October in the North Country means the wind starts meaning business — and by December it’s lake-effect snow and ice taking down lines. When the power goes out, the first question is always the same: is it just my house, and when is it coming back? National Grid’s outage map answers both. Here’s how to use it, how to report your outage, and how to get restoration updates texted to your phone.
The outage map: what it shows
National Grid’s outage map is interactive and refreshes every 5 minutes during events. Zoom to your neighborhood to see current outages, or use the outages by county view for a plain list: click the arrow next to Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence County and it expands to show estimated restoration times (ETRs) for the towns and villages inside.
One thing worth knowing: the county-level ETR is National Grid’s estimate for when the last customer in that area is expected back, based on their damage assessment — not necessarily your house. For a property-specific estimate, log into your National Grid account.
Bookmark the map on your phone now, while the power is on. You don’t want to be Googling for it on cellular data in the dark.
Report your outage — don’t assume they know
This is the part people get wrong: always report your outage. Every report helps National Grid map the extent of the damage, and restoration can’t be confirmed complete until reports are checked. Four ways to do it:
- Phone: 1-800-867-5222 (NY electric outages)
- Text: text OUT to 64743
- Website: report through Outage Central
- App: the free National Grid app (App Store / Google Play) — report outages, check status, and read storm updates
Get alerts before the next storm
Text REG to 64743 with your National Grid electricity account number handy, and you’ll get personalized outage alerts by text, email, or phone call when an outage is detected at your property. Two more text tricks worth saving:
- Text STORM to 64743 for state-level broadcast alerts during major weather events
- Text SUM followed by your town (e.g. “SUM Watertown”) to 64743 for local restoration information
While you wait: the basics
- Downed line? Stay far away and call 911 — then report it to National Grid. Never assume a downed line is dead.
- Smell gas? Leave immediately without touching switches or phones, then call 1-800-892-2345 or 911 from a safe distance.
- Fridge and freezer: keep the doors closed. A full freezer holds temperature for about 48 hours (24 if half-full) — every peek shortens that.
- Generators: run them outdoors, well away from windows and doors — never in a garage, even with the door open. Carbon monoxide kills quietly.
For the full cold-weather playbook — pipes, heating backups, what to stock — see our Jefferson County Winter Survival Guide and the 7 things to do before the first hard freeze. New to the area and still setting up service? Start with how to apply for utility services in Jefferson County.