call our office toll-free, 844-395-2412. Outage restoration times (if shown) are software-generated estimates, not guarantees. A number of on-site factors influence how quickly an outage can be restored, such as terrain, access, weather conditions, and more. If you are concerned about a medical issue during an outage, please seek emergency assistance if necessary or carry out your backup plans for loss of power.
Is Your Power Out?
If you have a medical emergency, call 911.
Call to report your outage at 719-395-2412 or toll-free 844-395-2412. Our dispatch system is available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We do not monitor email or social media at all times to learn of outages. You must call in your outage to ensure we know about it.
→ Power Outage Checklist (PDF)
No electrical system is outage-proof, although we do our best to keep outages to a minimum. Many causes of outages are beyond our control, such as weather and car accidents involving power lines. If you experience an outage, here are some additional steps to take that may be helpful.
- Check the circuit breakers or fuses in your house.
- Is your meter without power?
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Meter with power – shows the kWhs reading on screen. Below: No reading on screen. 
- Generally, there is also a breaker below your meter. Please check it, too.
- If possible, check with your neighbors to see if they have power. Sometimes it helps us to pinpoint a problem if we have a better idea of which services are out.
- Still Out? If you haven’t called already, call 719-395-2412 or toll-free 1-844-395-2412.
We have a team 24/7 to assist our members with power outages. We do our best to answer each call personally; however, if we are experiencing a large number of calls, you may be redirected to our automated outage system where you can report outages and/or receive any updates that are available.
Thank you for your patience as our crews work to restore your outage as quickly and safely as possible.
What causes power outages?
- Although SDCEA must occasionally shut the power down for system maintenance, most outages are unplanned and unavoidable.
- Of the unplanned outages to date this year, most were attributed to weather-related events such as snow loading lines or wind causing trees and branches to fall on lines.
- Winter storms are a threat to electrical equipment when snow and ice build-up on power lines and tree limbs. The weight of the snow and ice can cause wires to break. Tree limbs also become heavy with snow and ice causing them to break and fall into power lines.
- Some outages were human-caused, such as vehicle vs. power pole incidents or dig-ins to underground power lines, vandalism, etc.
- Some were caused by animals such as squirrels causing interference.
While Your Power is Out
- Please keep phone lines open for all members affected by the outage.
- We know that being without power is inconvenient and frustrating. We assure you that one call to report your outage is all you need to make.
- SDCEA will work around the clock if necessary to restore your service as quickly as possible.
How long does it take to restore power following an outage?
It depends on the cause of the outage.
- Removing a branch from a line is quick and relatively simple.
- Replacing a broken power pole or digging up the buried cable to find and repair a fault is a much longer process.
- Your location also affects the time it takes to get power restored. If you live in a rural area, it might take SDCEA crews an hour or more just to arrive on location (especially if they need to leave their home in the middle of the night). Then, the crew or crews need to inspect the equipment, determine the cause, and develop a plan to restore power safely. Sometimes members call within a few minutes of their power going out wondering when it will be back on. In reality, our crews haven’t had a chance to arrive on the scene yet, let alone find out what’s causing the problem.
- Outages can last from minutes to hours, even days depending on the severity of a storm or other event.
- One thing that is consistent, however, is that SDCEA crews, often braving dangerous weather conditions and working through the night, do everything they can to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. It’s a critically important, dangerous job that SDCEA crews take very seriously.
How is restoration priority established?
SDCEA follows a specific sequence for restoration efforts. Each service listed must be fully restored before proceeding to the next action in the sequence.
- Restore transmission lines.
- Restore substations.
- Restore substation feeders.
- Restore distribution lines from feeders.
- Restore Individual services.
SDCEA energizes 15,000 meters along the more than 1,850 miles of line it has on the system. That’s a lot of services and a lot of ground to cover.
The main goal is to restore power safely to the greatest number of services in the shortest time possible.
Transmission lines supply power to substations (which then distribute power to thousands of members), so these lines would receive first priority if affected by an outage. Next, crews would make any needed repairs at substations, followed by repairing transformers and distribution lines.
I’m out, but my neighbor isn’t. Why?
Homes in a neighborhood may be fed by different service lines and/or the cause of the outage might be originating in the home and be unrelated to activity on the side of SDCEA.
Safety (yours and ours) is our top priority.
- While SDCEA likes to restore power as quickly as possible after an outage, it is even more important that our employees go home safely to their families at the end of the day.
- Our crews are trained to take the time and safety measures they need before making repairs to electrical equipment.
- Crews do occasionally break to eat, rest and change out equipment or clothing. They are also mandated to rest and come off the line after a designated number of hours by OSHA safety standards and conditions on the ground, mandates we wholeheartedly support.
Why does my power sometimes blink?
A “blink” is a brief power interruption that is completely normal and plays an important role in our electrical system. Despite routine tree trimming near power lines, strong winds can sometimes cause trees to touch the wires. When this happens, your lights might flicker, or you could lose power for a few seconds as the system works to address the issue. This protective measure prevents longer outages, limiting the disruption to just a few moments.
Here’s why your lights might blink during storms:
- Trees and Branches: Storms can cause branches to touch or fall on power lines, creating a short circuit. This prompts a recloser, a device that temporarily cuts power to fix the problem, resulting in blinking lights.
- Lightning and Thunder: A strong flash of lightning or a loud thunderclap can affect the main power supply, causing lights to blink.
- Ice and Snow Buildup: In severe weather, ice can accumulate on power lines, making them sway and occasionally touch each other. This can lead to brief power disruptions or blinking lights.
