AES Power Outage: Live Maps, Reporting Numbers, Restoration Updates, and Backup Power
Last updated: August 6, 2026
Looking for an AES power outage map usually means one of two utilities: AES Indiana, which serves the Indianapolis area, or AES Ohio, which serves Dayton and surrounding parts of west-central Ohio. Each utility has its own outage map, reporting system, phone number, and restoration updates.
Quick Answer
Report your outage even when nearby homes are already dark. AES Indiana uses customer reports and smart-meter information, while AES Ohio specifically asks customers not to assume that a neighbor has already reported the outage.
AES Indiana: call 317-261-8111 or use the official online outage center.
AES Ohio: call 877-4OUTAGE (877-468-8243) or report the outage online.
Stay far away from downed, damaged, or sagging lines. Assume every line is energized. Call 911 if there is a fire, immediate electrical danger, or someone is injured.
Which AES Outage Map Should You Use?
There is no single residential AES outage map for every AES operation. Customers in Indiana and Ohio must use the outage system for the utility serving their address.
| Utility | Primary service area | Live outage map | Report by phone | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES Indiana | Indianapolis and surrounding central Indiana service territory | View AES Indiana map | 317-261-8111 | AES Indiana outage center |
| AES Ohio | Dayton and surrounding west-central Ohio communities | View AES Ohio map | 877-468-8243 | AES Ohio outage center |
Outage counts, map locations, crew assignments, and estimated restoration times can change throughout an event. Use the timestamp shown on the official map rather than relying on a screenshot or social media post.
How to Check an AES Power Outage
- Identify your utility. Check your electric bill or account portal to confirm whether your address is served by AES Indiana or AES Ohio.
- Open the correct official outage map. Avoid search results that imitate a utility page or display out-of-date outage totals.
- Look at the map's last-refresh time. During rapidly changing storms, a map view can become outdated within minutes.
- Search your area or zoom toward your service location. Remember that a map marker normally represents the location of affected electrical equipment, not the exact address of every customer.
- Report your own outage. A visible outage cluster does not replace an individual outage report.
- Check your property-specific status. When available, use your account number or the phone number associated with the account to obtain the latest restoration information.
No estimated restoration time yet? That often means the damage has not been fully assessed or a crew has not gathered enough information to provide a reliable estimate. It does not necessarily mean the outage has been overlooked.
How to Report an AES Power Outage
AES Indiana
Report an AES Indiana outage online or call the 24-hour Lights Out Day or Night line at 317-261-8111.
AES Ohio
Report an AES Ohio outage online or call 877-4OUTAGE (877-468-8243). AES Ohio asks customers not to depend on neighbors to submit the report.
Downed line or electrical fire: do not approach the line, pole, tree, vehicle, fence, puddle, or other object touching it. Keep children and pets away. Report the hazard to AES and call 911 when there is an immediate emergency.
How to Read the AES Outage Map Without Misinterpreting It
An outage map is useful, but it cannot show every detail of the repair process. Understanding its limits can prevent unnecessary confusion.
| What you see | What it usually means | What you should do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| An outage marker near your area | AES has grouped affected customers around a probable equipment location or outage incident. | Submit your own outage report and monitor the property-specific status. | AES Ohio outage FAQs |
| No marker directly over your house | Map markers and service boundaries are approximate. The failed equipment may be blocks away or at a substation. | Do not assume AES is unaware. Report the outage using your account information. | AES Indiana outage FAQs |
| No estimated restoration time | Crews may still be assessing damage, identifying the cause, or assigning equipment and personnel. | Start conserving phone and backup-battery power rather than waiting for a firm estimate. | AES Ohio ETR explanation |
| The restoration time moves later | Additional damage, access problems, weather, or equipment needs may have changed the repair plan. | Treat the new time as an estimate and activate your longer-outage plan. | AES Ohio restoration estimates |
| The map says restored, but your home is still dark | Your property may have a separate service-drop problem, an internal electrical issue, or a smaller outage not yet confirmed. | Check the breaker only when it is safe, then report the outage again if power remains off. | AES Ohio outage safety |
Why Your Neighbors May Have Power When You Do Not
Homes across the street from one another can be supplied by different lines, transformers, phases, or service connections. One side of a street may therefore have electricity while the other side remains out.
A single damaged service drop can also affect only one home. If the neighborhood is restored but your property is still dark, report the continuing outage rather than assuming crews will automatically see it.
