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 MyOncor Alerts, text OUT to 66267 (ONCOR).

To register for MyOncor Alerts, text REG to 66267. You will receive proactive power outage notifications and status updates all from your phone. (You can also select your contact preferences – email, text or voice alert). Learn more about MyOncor Alerts here.

Report Power Outage

Check Outage Status

Yes, if our systems detect it. A good way to ensure that your outage is reported and to stay informed is to enroll in the MyOncor Alerts program. You can also call us at 888.313.4747.

Leave the area immediately and call 911. The 911 operator will contact Oncor directly. Never approach, touch, or attempt to move a downed power line or any object in contact with a power line. Contact with power lines can cause serious injury or even death. Keep children and pets away too.

Your neighbor’s home may be on a different set of lines or circuit. While repairs may have been completed to equipment in one area, additional damage may also have occurred down the line that powers your home. Oncor personnel specifically check for these types of outage events throughout the storm restoration process, but customer outage reporting can help identify areas where there is additional damage.

A storm may have also damaged your home’s equipment that must be repaired by a private electrician before power can be restored.

Please first check the circuit breaker at the property. If power is still not restored after checking the breaker, either text “OUT” again to 66267 or call us at 888.313.4747 to re-report the outage. Additional damage may exist at your location that Oncor was not previously aware of when making the original repairs.

We strive to provide our customers the most accurate estimated restoration times available. However, a restoration time may not be available or may change as we identify what repairs are required and in some cases, what specialized crews and/or equipment is necessary to make the necessary repairs.

Oncor can perform a temporary hazardous disconnect so the situation can be resolved and power can be restored. This will ensure your home can safely receive power without endangering people or property. It requires a few steps:

Step 1: Call our emergency outage line at 888-313-4747 to report the damage.

Step 2: After Oncor has completed the hazardous disconnection of service, select an electrician and, if needed, have repairs performed on your equipment (i.e.meter base, weatherhead, etc ). 

Step 3: Determine if a city inspection is required.  If an inspection is required, submit the request to the city. Upon completion, the city will send Oncor confirmation that the inspection has passed. Click here to learn more about city inspection requirments. 

Step 4: Call Oncor at 888.313.6862 to request a reconnect after a storm hazardous disconnect.

As a courtesy, we notify all customers on each planned project being worked even if no trees on their property need to be pruned. This is to make you aware that we will be working in the area. Also, it may be necessary to access your property to clean up brush that may have fallen from a neighboring property.

A minimum of 10ft. will be cleared away from all high voltage primary distribution lines, including overhang. All cuts will be taken to a proper lateral. A minimum of 7ft. will be cleared around all open wire secondaries, and vegetation will be cleared to 3-5ft. from neutrals and wrapped secondaries. Click here to view an example.

In order to provide safe and reliable electric service to the communities we serve, we perform vegetation management throughout our service area. In most areas, we are focused on vegetation that has a matured height that is less than 10 feet away from our lines and that could cause a potential issue in service reliability. In most areas, vegetation is pruned on a rotating schedule to ensure performance across the service area. On transmission lines, Oncor may remove all trees from the Right of Way (ROW) to ensure that the clearances required by Electric Reliability Standard FAC-003-4 are maintained.

If the branches have grown near the service line running across your property from the pole to the electric meter, you should call a qualified tree trimmer or arborist to prune the tree limbs. For safety reasons you should contact your Retail Electric Provider to request a temporary disconnect and reconnect. This allows Oncor to temporarily lower the service line to your home or business, thereby allowing you to safely prune the trees. After you complete the work, Oncor will re-install the line and reconnect the electricity. There is a nominal charge for this service.

If the limbs are near lines other than the service line, such as high voltage lines, customers shall not go or bring any materials within 10 feet of the lines distance and contact Oncor to make arrangements so that the work can be done safely. Never work near, within, or around transmission lines without contacting Oncor first. Greater clearance distances may be required.

Even if you do not have trees that need to be pruned, it may be necessary to access your property to clean up brush that may have fallen from neighboring properties.

There are several legislative and governing policies in place to ensure that we can continue to provide safe and reliable electric service. This includes:

• Official city franchises
• State laws, which include the utility code that prevents landowners and others from obstructing our maintenance.
• The official state tariff that gives us the right to prune and remove trees as necessary for the safe and reliable operation of the system.
• The Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) that requires the utility to maintain clearances per the National Electric Safety Code and according to industry standards
• The North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) official standard of the required minimum vegetation clearance distance for high voltage transmission lines.

Oncor will remove any tree debris created by us when our authorized crews are performing pruning and vegetation management, including after storms. Following major storm events, debris removal may take up to several weeks, as our first priority is to restore power as quickly and safely as we can to everyone affected. While we will remove the debris we create, we do not remove debris from trees that have fallen due to the storm or other reasons not-related to Oncor, such as pruning done by cities, communication and cable companies. If a tree falls, it is the resident’s responsibility to remove it. For safety purposes, if a tree has fallen on a power line, please contact us 888.313.4747 so we can assist with making the area safe prior to tree removal.

It is not necessary for you to be present. If you would like to be, however, we will gladly work with your schedule so that you can be present while the crews perform their work. 

