LADWP Power Outage: How to Check the Map, Report It, and How Long Restoration Takes

During an LADWP outage, your first two moves are the same every time: open ladwp.com/outages to see whether your neighborhood is already on the repair queue, then call 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397) to make sure your address is logged so a crew can be dispatched. In a heat-driven event — LADWP's most common cause of neighborhood-level outages — the utility's own public release from September 9–10, 2026 put crew response time at 4–12 hours from the start of the outage, with many customers restored sooner.

Last verified: October 2026 by Helios Energy Global.

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How to check the LADWP outage map

LADWP's outage hub at ladwp.com/outages hosts the live Power Outage Map and lets customers subscribe to outage alerts via text, email, or both. Notifications are sent after a significant outage occurs, when updates are available, and when power is restored — though outages may affect only portions of a neighborhood, so you may get an alert even if your address is unaffected.

On the map itself, you can view outage information including the neighborhood, the number of customers affected, the current status, and the estimated restore time. Zoom in to your block or search by address for the most precise picture.

Three things to look for on the map:

• Estimated Restoration Time (ETR) — the crew's current target; update it periodically because it can shift as field conditions change.
• Customer count — a large number often means a feeder-level fault that crews prioritize; a tiny count may mean a single transformer.
• Status label — "Crew Assigned," "Crew On-Site," and "Restored" tell you where you stand in the queue.

Sign up for outage alerts

LADWP offers a free 24/7 outage alert service that sends texts and/or emails after a significant outage occurs, when updates are available, and when power is restored.

The service covers up to three neighborhoods, is for major incidents only, and lets customers choose notifications via text, email, or both.

To sign up, log in to your LADWP online account, click the "Outage Alerts" tab on the left, and follow the prompts. Alerts are available in both English and Spanish.

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How to report an LADWP outage

To report a power outage, call LADWP's Customer Contact Center at 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397). You can use the self-service options for expedited service (select your preferred language, then press "1"), or speak with a Customer Service Representative — available 24/7 for outage calls.

You can also go to www.ladwp.com/outages to report a power outage online. Reporting online or by phone does two things: it confirms your address is on the system and it helps dispatchers identify the geographic scope of the fault so they can assign the right crew and equipment.

For downed wires: Call the LADWP Customer Contact Center at 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397); representatives are available 24/7 to assist — and call 911 first if there is any immediate safety risk.

For street light outages on wooden poles: call LADWP at 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397). For street lights on metal or concrete poles within City of L.A. limits, dial 3-1-1, or from outside City limits dial (213) 473-3231, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.

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How long does an LADWP outage last?

This is the question every homeowner wants answered, and the honest answer is: it depends heavily on the cause.

LADWP's own numbers

LADWP utility crews responding to the September 9–10, 2026 heat event reported crew response times of 4–12 hours from when an outage occurred, but noted that many customers would be restored more quickly. That range is the utility's own published figure for a localized heat-driven event — not a worst-case estimate.

For underground cable faults, the timeline can be longer. A 4.8-kilovolt underground distribution line failure in Echo Park in August 2026 took crews 26 hours to repair — longer than usual because the failure required full permanent cable replacement rather than a simple switch reset.

What LADWP's reliability data shows

LADWP tracks outage frequency and duration through its Power System Reliability Program. Per the PSRP Activity Update as of March 16, 2026, LADWP's System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) for fiscal year 2024–25 was 95.07 minutes per customer per year, and the current FY 2025–26 figure stands at 74.98 minutes against a target of 115 minutes. That is an average across all outage types — brief equipment trips and multi-day heat events alike — so it understates what you experience during a major heat event.

Typical ranges by outage type (estimates)

Outage type	Typical crew response / duration	Primary cause
Simple switch or protective trip	Under 2 hours	Equipment self-protection
Localized transformer overload	2–6 hours	Heat, age, load spike
Heat-event neighborhood outage	4–12 hours (LADWP, Sept. 2026)	Overloaded distribution equipment
Underground cable fault	12–26+ hours	Aging insulation, heat-accelerated degradation
Wind/storm damage, downed pole	6–24+ hours	Vegetation, traffic accidents
Planned maintenance	Pre-scheduled	Infrastructure upgrades

Durations are estimates based on LADWP public releases and PSRP data; your specific outage may be shorter or longer.