What to Do in the First 15 Minutes of an AES Outage
| Time | Action | Why it matters | Helpful source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First minute | Check for smoke, sparks, a burning smell, damaged utility lines, or water near electrical equipment. | A safety hazard takes priority over checking the outage map. | AES Indiana safety |
| Minutes 1–5 | Turn off the electric stove, unplug sensitive electronics, and leave one light switched on. | This reduces fire risk and helps protect electronics when power returns. | AES Ohio safety |
| Minutes 5–10 | Open the correct AES outage map and submit an outage report. | Customer reports help identify the location and extent of the outage. | AES Indiana outage center |
| Minutes 10–15 | Keep the refrigerator closed, reduce phone use, and start your backup-power priority list. | Early conservation gives you more options if the outage lasts several hours. | Power-outage priority guide |
Is It an AES Outage or a Problem Inside Your Home?
A completely dark neighborhood usually points to a utility outage, but a partial loss of electricity can come from your home's electrical system. Use the following checks only when there is no smoke, visible damage, standing water, buzzing equipment, or burning odor.
- Look outside from a safe location. Check whether nearby homes, streetlights, or businesses have power.
- Determine whether your entire home is dark or only one room, outlet, or group of circuits.
- Check the main electrical panel for a visibly tripped breaker. Move a tripped breaker fully to the OFF position before resetting it once.
- Check GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, basements, and outdoor areas when only downstream outlets have stopped working.
- Stop troubleshooting if the breaker trips again. Disconnect the affected appliances and contact a licensed electrician.
- Report the outage to AES when the entire property is affected or when utility service has not returned with the surrounding neighborhood.
Do not open damaged electrical equipment, touch a wet breaker panel, or attempt to repair a meter, service cable, utility line, transformer, or service drop yourself.
Critical Safety Rules During an AES Power Outage
Stay Away From Every Downed Line
A line does not need to spark or move to be energized. Electricity can travel through wet ground, metal fences, vehicles, tree limbs, and standing water. Keep people and animals well away until the utility confirms the area is safe.
Never Use a Fuel-Burning Generator Indoors
Gasoline, propane, and diesel generators produce carbon monoxide. The CDC advises operating a generator outdoors, more than 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents. A garage, basement, carport, porch, or open doorway is not a safe generator location.
Official guidance: CDC power-outage safety .
Do Not Backfeed Your Home
Never connect a generator or portable power station to a wall outlet. Backfeeding can energize utility lines, injure line workers, start a fire, and damage your equipment.
UDPOWER portable power stations are designed to power compatible appliances directly through the outlets on the unit. They should not be connected to a home electrical panel or transfer system unless a licensed electrician has reviewed the complete installation and confirmed compatibility.
Turn Off Heat-Producing Appliances
Verify that electric ranges, ovens, space heaters, curling irons, and other heating equipment are off. An appliance left on can restart without warning when utility power returns.
Make a Separate Plan for Medical Equipment
Contact your medical provider in advance when someone in the home depends on electrically powered medical equipment. Utility medical-account notes do not guarantee priority restoration. Know where to relocate if indoor temperature, oxygen equipment, refrigeration for medication, or another medical need becomes unsafe.
A consumer portable power station or UPS feature is not automatically a medical-grade power source. Confirm the equipment manufacturer's power requirements and maintain the backup plan recommended by the patient's healthcare provider.
How AES Prioritizes Power Restoration
Seeing no utility truck on your street does not mean the outage is being ignored. The failed equipment may be at a substation, on a main line, in another neighborhood, or behind a property several blocks away.
AES Indiana and AES Ohio describe a similar restoration sequence:
- Immediate hazards and emergency situations: downed lines, fires, and locations where public safety is at risk.
- First responders and critical services: hospitals, police stations, fire stations, and other essential facilities.
- Main lines and major equipment: repairs that can restore service to the largest number of customers.
- Neighborhood branches: remaining damage affecting smaller groups of homes and businesses.
- Individual service locations: service-drop or property-specific damage after larger system repairs are complete.
| Restoration stage | Typical work involved | Why your home may still be out | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency response | Securing live wires, fires, damaged poles, and unsafe areas | Crews must make the area safe before normal repairs begin | AES Indiana process |
| Main system repair | Substations, major circuits, and main distribution lines | A downstream repair cannot restore service until the main feed is repaired | AES Ohio process |
| Neighborhood repair | Transformers, branches, poles, and local equipment | Different streets or sides of a street may use separate equipment | AES Ohio FAQs |
| Individual service | Damage affecting one home, business, meter base, masthead, or service connection | Customer-owned equipment may require an electrician before reconnection | AES Indiana FAQs |
How Long Will Food Stay Safe During an AES Outage?
