Virginia Power Outage: How to Check It, Report It, and Ride It Out
- How to check a Virginia power outage right now?
- Why do Virginia power outages happen: four kinds of storms?
- Backup power for a Virginia power outage
- Nor'easters in Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads: watch the tide gauge
- What to do while the power is out?
- What to know before the next Virginia power outage?
- Conclusion
- FAQs
A Virginia power outage can leave you asking one question first: is the outage limited to your home or affecting the neighborhood? Virginia has several electric utilities, so the right outage map depends on your provider. Check the company on your electric bill, then use its outage map or reporting line. This guide covers the main utilities, common storm causes, backup power options, and the steps to take while the power is out.
How to check a Virginia power outage right now?
Start with the company listed on your electric bill. Its outage map is the best place to check your address, and its reporting system sends the outage to the right crew. If your neighbors still have power, check your breaker panel before reporting an outage.
Use this table to find your utility and its outage information:
Company | Main Virginia service area | Live outage map | How to report |
Dominion Energy Virginia | Northern, central, and eastern Virginia, including Richmond and Hampton Roads | Report online or through the Dominion Energy app. For downed lines, call 866-366-4357. | |
Appalachian Power | Southwest Virginia, including the Roanoke area | Report online or call 800-956-4237. | |
Old Dominion Power | Small areas of far southwest Virginia | Call 800-981-0600 or text OUTAGE to 4LGEKU (454-358). | |
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative | Parts of northern and central Virginia | outagemap.myrec.coop | Report online or call 800-552-3904. |
Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative | Northern Virginia, including parts of Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties | Report through SmartHub or call 703-335-0500. | |
Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative | Shenandoah Valley | Outage map linked from svec.coop outage center | Call 800-234-7832 or use the MySVEC app. |
Other local utilities and co-ops | Their own service territories | Each one's own site | Use the local utility's outage map and reporting line. |
Not sure who your utility is?
Check your electric bill first. You can also check the meter or service information at your home.
Potomac Edison is an older name that can cause confusion. It no longer serves Virginia. Its Virginia territory was transferred to Rappahannock Electric Cooperative and Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative in 2010. If you live in the northern Shenandoah Valley, check REC or SVEC instead.
Is there one outage map for the whole state?
No official statewide outage map was confirmed for this article. Third-party services can combine outage data from several utilities, but your electric company remains the best source for your address, outage report, and restoration estimate.
Downed line or sparking equipment
Stay well away from downed lines and anything touching them. Do not try to move a wire or inspect damaged equipment.
Call 911 first when a downed line creates an immediate hazard. Then contact your electric utility. Dominion advises customers to stay at least 30 feet away from a downed line.
In most of central and eastern Virginia, checking an outage means using the Dominion Energy outage map, where each outage shows a status and, once crews assess it, an estimated restoration time. In the far southwest corner served by Old Dominion Power, the Kentucky Utilities outage map is the one that covers your address.
The outage map tells you where the power is out; and the weather that took it down explains how long the repair is likely to take.
Why do Virginia power outages happen: four kinds of storms?
Virginia faces several types of severe weather. Coastal areas can see hurricanes and nor'easters. The Piedmont and mountains can get damaging ice. Summer thunderstorms can also produce strong winds across large areas.
Storm type | How it causes outages | Virginia example | Source |
Nor'easter | Heavy snow, strong wind, and fallen trees can damage lines. Coastal flooding can also affect Hampton Roads. | A January 2022 storm left about 450,000 customers without electricity at its peak. | NWS Wakefield, Virginia Winter Weather Awareness Week |
Ice storm | Ice adds weight to trees, limbs, and power lines. It can break branches and damage lines. | The February 2021 ice storm produced heavy ice in several Virginia counties. Some outages took nearly two weeks to repair. | NWS Blacksburg event summary; NWS Wakefield |
Derecho | Long lines of severe thunderstorms can produce damaging straight-line winds over a wide area. | The June 2012 derecho left 1,076,051 Virginia customers without power at its peak. Some customers remained without power for more than a week. | NWS Service Assessment, "The Historic Derecho of June 29, 2012"; NWS Baltimore/Washington |
Hurricane or tropical storm | Strong winds, saturated ground, and storm surge can damage the grid. | Hurricane Isabel in 2003 caused widespread outages across Virginia and caused major flooding at Sewells Point. | NWS Wakefield, "The Hurricane History of Central and Eastern Virginia" |
The National Weather Service records support these Virginia storm examples, including the January 2022 snowstorm, February 2021 ice storm, June 2012 derecho, and Hurricane Isabel.
