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Our Restoration Process

We work hard to provide you safe and reliable service.

On the rare occasions you lose power, check here for regular restoration updates and report outages online, text the word OUT to 64743, or call 1-800-867-5222.

Estimating the time of power restoration is not an exact science.  Work volume, the cause of the outage, and the extent of the damage can all affect our time estimates.  Storms can cause widespread damage to our entire distribution system.  High-voltage transmission lines are given priority because they supply electricity to the entire system.  Next, we focus on substations and local distribution lines that serve multiple locations.  From there, individual power service can be restored. 

Our Service Restoration Process

  1. tree down across road with National Grid truck in the foreground.

    1.Assess damage and protect the public

    We must ensure that all downed wires are made safe and roads are accessible to restoration crews. At this point we patrol damaged circuits to assess infrastructure changes.

  2. Doctors performing surgery

    2.Repair transmission lines

    Under our priority system, repair crews typically first address problems with transmission lines and substations that serve large numbers of customers, and restore critical customers such as hospitals and public safety facilities, water treatment facilities, etc.

  3. power truck at substation

    3.Repair substations

    While problems with transmission lines are being resolved, crews also begin to work on substations and primary lines that serve many customers.

  4. power repair truck seen through power lines

    4.Repair distribution lines

    Lines and transformers within neighborhoods and the wires that connect them to homes and businesses come next – starting with areas that involve the most customers.

  5. power lines connecting to a house

    5.Repair neighborhood tap lines

    Crews then target secondary lines that serve local neighborhoods.

  6. Woman looking at phone.

    6.Connect individual customers

    Under our priority system, repair crews typically first address problems with transmission lines and substations that serve large numbers of customers, and restore critical customers such as hospitals and public safety facilities, water treatment facilities, etc.

Your Estimated Restoration Time

For the most accurate estimate for your own restoration time, please sign into your account to check your estimated restoration time.

Please note the restoration estimates on our outage map reflects the time the last customer in your town is expected to be restored, so we recommend logging in instead for a more personalized estimate.

How We Restore Power

When a neighborhood power outage occurs, thousands of customers may be affected and restorations can be time consuming. Please keep in mind the steps we must follow when restoring power during largescale outages: