If your power is out in New Jersey, report it directly to your electric utility and use that utility’s outage map for the live count and restoration updates in your area.
Stay clear of downed wires and wet electrical equipment. Get your household settled with light, water, food safety, and a way to receive official updates before you worry about a broader headline.
Is there a power outage in my NJ area right now?
Your utility’s outage map is the best place to check your address or ZIP code. As of October 2026, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities utility contacts page lists outage-reporting contacts for the state’s electric utilities, including the map route for Atlantic City Electric and phone contacts for the other utilities. Use the utility serving your bill, not a social-media post, for the current status.
| Utility | Report an outage | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City Electric | 1-800-833-7476 | Use its outage map through the BPU utility contacts page. |
| Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) | 1-888-544-4877 | Call to report the outage and check JCP&L’s outage map for local updates. |
| Orange & Rockland | 1-877-434-4100 | Call the utility for outage status. |
| PSE&G | 1-800-436-7734 | Call the utility for outage status. |
| Vineland Municipal | 856-794-4280 | Call the utility for outage status. |
News 12’s December 2025 coverage of a separate statewide weather event reported tens of thousands of customers without power after wet and windy conditions. That is context, not a count for today. Check your utility map for the number that applies to you.
What should I do while the power is out?
Start with the immediate hazards: do not approach downed lines, damaged electrical wires, or wet equipment. Keep phones available for emergency calls and monitor local official alerts.
- Use flashlights and keep batteries where you can reach them.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. See refrigerator and freezer food safety for the food steps that matter.
- Use your stored drinking water first if service is also disrupted. The CDC emergency water guidance says to store at least one gallon per person per day for three days and suggests a two-week supply where possible.
- Keep essential supplies together, including medical information and specialty items. For a ready-to-use list, see power outage preparedness.
If you use a generator, keep its safety requirements front and center; this power outage generator safety guide covers placement, carbon monoxide, and extension-cord questions.
Can my electric service be shut off in New Jersey?
An unpaid balance can lead to a disconnection process, so act when you receive a notice rather than waiting for service to stop. JCP&L says eligible customers may be able to use an interest-free plan of 12 equal monthly installments on the outstanding balance to prevent service disconnection, and it also offers payment arrangements for customers having trouble paying on time.
The options depend on your utility, household circumstances, and program eligibility. JCP&L lists year-round Universal Service Fund credits for eligible low- to moderate-income households, HEAP emergency payment help that may help avoid shutoff or restore service for qualified households during its usual October 1 through June 30 availability, PAGE assistance for qualifying past-due or disconnected accounts, and a Critical Care Program for households using certain life-sustaining electrical equipment. Call JCP&L at 1-800-662-3115 to discuss eligibility and payment arrangements. Its JCP&L assistance programs page also describes third-party notification, military deferred payments, and medical certification options.
How do I get current outage counts?
Check your utility’s outage map for your address and restoration status.
If you are hearing different counts from different posts, treat the map as the status check and news coverage as context. Restoration estimates can change as crews assess equipment and conditions.
Before you settle in for an outage
- Confirm which utility serves your address and save its outage number.
- Check the utility map for your address or ZIP code, then report your outage if it is not shown.
- Keep clear of wires, trees, and equipment that may be energized.
- Set aside drinking water, flashlights, batteries, and your phone charger.
- If a bill or shutoff notice is part of the problem, call your utility now and ask which payment or assistance option fits your account.
By ThePreppersBlueprint.com Editorial Team