Before an outage
- Know your utility and bookmark its outage page: APS, SRP, or TEP, depending on where you live. Sign up for outage text alerts.
- Utility contacts (checked Oct 10, 2026):
APS SRP Report an outage 602-371-3680 (metro Phoenix)
855-688-2437 (other areas)(602) 236-8888 / (800) 258-4777, 24/7 Customer care 602-371-7171 / 800-253-9405 (602) 236-8888 (residential, 24/7) Downed lines & power emergencies Stay 100+ ft away. Call 911, then APS 602-371-7171 (602) 236-8811 (call 911 first for medical emergencies) Medical equipment program Medical Care Program: 602-371-7171 Medical Preparedness Program (link below) Outage map aps.com/outagemap SRP outages & storms Sources: APS contact us; SRP contact us and SRP outages & storm safety.
- Medical devices: if anyone in your home depends on powered medical equipment (oxygen, CPAP, dialysis, refrigerated medication), register with your utility's outage-notification program (APS Medical Care Program or SRP Medical Preparedness Program) and have a battery backup plan. These programs give notice of planned outages but don't guarantee power. See medical needs.
- Charge power banks and keep a battery or crank radio, flashlights, and extra batteries. Avoid candles; they're a fire risk.
- Know where you'll go if your home gets too hot: a friend or relative with power in another part of town, a cooling center, or a hotel outside the outage area.
- Learn to open your garage door manually (find the release cord).
- Keep your car's gas tank at least half full. Gas pumps need power.
- Keep some cash on hand. Card readers and ATMs may be down.
The first hours
- Check whether it's just you (breaker) or the neighborhood, then report it to your utility.
- Unplug sensitive electronics and appliances to protect them from surges when power returns. Leave one light switched on so you'll know.
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed.
- Close blinds and curtains on sunny windows right away to slow heat gain.
- Check on neighbors, especially older adults and people with medical needs.
- Tune into local news radio or check official social accounts for updates on how long it may last.
A summer outage is a heat emergency
Without AC, a Phoenix home can become dangerously hot within hours on a summer day. Don't wait until you feel sick. If power is out during the heat of the day and isn't expected back soon, go somewhere cool: a cooling center (dial 211 or check the Heat Relief Network), a library, a mall, a friend's home with power, or your car with the AC running (never in a closed garage).
- Use the cooling methods in the Extreme Heat guide: wet skin + moving air, cool cloths, cool showers if water pressure holds.
- Battery-powered or rechargeable fans help when paired with wet skin or clothing.
- Watch everyone for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Move pets to the coolest area and give them extra water.
Food, water & medicine
- A closed refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours; a full freezer about 48 hours (half-full, about 24). Use a thermometer: throw out perishable food that has been above 40°F for more than 2 hours. Source: FoodSafety.gov.
- When in doubt, throw it out. Food poisoning plus dehydration is dangerous.
- Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for several days, plus extra for pets and for the heat (Ready.gov).
- Insulin and some other medicines need refrigeration. Ask your pharmacist how long yours is safe without it, and keep a small cooler with ice packs ready.
Backup power safety
Phones down? See Radio Communication for NOAA weather radio, walkie-talkies, and CB. New to generators? See Generator Skills for sizing, safe setup, step-by-step operation, and troubleshooting.
Never run a generator, grill, or camp stove indoors, in a garage, or near open windows. Carbon monoxide is invisible and deadly. Keep generators at least 20 feet from your home and install battery-powered CO alarms (CDC).
- Portable power stations (battery "solar generators") are safe indoors and can run fans, phones, CPAP machines, and small fridges.
- Never plug a generator into a wall outlet ("backfeeding"). It can electrocute utility workers. Use a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician.
- Store fuel safely, away from heat sources. Gas cans in a hot garage or shed are a fire hazard.
If it lasts for days
- Follow updates from Maricopa County Emergency Management and your utility. Officials may open shelters or announce resource sites.
- Consider relocating temporarily, especially for babies, older adults, and anyone with medical needs. See Evacuation Routes; higher-elevation towns to the north are usually much cooler.
- Pool resources with neighbors: share a generator or power station, coolers, and check-ins. See mutual aid.
- Conserve phone battery: lower brightness, turn on low-power mode, and text instead of calling (texts often get through when calls don't).
- Water service may be affected if pumps lose power. Use stored water first for drinking and keep some for cooling.