Power Outages in Atlanta: How to Check, What to Expect, and What to Do

If you’re in Atlanta, Georgia and wondering, “Are there power outages in Atlanta right now?”, the answer is: it depends on your neighborhood and the moment you ask. Outages can be very localized, and conditions change quickly, especially during storms.

This guide walks you through how power outages work in Atlanta, how to check current outages, and what to do before, during, and after the power goes out.

Who Handles Power in Atlanta?

Most Atlanta residents and businesses get electricity from:

• Georgia Power – primary electric utility for most of the city
• Local electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) in some surrounding metro areas (not common inside central Atlanta, but more likely in outer suburbs)

When you’re asking about power outages in Atlanta, you’re usually asking whether Georgia Power’s service area is experiencing issues.

How to Check If There’s a Power Outage in Atlanta Right Now

Because outages are constantly changing, the most reliable way to know what’s happening right now is to check:

1. Georgia Power’s Outage Resources

You can:

• Look up current outage maps for Metro Atlanta
• Search by address, ZIP code, or account information
• See estimated restoration times (when available)
• Confirm whether your outage has already been reported

If your home, hotel, or office is within the City of Atlanta (Midtown, Downtown, Buckhead, West End, East Atlanta, etc.), it is likely served by Georgia Power.

📞 Georgia Power Customer Service (General): 1‑888‑660‑5890
📞 Georgia Power 24/7 Outage & Emergency Line: 1‑888‑891‑0938

You can report:

• Power outages
• Downed power lines
• Hazardous electrical situations

2. Check With Your Building or Property Manager

For apartments, condos, office towers, and hotels in areas like Midtown, Buckhead, Downtown, and Perimeter, it’s possible an issue is:

• Internal to the building’s electrical system
• Related to a blown breaker or other equipment
• Limited to one floor or one wing

In those cases, call:

• Your property manager or leasing office
• Your hotel front desk
• Your building maintenance or HOA contact

They can confirm whether the problem is building-specific or part of a wider utility outage.

3. Local Government and Emergency Alerts

While the City of Atlanta doesn’t own the electric grid, it may share information during major outages linked to storms or emergencies.

Sources to be aware of:

• City of Atlanta Office of Emergency Preparedness
• Fulton County Emergency Management Agency (EMA)
• DeKalb County EMA (if you’re in parts of Atlanta within DeKalb County)

You may see power outage updates as part of:

• Severe weather alerts
• Road closure notices (due to downed trees or lines)
• Cooling or warming station announcements in extreme weather

Common Reasons for Power Outages in Atlanta

Atlanta’s mix of dense city neighborhoods, tree-lined streets, and intense summer storms makes outages relatively common in certain situations. Typical causes include:

1. Severe Thunderstorms and Lightning

Especially in late spring and summer, Metro Atlanta often sees:

• Lightning strikes damaging equipment or lines
• Strong winds knocking trees or branches onto overhead lines
• Short, intense storms that affect neighborhoods unevenly

You may notice:

• One block has power while the next block is dark
• Streetlights out along portions of Peachtree Street, Piedmont Road, or Cascade Road

2. Ice Storms and Winter Weather

Freezing rain can:

• Accumulate on trees and power lines, causing them to snap
• Make roads hazardous, slowing repair crews

Though not every winter brings major ice, Atlanta has a history of significant winter-weather outages.

3. Equipment Issues or Scheduled Maintenance

Outages are not always storm-related. They can also be caused by:

• Aged or failing equipment
• Underground cable issues, especially in older neighborhoods
• Scheduled maintenance affecting a small area for a limited time

These are typically announced in advance when they are planned, and they may show up as scheduled work on outage tools.

4. Vehicle Accidents and Construction Damage

In a city as busy as Atlanta, it’s common for outages to result from:

• Vehicles hitting utility poles
• Construction crews accidentally damaging underground lines or transformers
• Development projects in rapidly growing areas like West Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and along the BeltLine

How to Tell If the Outage Is Just You or the Whole Area

Before you assume it’s a citywide problem, run through a quick checklist:

1. Check your home’s breaker panel.

• If just part of your home is dark, you may have a tripped breaker.
• Reset any tripped breakers once; if it trips again, contact an electrician.

2. Look outside.

• Are streetlights out?
• Are neighbors’ houses or nearby businesses also without power?

