Severe weather and equipment problems can cause outages
despite our best efforts. If you or others have lost power, call Dominion toll-free
at 1-888-667-3000. The fastest way to report an outage is by using the automated voice system that will answer your call.
Restoring power in a storm is difficult, dangerous
work.
As shown in our presentation, the key to restoring power after a major storm is getting good assessments of the damage. This can take up to a full day after a major, widespread storm. Critical infrastructure circuits get top priority. These power lines bring electricity to hospitals, water pumping stations, police and fire departments and other emergency facility locations. We restore power to these locations are soon as we hear about them.
We then restore power to the greatest number of customers in the shortest amount of time. Most of our crews work from sunup to sundown to restore electric service, and come back the next day to keep turning lights back on. Restoration work continues during the night. Where it is safe to work, circuits are repaired. Meanwhile, other Dominion employees organize the next day's jobs so repairs can be done in the most efficient and effective way possible.
Our Restoration Priority System diagram shows the order for restoration of the electric transmission and distribution system. We know our job is not done until everyone has power.
View our presentation on restoration activities performed by our teams. (Powerpoint or PDF)
Ever see a Dominion vehicle drive by your house during an outage, but not stop?
In the process of assessing large outages, patrollers scout out the damage before work begins. So it is common to see Dominion trucks pass through neighborhoods and leave without restoring power. The information they are gathering helps us plan our work.
The storm is over and your neighbor has lights, but you don't?
If your neighbor's lights are on, but you’re still in the dark, there is a possibility that your circuit was affected by two problems. The major problem – the one that affected your neighborhood – was repaired. But another problem that affects perhaps only the service to your home could not be detected until the power to the neighborhood was restored. If this is your situation, call us again and let us know.
There’s another reason this could happen. While you and your neighbor may live next door or across the street from each other, different power lines may serve each side of the street. Our crews may have repaired one circuit, but not yet begun to work on the other.
During widespread or extended outages, we issue outage-related updates and restoration forecasts through news releases and updates on this Web site. During large outages, information about service restoration for individual customers may be unavailable. Although every effort is made to keep customers informed, restoration times may be estimates because of the many variables involved, such as the extent of physical damage, on-going weather conditions or equipment accessibility.
Minimize the Storm’s Impact by Preparing in Advance
When you report an outage, we use your phone number to identify your location. Sign in or register to view or update your number, or call us at 1-800-222-0401 (Virginia) or 1-800-200-7659 (North Carolina).
Keep the Dominion toll-free number, 1-888-667-3000,
with your other emergency numbers and close at hand.
Keep a few good flashlights where you can easily find them in the dark, and make sure you have fresh batteries. A battery-powered radio is also a good idea.
Use the coldest setting on your refrigerator. A fully loaded freezer will keep food frozen for up to two days if the door isn't opened.
If your water is pumped by electricity, fill bathtubs, bottles and other containers with water before a storm.
Candles and matches are also important. Remember to use candleholders and handle them carefully.
Always have non-perishable food in your pantry — food that doesn't need to be kept cool and that can be eaten without cooking.
Use surge suppressors to protect computers, televisions and other sensitive electronics from power fluctuations. If you're worried about losing computer data, consider buying an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) device to maintain power to your equipment for some time after an outage begins.
If necessary, you can burn wood or coal in a fireplace or stove to help keep warm in the colder months.
Have several blankets on hand. Two or three layers of medium to lightweight bed coverings will keep you warmer than a single heavy quilt. The same principle applies to clothing.
Partial Power Restoration
If you have electricity in some parts of your home, but not in others, you may have a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. Look at other homes nearby to see if the problem is widespread. If yours is the only house without power, the problem could still lie with the fuse or circuit breaker.
If a fuse has blown or a circuit breaker has tripped, turn off or unplug any appliances, electronic equipment and lights from affected outlets. Install a new fuse or reset the breaker. Then plug in or turn on all the things you unplugged. If the new fuse blows or the circuit breaker trips again, you probably have an overloaded circuit or a faulty appliance. If you can't find the problem, you may need to call an electrician. You can also call us back to describe the problem at 1-888-667-3000.
Disconnect or turn off major appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners and water heaters that could come on suddenly when power is restored. It'll help prevent blowing a fuse or tripping a circuit breaker. Use a battery-powered radio or your car radio to obtain up-to-date information on the storm.