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Every unnecessary opening releases cold air and shortens the safe storage window.
| Appliance | Approximate safe cold-holding time | Condition | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Up to 4 hours | Door remains closed | After four hours, move priority food to an ice-filled cooler or another reliable cold source. | USDA guidance |
| Full freezer | About 48 hours | Door remains closed | Keep frozen items grouped together and avoid checking them repeatedly. | AES Ohio food safety |
| Half-full freezer | About 24 hours | Door remains closed | Add ice when available and monitor temperature with an appliance thermometer. | USDA emergency guide |
| Food at 40°F or below | Evaluate by measured temperature | Use a food or appliance thermometer | Never taste food to decide whether it is safe. When in doubt, throw it out. | AES Ohio guidance |
A Better Refrigerator Strategy Than Leaving It Powered Constantly
A refrigerator compressor cycles on and off. Its nameplate or startup wattage does not necessarily equal its average hourly power consumption. During an extended outage, you can often preserve more backup energy by:
- Cooling the refrigerator fully before severe weather arrives.
- Keeping the doors closed as much as possible.
- Using a refrigerator thermometer instead of guessing.
- Powering the refrigerator in controlled periods when necessary.
- Disconnecting nonessential devices while the compressor is starting.
- Moving frequently used drinks to a separate cooler.
For more detailed planning, read Can a Portable Power Station Run Your Refrigerator? and How Long Can a Fridge Be Off? .
Build a Backup-Power Plan Before the Next Outage
A practical outage plan does not try to power the entire house. It separates essential devices from comfort loads and assigns battery energy to the items that protect health, food, communication, and safety.
Priority 1: Health and Safety
- Approved medical equipment and medication refrigeration
- Emergency lighting
- Phone charging and weather alerts
- Smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors with battery backup
- Safe indoor temperature planning
Priority 2: Food and Communication
- Refrigerator or compact freezer
- Internet modem and Wi-Fi router
- Laptop or tablet for work and emergency information
- Low-wattage fan when conditions permit
Priority 3: Optional Comfort Loads
- Television
- Additional lighting
- Small kitchen appliances used briefly
- Entertainment and nonessential charging
Central air conditioners, electric water heaters, electric ranges, clothes dryers, and many well pumps use 240V power or require more energy than a portable 120V power station is designed to provide.
Use Both Watts and Watt-Hours
Output watts determine whether the power station can run the connected equipment. Battery watt-hours determine approximately how long the equipment can operate.
UDPOWER runtime planning in this guide uses a 90% conversion-efficiency estimate. Actual runtime can change with compressor cycling, startup demand, inverter consumption, battery state, temperature, charging losses, and appliance efficiency.
Before connecting an appliance, use the process in How to Know If a Portable Power Station Can Run Your Device .
Recommended UDPOWER Products for AES Outages
The best model depends on the appliances you must run, their startup requirements, and the expected outage duration. The following products are intended for selected 120V devices rather than whole-home electrical service.
UDPOWER S1200: Best for Core Household Essentials
The S1200 is a practical choice for households that want to prioritize a refrigerator, modem and router, lights, phone charging, a laptop, fan, or compatible CPAP equipment without moving to a heavier 2kWh-class battery.
- Battery capacity: 1,190Wh
- Rated AC output: 1,200W pure sine wave
- Higher-power operating capability: UDTURBO up to 1,800W for compatible loads; conversion efficiency may decrease when operating above rated output
- AC outlets: 5
- Maximum solar input: 400W
- UPS switching time: 10ms or less
- Approximate weight: 26.0 lb
- Battery chemistry: LiFePO4
- Warranty: 5 years
Best fit: refrigerator backup, CPAP planning, internet equipment, lights, phones, laptops, television, fans, and moderate 120V emergency loads.
UDPOWER S2400: Best for Longer Runtime and More Simultaneous Loads
The S2400 is better suited to longer outages, larger refrigerators, multiple essential devices, or households that need more output headroom. Its 2,083Wh battery stores substantially more energy than the S1200 while providing six household-style AC outlets.
