What is a Rotating Outage?
Sometimes called a “rolling blackout,” a Rotating Outage is an extremely rare, controlled power outage that we enact as a last resort when there is a statewide emergency. For one hour at a time, we shut down power by geographical groups – known as “Rotating Outage Groups” or “Rotating Outage Group Blocks” – to help ease the demand on the electrical grid. Rotating Outages help prevent larger and longer power outages.
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Your air conditioning may have turned off because you’re enrolled in the Summer Discount Plan.
You can find your Rotating Outage Group Number in one of these ways:
- You can log in to My Account and follow our step-by-step guide.
- If you get a paper bill each month, you can find your Rotating Outage Group printed on the front.
- You can call us at 1-800-611-1911.
- You can search neighborhood Rotating Outage maps.
A, M, R, S, X - These groups are subject to rotating outages.
N001, EXEMPT, No Group ID listed on bill - These groups are not subject to rotating outages.
Group numbers are subject to change to protect the grid integrity and ensure public safety. These changes will not occur during a Rotating Outage event.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has determined that certain customers who provide essential public health, safety, and security services should normally be exempt from Rotating Outages. To apply as an Essential Use customer, call us at 1-800-990-7788.
On rare occasions, Essential Use customers may experience a Rotating Outage. We will take all possible measures to quickly restore power. Please call us at 1-800-990-7788 immediately.
Currently no Rotating Outages are scheduled.
View Previous Rotating Outages
See the status of previous rotating outages called and which groups were affected.
You can also view:
- A list of the communities and neighborhoods included in that group.
- Maps showing the affected areas within those communities.
For more than 15 years we have maintained a 99.98% Service Reliability rating for our customers (Check the CPUC's Electric Service Reliability Annual Reports). Predicting electricity demands and generation availability is at best an approximation. The Cal-ISO's forecasts and system status change quickly, causing our real-time electric grid management plan to change also. We make every effort to keep information posted on this Web site accurate.