Whether you’re on the go or at home, the most convenient way to get notified about a power outage is with CenterPoint Energy’s Power Alert Service (PAS)*. Enjoy the convenience of up to 15 text, email or phone alerts. To enroll, simply login to My Account and select Sign up for Power Alert Service.
Sign up now
Manage your Power Alert Service
PAS stops sending outage alerts to you when you disconnect electric service at your old address. Follow these steps to start receiving outage alerts for your new address in greater Houston:
1. Log in to My Account.
2. Follow the on-screen prompts to link your electric account. You may be asked to provide your electric meter number to verify your service. Your 8-digit electric meter number can be found:
On the front or back of your electricity bill
On your electric meter below the display screen
By calling 713-207-2222, selecting your language preference, then pressing 5
3. If your electric account is linked, an action link will tell you to ‘Manage Power Alert Service.'
4. Select the action link and follow the on-screen instructions.
Step-by-step directions for signing up for Power Alert Service
It's easy to sign up. All you need is your electric meter number to verify your service. Here’s how:
1. Log in to My Account.
2. Follow the on-screen prompts to link your electric account.
Your 8-digit electric meter number can be found:
On the front or back of your electricity bill
On your electric meter below the display screen
By calling 713-207-2222, selecting your language preference, then pressing 5
3. Select 'Sign up for Power Alert Service' and follow the on-screen instructions.
Note for cellphone text enrollment: Cellphones will not receive outage alerts via text until we receive a reply to the initial “CONFIRMATION REQUIRED” text message. Standard text fees may apply.
Power Alert Service FAQs
If I move, can I still receive alerts at my new address?
PAS stops sending outage alerts to you when you disconnect electric service at your old address. Follow these steps to start receiving outage alerts for your new address in greater Houston:
If you already have online access, please log in to your My Account.
If you don’t have online access, please follow the instructions in the “How Do I Sign Up for the First Time?” section near the top of this page.
After you log in to your My Account, follow the on-screen prompts to link your electric account to your new address. You will be asked to provide the new electric meter number (found on your new bill or on the electric meter below the display screen) to verify service at your new address.
How does PAS work?
Power Alert Service helps minimize the impact of a power outage by sending free text*, email or phone call notifications when the power goes out. Regardless of where you are, you’ll get updates on outages and estimated restoration times.
Power Alert Service gives you and your contacts:
✔ Alerts when outages affect your home or business. ✔ Restoration time estimates. ✔ Notice when power is restored
*Standard text messaging fees charged by your carrier may apply.
How can I add or manage alert contacts?
Add your spouse, children, caregivers, other family and friends to your Power Alert Service contact list so that everyone who should know about an outage will get alerts and updates. You can add up to five texts, five emails and five phone numbers, so add the alerts in the way that makes the most sense for the recipient.
How to add contact points
Select Manage Power Alert Service in My Account.
Expand Service Notifications section.
Select Add New Email/Mobile/Phone.
Select drop-down menu boxes, as needed.
Select contact points within each menu.
Select Save Changes at bottom of page.
Cellphone text enrollment: Cellphones will not receive outage alerts via text until each phone replies to the initial “CONFIRMATION REQUIRED” text message as instructed. Make sure each mobile contact you add to PAS completes the process! Standard text message fees may apply.
Power Alert Service is an important part of CenterPoint Energy’s award-winning Intelligent Grid.
*Standard text messaging fees charged by your carrier may apply.
Troubleshooting tips
Trouble registering or receiving notifications for the Power Alert Service? Please try thetroubleshooting tipslisted below.
I tried to register my cell phone to receive text messages, but I never received a CONFIRMATION REQUIRED text message.
Verify that you entered the correct cell phone number by visiting the form below.
Contact your cell phone provider and verify the following:
That your device can receive “Premium” text messages
That your device can receive text messages from 386-71 and 821-04
That your provider has not blocked messages from 386-71 and 821-04
Try adding 386-71 and 821-04 as CenterPoint Energy contacts in your cell phone address book then repeat the registration process to add your cell phone number.
Please note that Google Voice numbers currently do not accept Power Alert Service notifications.
I replied to the CONFIRMATION REQUIRED text message to complete my registration, but I never received a reply welcoming me to the Power Alert Service.
Check to make sure that your phone does not apply an automatic signature (e.g., your name) to your out-going text messages. If you do have an automatic signature, turn it off and try replying to the CONFIRMATION REQUIRED message again.
Make sure that you replied to our CONFIRMATION REQUIRED text message within five business days (accounts revert to not registered after five days). If more than five days passed, repeat the registration process to add your cell phone number.
I registered my cell phone to receive text message notifications but I haven’t received any notifications.
Check with your cell phone provider to make sure that your text message subscription is active.
Make sure that you replied to our CONFIRMATION REQUIRED text message within five business days (accounts revert to not registered after five days). If more than five days passed, repeat the registration process to add your cell phone number.
Learn why you need Power Alert Service
Still have questions?
We'll help you get your outage alerts up and running. First, try using our troubleshooting guide. For account help that doesn't concern Power Alert Service outage alerts, visitManage Your Account.
You can report a power outage or check the status of a previously reported power outage via our online reporting tool. You can also call us at 888.313. 4747. If you have signed up for My Oncor Alerts, text OUT to 66267 (ONCOR).
As the USDA notes in Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency, your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.
If you experience a power cut that you weren't expecting, you can report it by calling 105. This will connect you to your distribution network operator (DNO), who owns and maintains the power lines that connect to homes and businesses.
If your house shows as partially energized, don't ask which part.Possibly none of it. There is this little footnote called a nested outage that most people miss on their cell phones. “If your home or the houses on your block don't have power, but others around you do, you may have a nested outage.
Use a receptacle voltage tester by plugging the device into the outlet. The lights on the device will come on to indicate the presence of a live electrical current. Test an electrical outlet with a non-contact voltage tester by holding the tester about an inch away from the short slot on the outlet.
To determine the length of the power loss, look at any analog AC-powered clocks. They will be behind the current time by the amount of time the power was off. You could use an electric mechanical clock, driven off the mains.
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