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Why LADWP outages are different from SCE and SDG&E outages

LADWP is a municipal utility — it is owned by the City of Los Angeles and governed by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, not by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). That single fact changes several things for Los Angeles homeowners.

LADWP does not run a CPUC-mandated Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program. An LADWP spokeswoman explained that the utility does not participate in public safety power shutoffs but relies instead on automatic power cuts to damaged lines — a measure that mitigates the risk of a downed line igniting a fire. LADWP also works closely with the Los Angeles Fire Department to proactively de-energize any lines at firefighters' request. This is a meaningful difference from SCE, which conducted multiple PSPS events in 2026 affecting tens of thousands of LA County customers outside the city limits.

Because LADWP is not an investor-owned utility (IOU), it also:

• Sets its own rates outside the CPUC rate-setting process — which is why LADWP's effective rate (~28¢/kWh blended) is lower than SCE (~34–35¢/kWh) or SDG&E (~46¢/kWh).
• Runs its own net metering program. LADWP still offers retail-rate net metering — meaning your exported solar is credited at the full retail rate, not the lower export rate that SCE, PG&E, and SDG&E customers face under NEM 3.0 (the CPUC Net Billing Tariff). See our LADWP net metering guide for the full picture.
• Handles all outage response through its own crews and dispatch — there is no CAISO or CPUC layer in the middle.

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What causes LADWP outages?

LADWP's own public statements and infrastructure reports point to a consistent set of culprits.

Heat and aging underground infrastructure

LADWP utility crews have attributed localized neighborhood outages to overloaded electric equipment due to extreme heat and humidity. The underground dimension matters especially in dense parts of the city. As LADWP CEO Janisse Quiñones told LAist: "It's challenging in L.A. because a lot of our infrastructure, especially downtown L.A., it's underground and the conduits where the cables are were designed 100 years ago and they're small."

Quiñones has also explained the multi-day heat problem: "Our transformers have been loaded with high temperatures, and they have not been able to restore or rest at night. We need our equipment to cool down at night, and the temperatures have been sustained through the night."

A forensic engineering expert noted that extreme heat adds to the problem: "When you have high heat in the area, you're going to have much more electrical power consumption. That's going to draw more current in those conductors, and that's going to accelerate any degradation that's already occurring."

Wind, vegetation, and equipment wear

Other common causes include vegetation interference with high-voltage distribution lines, animal contact with electrical equipment at transformer nodes, traffic accidents damaging utility poles, equipment fatigue in older high-density residential circuits, and extreme heat-induced load shedding during peak afternoon hours in late summer.

What LADWP is doing about it

LADWP's Power System Reliability Program provides a blueprint for ensuring continued reliable energy service and is being implemented through a two-pronged approach — rebuilding infrastructure and proactive maintenance — with more than $1 billion invested over the next 5 to 15 years.

LADWP has stated that $1.6 billion in system upgrades over the past two years has produced a 50% reduction in outages compared with major heat events in 2020, 2022, and 2024.

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Solar panels alone won't keep your lights on during an outage

This is the most important thing LADWP solar customers need to understand: a standard grid-tied solar system shuts off automatically the moment LADWP's grid goes down. This is a safety requirement — it prevents your panels from back-feeding electricity onto lines that workers may be repairing.

The result: during a 4–12 hour summer heat outage, your solar panels may be generating at full capacity on the roof while your house sits dark. See our full explainer at Do solar panels work during a power outage?

What a home battery changes

A battery paired with solar creates an islanded backup circuit. When LADWP's grid drops, the battery detects the outage within milliseconds, disconnects from the grid, and begins powering your home from stored energy — with the solar panels recharging the battery during daylight hours as long as the outage continues.

For LADWP customers, this matters more than it might seem. Because LADWP's heat-event outages can run 4–12 hours or longer, and because peak demand (and therefore peak outage risk) overlaps with the hottest afternoon hours, a battery that keeps the air conditioning, refrigerator, and medical equipment running is a practical tool, not a luxury.

