Help! What To Do If Your Power Goes Out In Lubbock

Lubbock saw some power outages on Tuesday which got me thinking how fortunate I am that my house wasn't included. If it were, however, the City is gracious enough to share crucial information about how to report an outage, how to stay safe when the lights go out, and how long it typically takes for the power to come back on.

Lubbock Power Outage Map

But first, did you know that you can see a live, interactive map of current power outages across the city? Lubbock Power & Light has an online map that shows where outages are reported in real time as well as how many people are affected and if a crew is already assigned or not.

My Power Went Out, Now What?

Report the Outage

The first thing you're going to want to do when your power goes out is check the LP&L map and see if it's been reported or not. To report an outage, call the 24-hour help line at (806) 775-2509, or send an email to LightsOut@LPandL.com.

When reporting an outage, make sure you include your home address, your phone number, and any details you can think of that would help crews get the power back on.

Fun fact: You can report a streetlight that's gone out in Lubbock by calling 3-1-1 and giving them the same information as if your home lost power. Oh, and if you are driving and encounter an intersection with downed traffic signals, you should always treat those as all-way stops, similar to a 4-way stop sign.

Prepare for Long Periods of Darkness

Your next step should be to keep all refrigerator and freezer doors closed, since perishable food can last up to four hours without power if left sealed in a fridge.

It's also smart to keep portable battery packs charged at home, just in case the power goes out and you need to charge your cell phone. Flashlights are another must for any homeowner.

When Will Power Return?

The speed at which your home's power will be fixed depends on a few different factors. Power outages are fixed on a priority system, meaning that entire circuits or grids that impact lots of homes at once will be targeted first.

Smaller clusters of customers and individual homes are lowest priority. This is why it's even more important to check out the outage map to see how many people are in the same boat as you. The more people affected, the better chance you have of getting it fixed sooner.

Here's to hoping your lights stay on as we head into the cooler months here in Lubbock.