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Start with your service address
When the lights go out, a statewide outage count is not the answer to the question most people have: what is happening at my address? Open your utility’s own outage center and search the service address. PG&E says its map lets customers report an outage if the company does not yet show one there. Southern California Edison says its current-outages page shows a map and estimated restoration times. San Diego Gas & Electric also publishes an outage map, but cautions that details can be delayed or incomplete, especially during major events.
If your street is dark and your address does not appear, report the outage through the utility’s official channel. Do not assume someone else has already done it. If your home alone is affected, check your breakers only when it is safe to do so. Never approach a downed wire or anything touching one; call 911 for an immediate electrical hazard.
Why the map and your street may disagree
An outage map is a changing operational picture, not a live meter reading for every home. PG&E says its map normally updates every five minutes and may take up to 30 minutes during widespread outages. SDG&E warns that restorations can be under way while an outage still appears on its map. An outage can also be reported before crews have identified its cause or extent.
That is why a rising or falling customer count needs context. A count tells you how many customers a utility currently associates with reported incidents; it does not tell you when your circuit will be repaired. Comparing two snapshots without their update times can make an old number look like a new development. California Signal’s broader view is useful for spotting the scale of a problem, but the utility remains the source for your address and restoration status.
Read the restoration time as an estimate
A posted restoration time is useful for planning, but it is not an appointment. SCE says its map provides estimates; SDG&E explicitly says its estimates are general and may not fit individual circumstances. The work can change after crews inspect damage, isolate a fault or discover another problem. During a large event, a utility may not yet have a reliable time to post.
Look for the time of the latest utility update as well as the restoration estimate. If the estimate passes and power is still out, refresh the utility’s official page or alerts rather than treating the old time as a promise. Keep the outage number or reference ID if one is provided. That makes it easier to follow up without relying on a screenshot that may already be stale.
Keep a second way to hear from the utility
A map may be hard to load when cell service is crowded or your phone battery is low. PG&E offers account alerts about outages and revised restoration estimates; SCE points customers to outage alerts as well as its map. Check that the phone number and email on your utility account are current before the next storm or heat event. Save the utility’s outage-reporting number somewhere you can reach without searching the web.
Use local emergency alerts for safety instructions, not an outage map. If officials issue an evacuation order, a shelter notice or a warning about a downed line, that instruction takes priority over any estimated repair time. A utility’s map answers an electrical-service question; it is not a substitute for incident command or public-safety messaging.
Make the decision on your own clock
Some choices cannot wait for a restoration estimate. FEMA advises keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed: a refrigerator generally stays cold for about four hours, while a full freezer can hold a safe temperature for about 48 hours if unopened. Those are planning guides, not a guarantee for every appliance or food item. Follow food-safety guidance if temperatures rise.
If someone depends on powered medical equipment or temperature-sensitive medication, use the backup plan made with a clinician and seek help early. FEMA also warns that generators, camp stoves and charcoal grills belong outdoors, away from doors and windows, because of carbon monoxide risk. Do not bring them into a garage or use a gas oven to heat a home.
The practical sequence is simple: verify your address, report a missing outage, note when the utility last updated its estimate, and make safety decisions using the time you actually have. The map is a valuable starting point. Your household plan should not depend on it being perfectly current.