Battery options Helios installs for LADWP homes (2026 installed prices):

Component	Installed price (estimate)	Usable capacity
Tesla Powerwall 3 (1 unit)	$14,500–$18,500	13.5 kWh
Tesla Powerwall 3 (2 units)	$24,000–$30,000	27.0 kWh
Powerwall 3 Expansion unit	$8,000–$11,500	13.5 kWh
Enphase IQ Battery 10C	$13,000–$15,500	10.08 kWh
FranklinWH aPower 2 + aGate	$16,000–$21,000	13.6 kWh

All prices are installed estimates; exact quotes depend on your panel, wiring, and site conditions. A main-panel upgrade, when needed, adds $3,000–$5,000.

For a real-world look at how long a Powerwall lasts during a typical LADWP outage, see How long does a Powerwall last in an outage? and Generator vs. battery backup in California.

SGIP note: California's Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) residential budget is waitlisted in 2026 — if it reopens, LADWP customers are eligible. We track the status for every client. See our battery backup guide for LADWP homes for current options.

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Frequently asked questions about LADWP power outages

What is the LADWP outage map URL?

The official LADWP outage map is at ladwp.com/outages, where you can view current power outages or report an outage. The map shows active incidents by neighborhood, estimated restoration times, and the number of affected customers. Bookmark it now so you have it when you need it.

What number do I call to report an LADWP power outage?

Call LADWP's Customer Contact Center at 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397) to report an outage. Representatives are available 24/7 for emergency and outage calls. You can also report online at ladwp.com/outages if your phone has cellular service.

Does LADWP do Public Safety Power Shutoffs like SCE?

No. LADWP does not participate in public safety power shutoffs, but relies instead on automatic power cuts to damaged lines to mitigate the risk of a downed line igniting a fire. SCE — which serves most of LA County outside the city limits — has its own PSPS program governed by the CPUC. If you live in the City of Los Angeles, your utility is LADWP and PSPS does not apply to you.

How long do LADWP outages usually last during a heat wave?

During the September 9–10, 2026 heat event, LADWP reported crew response times of 4–12 hours from when an outage occurred, with many customers restored more quickly. Underground cable faults can take longer — the Echo Park cable failure in August 2026 required 26 hours for a permanent repair. Planned maintenance outages are pre-scheduled and typically shorter.

Will my solar panels keep my power on during an LADWP outage?

Not without a battery. A standard grid-tied solar system automatically disconnects from your home circuits when LADWP's grid goes down — this is a required safety feature, not a flaw. Only a solar-plus-battery system with a backup gateway can island your home and keep power flowing. Read the full explanation at Do solar panels work during a power outage?

How do I sign up for LADWP outage text alerts?

Customers can sign up to receive notifications via texts, emails, or both. Messages are sent after a significant outage occurs, when updates are available, and when power is restored — though outages may affect only portions of a neighborhood.

To sign up, log in to your LADWP online account, click the "Outage Alerts" tab on the left, and follow the prompts. Alerts are available in English and Spanish, for up to three neighborhoods.

Is LADWP's net metering better than SCE's for solar owners?

Yes, significantly. LADWP still offers retail-rate net metering — your exported solar energy is credited at the full retail rate (~28¢/kWh effective). SCE, PG&E, and SDG&E customers are on NEM 3.0 (the CPUC Net Billing Tariff), which credits exports at a much lower avoided-cost rate, making battery storage far more important for those customers. See our LADWP net metering guide and LADWP rates explained for the numbers.

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Next steps

• Book a free consultation and custom design — we'll size a solar-plus-battery system for your LADWP home and show you exactly how much backup capacity you'd have during a typical outage.
• See battery backup options for LADWP homes — Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ Battery 10C, FranklinWH aPower 2, and more, with 2026 installed price ranges.
• Explore solar for LADWP customers — how LADWP's retail-rate net metering affects system sizing and payback.
• Understand LADWP net metering — why LADWP's program is different from NEM 3.0 and what it means for your bill.
• Read: Do solar panels work during a power outage?
• Read: How long does a Powerwall last in an outage?
• Compare: Generator vs. battery backup in California