- Battery capacity: 2,083Wh
- Rated AC output: 2,400W pure sine wave
- Higher-power operating capability: UDTURBO up to 3,000W for compatible loads; conversion efficiency may decrease when operating above rated output
- AC outlets: 6
- Maximum solar input: 400W
- UPS switching time: 10ms or less
- Approximate weight: 40.8 lb
- Battery chemistry: LiFePO4
- Warranty: 5 years
Best fit: longer refrigerator backup, several communication and lighting devices, higher-wattage 120V appliances used selectively, and households that want a larger emergency energy reserve.
Both models provide standard U.S. 120V AC output. They are not whole-home systems and do not provide the 240V split-phase output required by many central air conditioners, electric dryers, ranges, water heaters, and hardwired well pumps.
Estimated UDPOWER Runtime During an AES Outage
The estimates below use 90% conversion efficiency and assume a constant average load. Refrigerator compressors, pumps, CPAP humidifiers, fans, televisions, and other devices do not always draw the same amount of power.
| Example average load | Possible outage setup | S1200 estimated runtime | S2400 estimated runtime | Calculation source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40W | Modem, router, phone charging, and limited LED lighting | About 26.8 hours | About 46.9 hours | S1200 capacity / S2400 capacity |
| 60W | Example CPAP load without assuming a specific machine | About 17.9 hours | About 31.2 hours | Official product capacities calculated at 90% efficiency |
| 100W | Example average refrigerator load | About 10.7 hours | About 18.7 hours | Refrigerator backup guide |
| 160W | Refrigerator, router, phone charging, and a few LED lights | About 6.7 hours | About 11.7 hours | Official product capacities calculated at 90% efficiency |
| 300W | Refrigerator, internet, fan, lighting, and television | About 3.6 hours | About 6.2 hours | Outage load-planning guide |
| 500W | Several essential devices or one moderate appliance | About 2.1 hours | About 3.7 hours | Official product capacities calculated at 90% efficiency |
| 800W | Short-duration use of a higher-demand 120V load | About 1.3 hours | About 2.3 hours | Official product capacities calculated at 90% efficiency |
These are planning estimates, not guaranteed operating times. Always use the appliance's measured running wattage and verify startup demand before relying on a backup system.
Why a Lower Load Is Often More Valuable Than a Larger Battery
Cutting a 300W combined load to 150W approximately doubles the available runtime. During a long outage, turn devices on only when needed, avoid electric resistance heating, and separate high-wattage cooking from refrigerator compressor cycles.
For example, run a microwave briefly while the refrigerator is disconnected, then reconnect the refrigerator after cooking. This avoids stacking two startup or high-demand loads at the same time.
An Hour-by-Hour AES Outage Plan
| Outage duration | Main objective | Recommended actions | Decision trigger | Related guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–15 minutes | Confirm safety and report the outage | Check for hazards, turn off the stove, unplug sensitive electronics, report the outage, and open the official map. | Downed line, fire, smoke, sparking equipment, or a medical emergency requires immediate escalation. | AES safety guidance |
| 15–60 minutes | Protect communication and battery reserves | Reduce phone brightness, use text instead of long calls, close refrigerator doors, and identify essential loads. | No restoration estimate means you should begin conserving power immediately. | What to power first |
| 1–4 hours | Protect food and medical needs | Monitor refrigerator temperature, connect essential backup power, and confirm the relocation plan for medical or temperature risks. | The four-hour refrigerator threshold is approaching. | USDA food safety |
| 4–8 hours | Move from convenience mode to conservation mode | Transfer priority food to a cooler, operate the refrigerator strategically, and turn off entertainment loads. | A delayed or missing restoration estimate should be treated as a potentially extended outage. | Refrigerator backup planning |
| 8–24 hours | Maintain a sustainable power budget | Use high-wattage appliances only in brief windows, check weather conditions, locate charging options, and reassess food safety. | Leave the home if indoor temperature, medical needs, water access, or sanitation becomes unsafe. | Home backup options |
| More than 24 hours | Preserve health rather than household routine | Follow local emergency instructions, use warming or cooling centers when needed, and reserve battery energy for health, refrigeration, and communication. | Do not remain in unsafe heat, cold, flooding, or a medically unsuitable environment merely to protect property. | CDC outage guidance |
What to Do When AES Restores Power
- Wait a few minutes before reconnecting several large appliances at once.