3. Try more than one room and outlet.

• If one outlet is dead but others are fine, it might be an internal wiring issue.

4. Check for other utilities.

• Is your internet down, or just power?
• Is your cell phone still charging from another outlet?

If everything around you is out too, you’re likely dealing with an area-wide power outage.

What to Do During a Power Outage in Atlanta

Once you’ve confirmed an outage, here’s how to handle it safely and calmly.

1. Report the Outage (Even if You Think Others Have)

If you’re a Georgia Power customer:

• Use their outage reporting tools or
• Call the outage and emergency line at 1‑888‑891‑0938

Multiple reports from the same area can help:

• Confirm the scope of the outage
• Prioritize critical areas
• Improve restoration estimates

2. Keep Refrigerators and Freezers Closed

To help prevent food from spoiling:

• Avoid opening refrigerator and freezer doors
• A closed fridge generally stays cold for several hours
• A full freezer stays cold longer than a mostly empty one

3. Use Flashlights, Not Candles

For neighborhoods with older housing or dense multifamily buildings (like parts of Grant Park, Inman Park, and West End):

• Rely on flashlights or battery-powered lanterns
• Avoid open flames, which increase fire risk

4. Protect Electronics

Unplug or power down sensitive devices:

• Computers, game consoles, TVs
• Chargers and appliances that don’t need to remain plugged in

This can help reduce the risk of damage when power is restored and voltage fluctuates.

Atlanta-Specific Considerations: Weather, Traffic, and Safety

Storms and Heat in the City

In summer, outages can be especially uncomfortable in Atlanta’s heat and humidity:

• High-rise apartments and condos may heat up quickly
• Some residents may temporarily go to public spaces with power, such as libraries or shopping centers

You may see cooling centers or warming centers mentioned by:

• The City of Atlanta
• Fulton County or DeKalb County during extreme weather events

These are sometimes set up at recreation centers, libraries, or community buildings for people without power or adequate cooling/heating.

Traffic Signals and Driving

When power goes out in parts of Midtown, Downtown, Buckhead, or other busy corridors, traffic signals can fail.

General guidance:

• Treat dark or flashing intersections as four‑way stops
• Be especially cautious on busy streets like Peachtree Street, Northside Drive, and Memorial Drive

Avoid unnecessary driving in an area with known outages, as emergency and utility crews may be working.

Table: Quick Reference – Power Outages in Atlanta

If You’re Visiting Atlanta and Experience an Outage

Visitors staying in hotels in Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or near Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport may not be familiar with local procedures.

If the power goes out:

1. Contact the front desk

   • They can confirm if it’s building-only or wider.
   • Larger hotels often have backup systems for emergency lighting and key systems.

2. Follow hotel staff instructions

   • Elevators, keycards, and water systems may be affected.
   • Avoid using elevators until you know it’s safe.

3. Check your airline or transit situation

   • If you’re heading to or from the airport, consider potential delays if the outage is tied to severe weather.

When to Call 911 vs. Utility Numbers

Use 911 for:

• Downed power lines that threaten people, vehicles, or buildings
• Fires, explosions, or serious accidents involving electrical equipment
• Medical emergencies related to the outage (falls, heat stress, etc.)

Use your utility’s outage/emergency line for:

• Reporting a loss of power
• Notifying them of non‑immediate‑danger issues, like a transformer that’s out but not smoking or on fire

In Atlanta, police, fire, and emergency services coordinate with utilities when large-scale outages affect traffic, safety, or public spaces.

How Atlanta Residents Can Prepare for Future Outages

Even if there’s no outage in Atlanta at this moment, it’s helpful to be ready:

• Keep a small outage kit:
  • Flashlights, batteries, basic first-aid items, and a battery or crank-powered radio
• Charge devices before storms:
  • Phones, mobile battery packs, and other essentials
• Store key numbers somewhere visible:
  • Utility outage lines, your property manager, local emergency contacts
• Know your building’s policy:
  • Some high-rise and multi-unit buildings have specific procedures when power fails

Being prepared can make short outages manageable and help you stay safe during longer ones.

If you’re currently in Atlanta and your lights just went out, use the steps above to confirm whether it’s a neighborhood outage or a building issue, report it to the appropriate utility or manager, and take simple precautions until service is restored.