Outage Alerts

Please call our Customer Care at 800-7-CALL-UI (800.722.5584) between 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday..

The frequency of text messages received varies based on outages affecting UI service territory.

No action is required if you switch to a mobile phone carrier that is supported by text messaging. Your phone number will still be registered, and the service will still be available to you. Please note that standard message and data rates may apply through your new carrier.

While text messaging are supported by most major mobile phone carriers, there are some that are not currently supported. If you attempt to register and your message fails, please ensure that your carrier supports texting to short codes and that text messaging is enabled before trying again.

To register for text messages, send a text message to 78418.  You will be prompted to reply REG to register. Registration requires your 14-digit UI account number.

You will then be prompted to confirm that you want to report an outage:

UI: "Are you sure you want to report an outage? Check your circuit breakers and text Y to report an outage at (location)."
 

If a connection error occurs:  UI: "We are experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again later or call 800.722.5584 to report your outage."

There are a few different scenarios that can cause a user not to receive a registration text message.

Unsupported mobile carrier: At this time, text messaging is supported by major mobile phone carriers and most others. We are continually looking for ways to enhance text messaging and anticipate adding more mobile carriers in the future.

Text messaging blocked: If your mobile carrier is supported, you may have a setting on your mobile phone's account that is blocking incoming text messages. Please contact your mobile provider to ensure that text messaging is enabled.

Short code messaging blocked: If your mobile carrier is supported, you may have a setting turned on for your phone's account that is blocking short code messages. Short code messages are any messages that come from a short number such as 78418. Please contact your mobile carrier to change your account setting to allow short code messaging.

Text messages are a notification service that enables customers to receive outage updates via text message. The program is available without charge to all customers within the UI service territory, but please note that standard message and data rates may apply through your carrier.

To report an outage, please text OUT to 78418

You can request outage status on demand by texting STAT to 78418. The SMS message you receive depends on the current situation:

If you are not registered yet:

UI: Register your account before using this feature. Reply REG to begin

If UI is not aware of the outage or if it is a partial power situation:

UI: We are not aware of an outage in your area. Please text OUT to report an outage. For status on a partial power report, please call our Customer Care Center at 800.722.5584.

If UI is aware of the outage but there is no estimated recovery time (ERT) for the outage:

UI: According to our records, [YOUR ADDRESS] is without power. We are working hard to restore your service. Text STAT at a later time to receive updates about your outage.

Yes, you may register multiple properties to one cell phone number. For each property, text REG to 78418. You will receive a text message asking for the 14-digit account number, which is located on your electric bill. Once you have provided all required information, you will receive a registration confirmation text. We will then text you a list of your registered accounts to select from when you text OUT to report your outage.

When you text OUT to 78418 to get outage updates, you will receive storm preparation, storm impact, and storm updates.

Text messaging keywords are short messages that enable you to communicate with our system quickly. Use any of these keywords to communicate with our outage alert system via text. If you text a keyword and decide not to continue with the process, texting any of the following keywords will debunk the previous process and start a new one corresponding to the newly selected keyword:

REG Register for proactive communications

OUT Report an outage

PAUSE Pause communications from UI

STAT Request the status of an outage

RESUME Unpause communications from UI

HELP Provides a list of keywords, a link to the UI website for more information, and a customer care number

STOP Unsubscribe from outage notifications or storm notifications 

Yes, you can register more than one mobile phone number for a single property. Text REG to 78418  from each mobile phone and register using that Account Number. Each mobile phone will receive outage updates.

Once your move out has been completed, you will be automatically unregistered from text alerts for that property.

If you want to un-register before you move, you may text STOP to 78418. If you are registered for multiple accounts, you will be prompted to select the account number you wish to un-register. Once prompted for which notifications to stop, respond with ALL.

If your new address is located in the UI service territory, please text REG and follow the instructions to re-register for text messaging with your new property.

Text REG to 78418 from your new mobile phone and follow the instructions to register your new phone number for the program.

You can request the status of an outage by going to the UI homepage, selecting the OUTAGE ALERTS link at the bottom of the page, and logging in (as shown in the Reporting Outage steps). You may also log in through My Account and select Outages:

If UI is not aware of the outage or if it is a partial loss of power, you will see the following message:

Outage Status:

We are not aware of an outage in your area. To report an outage, please follow the outage reporting process below or text OUT to 78418. For status on a partial power report, please call our Customer Care Center at 855.784.3637.

If UI is aware of the outage but there is no Estimated Restoration Time (ERT) for the outage:

Outage Status:

Our records indicate that an outage may be affecting service at <<Street address>><<town>>. We are to restore service in  your area.

Check back or text STAT to 78418 to receive outage updates. If you wish to provide us with more information, please follow the process below.

If UI is aware of the outage and there is an ERT for the outage:

Outage Status:

Our records indicate that an outage may be affecting service at <<street address>><<town>>. We are working to restore service in your area.

Your estimated restoration time is between<<Month Date Year>> at <<Time AM?PM>> and <<Month Date Year>> at <<Time AM/PM>>.

Check back or text STAT to 78418 to receive outage updates. If you wish to provide us with more information, please follow the process below.

If UI is aware of the outage, there is an ERT for the outage, and a crew is on site at the outage:

Outage Status:

Our records indicate that an outage may be affecting service at <<street address>><<town>>. We are working at restore service in your area.

Crew Status: A crew has been assigned to restore service.

Your estimated restoration time is between <<Month Date Year>> at <<Time AM/PM>> and <<Month Date Year>> at <<Time AM/PM>>

Check back or text STAT to 78418 to receive outage updates. If you wish to provide us with more information, please follow the process below.

Text STOP to 78418 to stop receiving UI Alerts by text message at that number. You can also log in to your online account and remove your contact information.

While UI does not charge for text messages, standard messaging and data rates may apply based on your carrier and mobile phone plan. 

Text messages is supported by major mobile phone carriers. However, there are some that are not currently supported. If you attempt to register and your message fails, please ensure that your carrier supports texting to short codes before trying again.