For weather warnings, the relevant National Weather Service office depends on where you live. NWS Wakefield covers central and eastern Virginia and Hampton Roads. NWS Baltimore/Washington covers Northern Virginia, while NWS Blacksburg covers southwest and Southside Virginia.
Weather isn't the only factor, and the common causes of Dominion power outages also include equipment failures, vehicle accidents, and animals on the lines.
A summer derecho and a February ice storm have the same result at home, a cold or hot house with a warming refrigerator, which is where backup power earns its space.
Backup power for a Virginia power outage
Backup power is most useful when you know which devices must keep running. During an outage, focus on essential loads such as a refrigerator, freezer, well pump, furnace blower, sump pump, fans, Wi-Fi router, or CPAP machine.
Check the wattage label or manual for each device. Add the loads you may run at the same time. Remember that motors and compressors can draw more power when they start. Well pumps and central air conditioners can require much more power than smaller household devices.
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max for essential devices
The EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max has a 2,048Wh battery capacity and 2,400W output, with up to 4,800W of surge power. It can suit short or medium outages when you only need to keep selected devices running.
It can power common essentials such as a refrigerator, router, phones, lights, and medical equipment. Its X-Boost mode can run some higher-wattage appliances up to 3,400W by lowering voltage. Actual performance depends on the appliance.
The EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max can be recharged from a wall outlet or generator. EcoFlow states that it can reach 80% charge in 68 minutes when using wall or generator charging.
For a simple runtime estimate, use:
Runtime (hours) = Battery capacity (Wh) × 0.85 ÷ Load (W)
The 0.85 factor is a planning assumption for conversion losses. It is not an EcoFlow specification.
For example, a 250W continuous load on a 2,048Wh EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max would provide about 7 hours:
2,048 × 0.85 ÷ 250 ≈ 7 hours
Actual runtime will vary because refrigerators, freezers, and other appliances cycle on and off.
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X for larger backup needs
For longer outages or larger household loads, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X provides a much larger backup system. The standard configuration has 12kW of output and 12kWh of battery capacity. It can expand to 36kW of output and 180kWh of storage with additional inverters and batteries.
A whole-home installation uses the Smart Home Panel 3 and requires a licensed electrician. The system should be sized around the loads you actually need during an outage.
With the Smart Home Panel 3, EcoFlow states an automatic switchover time of about 20 milliseconds. This can help selected circuits continue operating when grid power fails. Installation time also depends on permits, panel work, equipment, and installer availability.
For planning, a 1,500W steady load on the standard 12kWh configuration would be:
12,000 × 0.85 ÷ 1,500 ≈ 6.8 hours
This is a planning estimate. Real runtime will change as appliances cycle and household demand varies.
Which backup option fits your outage?
Choose a portable power station when you mainly need to protect a few essential devices. The EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max can provide a simpler option without permanent installation.
A larger installed system makes more sense when outages can last for days and you need selected household circuits to stay powered. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X with Smart Home Panel 3 is designed for this type of setup.
Your location also affects what matters most. In parts of the mountains and Southside Virginia, a well pump, freezer, or heating equipment may be a priority. In Hampton Roads, a sump pump and cooling equipment may matter more during certain outages.
The key is to size backup power against your actual loads instead of choosing a system based only on battery capacity.
Nor'easters in Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads: watch the tide gauge
Power outages on Hampton Roads can become more difficult when strong winds occur with coastal flooding. A nor'easter does not need hurricane-force winds to create serious water problems. Persistent northeast winds can push water into the lower Chesapeake Bay over several tide cycles.
The NOAA tide gauge at Sewells Point is a useful reference for tracking water levels in the area. Flooding can affect roads, delay utility crews, and damage electrical equipment.
NWS category at Sewells Point | Water level (feet above MLLW) |
Minor flooding | 4.5 |
Moderate flooding | 5.5 |
Major flooding | 6.5 |
How past storms compare (shows a nor'easter ranking next to hurricanes):
Event | Sewells Point peak (feet above MLLW) | Source |
August 23, 1933 hurricane | 8.02 (highest observed) | NOAA Tides and Currents, station 8638610 |
Hurricane Isabel, September 2003 | 7.9 | NWS Wakefield |
November 11 to 13, 2009 nor'easter ("Nor'Ida") | 7.75, which NWS says was 3.24 inches below the all-time record | NWS Newport/Morehead City event review |
If you live in Hampton Roads or another coastal Virginia area, check your evacuation zone before storm season. Virginia's Know Your Zone system uses Zones A through D to identify areas that may need evacuation during a coastal emergency.
