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

If you’re in Atlanta and wondering, “Is there a power outage right now?”, you’re not alone. Storms, equipment issues, and accidents can all cause the lights to go out across neighborhoods from Buckhead to the West End.

This guide explains how to check for a current outage in Atlanta, who provides power in different parts of the city, how to report an outage, and what to do while you wait for power to come back.

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

Because the power grid changes by the minute, there’s no way for a general guide to say exactly what’s happening at this moment. Instead, use these real-time steps:

1. Check Your Home and Immediate Area

Before assuming a citywide outage, confirm it’s not just your home.

• Look outside at nearby homes and streetlights
  • If your neighbors’ lights are on and yours are off, the issue may be limited to your home or building.
• Check your breaker panel
  • Look for any tripped breakers and reset if safe to do so.
• Ask a neighbor
  • A quick text or knock on a nearby door in Midtown, East Atlanta, or your apartment building can confirm if others are affected.

If it’s clearly more than just your home, move on to checking your local power provider.

Who Provides Power in Atlanta?

Most of the city of Atlanta and the surrounding metro area is served by Georgia Power, but some areas rely on local electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) or municipal utilities.

Main Electric Providers in and Around Atlanta

👉 Look at your electric bill to confirm your provider’s name and account number. This is the fastest way to know which outage map and phone number to use.

How to Check for a Power Outage with Georgia Power

If you live in most neighborhoods inside the Perimeter (Downtown, Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, West Midtown, etc.), you are likely a Georgia Power customer.

Ways to Check for an Outage (Georgia Power Customers)

1. Online outage map

   • Georgia Power provides an online outage map where you can:
     • See if your address is in an affected area
     • View estimated restoration times (when available)
     • Check how many customers are impacted nearby

2. Customer service phone line

   • You can report an outage or check the status of an existing outage by calling Georgia Power’s main customer service number listed on your bill or account materials.
   • Use the automated system to:
     • Report “no power” at your address
     • Get updates if there’s a known outage in your neighborhood

3. Text or app (if available on your account)

   • Many Atlanta residents use Georgia Power’s account tools to:
     • Get text alerts about outages and restorations
     • Monitor outage updates without calling

🔑 Key tip: If the outage doesn’t appear on the map yet, report it. Power companies often rely on these reports to identify smaller or localized outages.

Checking Outages with EMCs and City Utilities

If you’re outside the core of Atlanta or in certain suburbs, you might be served by an Electric Membership Cooperative (EMC) or city utility rather than Georgia Power.

Common EMCs and utilities in the Atlanta metro area include (not a complete list):

• Cobb EMC (serving parts of Cobb and surrounding counties)
• GreyStone Power (serving parts of Douglas, Cobb, Fulton, and others)
• Snapping Shoals EMC (serving areas of DeKalb, Rockdale, and surrounding counties)
• Jackson EMC, Walton EMC, Sawnee EMC, and others in exurban areas

How to Confirm and Check for Outages

1. Look at your electric bill

   • The provider’s name will be at the top. That’s the company you need to contact about outages.

2. Use your provider’s outage map or hotline

   • Most EMCs and city utilities offer:
     • A public outage map
     • A 24/7 emergency or outage reporting phone number
   • Call the number listed on your bill or account card.

3. If you’re renting

   • Ask your property manager, leasing office, or landlord which company serves your building.
   • High-rise apartments and mixed-use buildings in areas like Atlantic Station or Midtown may have property-level systems and specific procedures to follow.

When to Call 911 or Atlanta Authorities

Most power outages do not require a 911 call, but some situations are an emergency.

Call 911 Immediately If:

• You see power lines down across a road, sidewalk, vehicle, or building
• You see sparking, fire, or smoke from power equipment, lines, or transformers
• Someone’s life-sustaining medical equipment has lost power and there is immediate danger

In Atlanta, dialing 911 will connect you to the Atlanta Police Department / Atlanta Fire Rescue Department dispatch, which can coordinate with Georgia Power or the appropriate utility.

Non-Emergency Situations

For non-urgent issues (like a streetlight out, or a minor outage with no safety risk), contact:

• Your power provider directly for outages
• City of Atlanta non-emergency services for infrastructure issues that aren’t urgent

What to Do During a Power Outage in Atlanta

While you wait for service to be restored, there are practical steps that help protect your home, food, and electronics.

Safety First

• Stay away from downed lines
  • Assume every downed wire is live and extremely dangerous.
• Use flashlights, not candles
  • This reduces fire risk, especially in older homes or multi-unit buildings.
• Avoid using gas stoves or grills indoors
  • This can cause dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.

Protect Food and Appliances

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed
  • A full freezer can usually keep food frozen for many hours if unopened.
• Unplug sensitive electronics
  • Televisions, computers, and game consoles can be protected from surges when power returns by unplugging or using surge protectors.
• Turn off major appliances
  • If several high-power devices (HVAC, oven, dryer) restart at once when power returns, it can stress your system.

Stay Informed Locally

In Atlanta, information often comes from a mix of local sources:

• Power provider alerts
  • Texts, calls, or emails if you have alerts enabled.
• Local news and radio
  • Metro Atlanta stations often provide wide-area outage coverage during storms or extreme weather.
• Community channels
  • Neighborhood apps or homeowners’ associations may share updates specific to buildings or subdivisions.

If cell service is limited, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio can be useful during major storms affecting large parts of the metro area.

Considering Atlanta Weather and Seasonal Outages

Atlanta’s climate can play a big role in when and where outages happen.

Common Local Causes of Outages

• Thunderstorms and heavy rain
  • Spring and summer storms can knock out power in pockets across the city.
• High winds
  • Trees or branches falling on lines are a frequent cause in tree-lined neighborhoods like Virginia-Highland, Grant Park, and Kirkwood.
• Ice storms or freezing rain (winter)
  • While less frequent, icy weather can cause widespread outages when it occurs.
• Heat and high demand (summer)
  • Very high electricity usage from air conditioning can stress parts of the system.

Planning around these patterns can help you stay prepared, especially if you rely on equipment that requires power.

Preparing for Future Power Outages in Atlanta

Even if your power is currently on, it’s helpful to be ready for the next outage—especially during storm season.

Simple Readiness Checklist

• ✅ Flashlights with fresh batteries
• ✅ Portable chargers for phones and small devices
• ✅ A small stock of bottled water and non-perishable food
• ✅ A list of important phone numbers, including:
  • Your power provider’s outage line
  • Landlord or property manager (if renting)
  • Local family or friends
• ✅ A plan for medications and medical devices that require refrigeration or power
• ✅ Knowledge of nearby places with backup power, such as:
  • Public libraries
  • Large shopping centers
  • Community centers

In bigger or longer outages affecting much of Atlanta, these locations may reopen with generators or restored power before residential areas.

Quick Reference: What to Do If the Power Goes Out in Atlanta

1. Confirm the outage
   • Check your breaker panel and look at neighbors’ homes.
2. Identify your provider
   • Look at your bill (Georgia Power, an EMC, or a city utility).
3. Check the outage map and status
   • Use your provider’s website, app, or phone line.
4. Report the outage
   • If your address doesn’t show up, call or use the provider’s reporting tools.
5. Stay safe
   • Avoid downed lines, use flashlights, and keep refrigerators closed.
6. Monitor updates
   • Through your provider, local news, or community channels.

By knowing who provides power to your home and how to check outage status, you can quickly find out if there’s a power outage in Atlanta affecting you, what’s being done, and how to stay safe and comfortable until the lights come back on.