- Confirm that the electric stove, oven, heaters, and other heat-producing equipment are in the OFF position.
- Reconnect the refrigerator and other essential appliances first.
- Check refrigerator and freezer temperatures before keeping perishable food.
- Inspect surge protectors and sensitive electronics for abnormal smells, heat, error messages, or damage.
- If only part of the home has power, avoid repeatedly resetting breakers. Disconnect the affected loads and contact a licensed electrician.
- If neighboring homes have been restored but yours remains out, submit a new outage report.
- Recharge your portable power station, flashlights, phone banks, and other emergency equipment.
- Replace food, water, batteries, medication supplies, and other items used from the emergency kit.
After the event, review which devices used the most energy. A simple written record of appliance wattage and actual runtime will make your next outage plan more accurate than relying only on product labels.
AES Power Outage FAQ
Does AES automatically know that my power is out?
Not always. AES Indiana combines customer reports with available smart-meter information, but smart-meter coverage and system information may not identify every outage immediately. AES Ohio asks customers to report every outage rather than relying on a neighbor's report.
What is the AES Indiana outage phone number?
Call 317-261-8111 to report an AES Indiana outage or downed power line.
What is the AES Ohio outage phone number?
Call 877-4OUTAGE (877-468-8243) to report an AES Ohio outage.
Why is there no estimated restoration time?
Crews may still be locating the damage, evaluating access, determining the required equipment, or assigning personnel. A reliable estimate may not be available until the incident has been assessed.
Can an AES restoration estimate change?
Yes. Restoration times are estimates based on the best information available at that moment. New damage, severe weather, blocked access, equipment requirements, or additional repairs can move the time earlier or later.
Why does the AES map marker not appear over my house?
Map markers and service boundaries are approximate. A marker may represent the electrical equipment associated with the outage rather than the exact location of affected homes.
Why do the houses across the street still have power?
Opposite sides of a street can be connected to separate circuits, transformers, phases, or service lines. Damage to one connection may not affect the other.
What should I do if the map says power is restored but my home is still out?
Check your breaker once when it is safe to do so. If the breaker is not tripped or power still does not return, report the continuing outage. There may be a property-specific service problem.
How long will refrigerator food remain safe?
USDA guidance states that an unopened refrigerator can keep food safely cold for up to four hours. A full unopened freezer can hold temperature for about 48 hours, while a half-full freezer may hold temperature for about 24 hours.
Can I use a portable power station indoors?
A battery power station does not produce combustion exhaust like a gasoline generator, but it must still be kept dry, used with adequate ventilation, protected from excessive heat, and operated according to the manufacturer’s safety instructions.
Can a portable power station run a refrigerator during an AES outage?
Yes, when the power station has enough rated output for the refrigerator's compressor startup and enough battery capacity for the required runtime. Check both startup power and average energy use before relying on it.
Can an UDPOWER station power my entire house?
No. UDPOWER portable power stations are intended to power selected compatible devices directly. They provide standard 120V output and are not designed to operate an entire electrical panel, central air conditioning system, electric range, dryer, water heater, or other large 240V household loads.
Can I plug a portable power station into a wall outlet to power the house?
No. Never plug a power source into a household receptacle to backfeed the wiring. Power devices directly from the power station, or consult a licensed electrician about a properly designed and compatible backup system.
Should I approach an AES crew to ask when power will return?
No. Line technicians work around energized equipment and need to concentrate on hazardous tasks. Use the official outage map, account status page, or outage phone line for updates.
Do brief flickers mean the grid is failing?
Not necessarily. Utility protection devices can interrupt power for a fraction of a second while attempting to clear a temporary line problem. Repeated flickering, surges, burning smells, or equipment damage should still be reported and investigated.
Related UDPOWER Guides
- Portable Power Station Collection
- Portable Power Stations for Home Backup
- Power Outage Priorities: What to Run First
- Can a Portable Power Station Run a Refrigerator?
- Refrigerator Power Backup: What Size Battery Do You Need?
- How to Know If a Power Station Can Run Your Device
- How Long Can a Fridge Be Off?
- UDPOWER S1200 vs. S2400 Comparison
Prepare Before the Next AES Power Outage
Start with the devices that protect health, food, lighting, and communication. Add their measured wattage, estimate how many hours they must run, and choose a battery system with enough output and stored energy.
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