Flooding can affect travel even when your home is not flooded. Crews may also face delays when roads are blocked or unsafe. Water can damage ground-level electrical equipment and increase repair needs.
For current coastal conditions, use the National Weather Service Wakefield office and the NOAA Sewells Point tide gauge. During a storm, compare water levels with your local evacuation guidance rather than relying only on the power outage map.
What to do while the power is out?
Power outages create risks beyond the loss of electricity. Generators, candles, food, traffic, downed lines, heat, and cold can all cause problems. Follow a few basic steps to reduce those risks.
Check your home and report the outage: Check your breaker panel first to see if nearby homes still have power. If the breakers look normal, check your utility's outage map and report the outage if it is not already listed.
Stay away from downed power lines: Treat every downed power line as energized. Stay away from the wire and anything touching it.
Use generators and fuel-burning devices safely: Never operate a generator inside your home, basement, or garage. Keep fuel-burning equipment outdoors and away from doors, windows, and other openings.
Keep refrigerators and freezers closed: Keep refrigerators and freezer doors closed as much as possible during an outage. Opening them repeatedly lets cold air escape and can reduce the time food stays safe.
Check road conditions before driving: A power outage can affect traffic signals, roads, and local conditions. Check 511 Virginia before driving through an affected area.
Check on neighbors who may need help: Older adults and people with disabilities may have a harder time during a prolonged outage. Check on nearby neighbors when it is safe to do so.
Watch for heat and cold-related illness: Winter outages can create risks from cold temperatures and carbon monoxide. Watch for symptoms such as confusion, extreme tiredness, dizziness, or unusual weakness.
What to know before the next Virginia power outage?
The best time to prepare for an outage is before severe weather arrives. Save your electric utility's outage map and reporting number somewhere you can access without power.
Know which National Weather Service office covers your area. If you live near the coast, check your evacuation zone before storm season and understand where you would go if an evacuation order is issued.
For backup power, list the devices you need most. Record their running wattage and consider startup loads for equipment with motors or compressors. This gives you a better basis for choosing a portable power station or larger backup system.
A Virginia outage can last a few hours or more than a week after a major storm. Having the right utility contact, safety plan, and backup power strategy can make a long outage easier to manage.
Visit Virginia Department of Emergency Management (vaemergency.gov) for preparedness and evacuation zones; your NWS office (Wakefield, Sterling, or Blacksburg) for warnings.
A kit built before the storm makes all of this easier, and the basic supplies for a Dominion power outage are the same ones a co-op member in the valley would want: light, water, a charged phone, and a way to keep food cold.
Conclusion
A Virginia power outage starts with one basic question: which utility serves your address? Check that utility's outage map and report the outage through its official system. Storm type and location can affect how long repairs take.
Save your utility's contact details, know your local weather office, and check coastal evacuation zones if needed. For backup power, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max can support essential devices, while the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X with Smart Home Panel 3 can support selected home circuits. Size either option around your actual loads.
FAQs
Who do I call for a power outage in Virginia? Y
Call your electric utility to report an outage. Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power also offer online reporting. For a downed line creating an immediate hazard, call 911 first, then your utility.
Is there a Virginia power outage map for the whole state?
No official statewide outage map was confirmed for this article. Virginia utilities operate their own outage maps. Third-party services may combine outage data from multiple utilities.
Does Virginia get nor'easters?
Yes. Nor'easters are a significant winter threat in Virginia. They can bring strong winds, heavy snow, and coastal flooding. A November 2009 nor'easter produced a 7.75-foot water level at Sewells Point.
How long do power outages last in Virginia?
It depends on the cause, damage, weather, and location. Some outages after the 2012 derecho lasted more than a week. Some areas affected by the 2021 ice storm waited nearly two weeks for restoration.
Can a portable power station run my refrigerator during an outage?
Often, yes. The EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max provides 2,400W of output, which can support many refrigerators. Check the refrigerator's running and startup wattage, then estimate runtime using battery capacity and actual load.
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