Per Texas state law, only line clearance certified personnel who are approved by Oncor are authorized to work (themselves or their equipment) within 6 feet of high voltage lines. OSHA requirements state that non-certified personnel should stay a minimum of 10 feet away from high voltage lines.

To report a tree within 10 feet of power lines that could cause a potentially hazardous condition like sparking, customers should call Oncor at 888.313.6862 to report the situation. If there is a fire or sparking occurring, call 911.

Generally, crews begin work around 7:30-8 a.m. and end the work day at approximately 5p.m., except in emergency or power restoration work which may occur at any time. 

No, Oncor may prune or remove trees to prevent interference with the reliability and integrity of electrical service within your service area. During planned maintenance, there should not be any interruption in electrical service unless a hazardous situation arises.

The tree crews are required to sterilize all pruning tools when working on oak species. Tools are required to be sterilized again after the completion of each oak tree. 

The crews are required to “paint” cuts made by hand and chainsaws on all oak species. They do not paint pruning wounds on non-oak species because research shows it is better for the tree to heal naturally. 

There is a certified arborist assigned to each group of crews. 

If the branches have grown near the service line running across your property from the pole to the electric meter, you should call a qualified tree trimmer or arborist to prune the tree limbs. For safety reasons, if you will be pruning near the service line, you should contact your Retailer or Oncor at 888.313.6862 to request a temporary disconnect and reconnect. This allows Oncor to temporarily lower the service line to your home or business, thereby allowing you to safely prune the trees. After you complete the work, Oncor will re-install the line and reconnect the electricity. There is a nominal charge for this service.

Unfortunately, the crews can only prune trees that are within the scope of work. Any additional trimming would need to be completed by a private arborist at the owner’s expense.

Given no other stress factors on the tree, utility pruning alone should not adversely affect the health of the tree. Generally, it takes more than one stress factor, in addition to pruning, to cause detrimental impact to the health of a tree. Our arborists take great care in ensuring that best practices for pruning are followed.

Trees that are continually maintained along utility easements develop reaction, or tension, over time to compensate for weight distribution. This reactive tissue also develops in the root system. Given no other factors that compromise tree structure, particularly in the roots, utility pruning alone is highly unlikely to contribute to tree failure.

The International Society of Arboriculture, the world’s leading authority on the management of trees, strenuously advises against stub-cutting trees. This practice results in very weak attachment of new growth, a much higher likelihood of decay, and a whorl of limbs which makes future pruning more complicated. In summary, stubs are generally bad for the tree and can be a source of future problems.

First, you should call 811 to make sure it is safe to dig in that area, which includes checking and verifying with your city and your property records to make sure you have the property rights to plant in the area.

Ideally, no one should plant trees under power lines, but there are select species that maintain low height. Check out the Know Before You Grow section to help guide you in selecting the right tree for your property — one that doesn’t interfere with power lines at its full maturity. In general, no part of the tree should be within 10 feet of a distribution line.

If you would like to remove a tree that has grown near the service line running between two electric poles you should contact Oncor at 888.313.6862 to request Oncor a "Make Ready" prune. Click here to view an example of a tree that is ready for a "Make Ready" request. Oncor will prune a tree away from the power line pole-to-pole wires to make it ready for your next step and you are responsible for all tree and debris disposal. For vegetation growing in power lines that you would like trimmed, please contact us at 888.313.6862 for more information.

A temporary hazardous disconnect will be required. Complete the following steps to ensure Oncor can safely disconnect and then reconnect the power once the issue is resolved.

• Step 1: Call Oncor at 888.313.6862 to request a temporary disconnect. Depending on your current Retail Electric Provider, you may be asked to contact them to place the request.

• Step 2: You will be contacted by Oncor to schedule a time for your temporary disconnect. Please contact us 3 days in advance of work that is needing to take place.

• Step 3: Select a contractor to complete the tree pruning or you may opt to complete the work yourself.

• Step 4: Call us at 888.313.6862 to request a reconnect after tree pruning.

*Note: Tree trimming from Oncor’s pole to another pole, must be completed by Oncor.

The most common cause of a high electric bill is the weather. As the temperature outside changes, becomes more extreme, so can our electric bills. Your electric bill is based on the amount of electricity you use and the rate charged by your Retail Electric Provider (REP), which includes Oncor’s cost to deliver the electricity to your home or business. For more information, contact your REP at the number listed on your bill. You can also learn more seasonal energy efficiency tips in our Ways to Save page.

Damage to personal property, vehicle, or personal injury. Also any damage of Oncor facilities by you/your vehicle. To file a claim, click here.

We will strive to contact you regarding your claim within 10 business days of the initial claim submission.

Each type of claim is different. Many factors affect how long it takes to resolve a claim. You can help your claim process go more smoothly by providing us with all the necessary information. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the status of your claim contact your assigned Claims Representative.

In many instances, your neighbor may have electric service when you don’t because their home is on a different set of lines or circuit. If your neighbor was without power and is now restored, and you are still without power, please check the circuit breaker at the property. You should also examine the meter base and weatherhead to ensure they have not been damaged or pulled off. If that has occurred, customers need to contact an electrician to make necessary repairs before Oncor can restore power. We also continue to identify damaged equipment as a result of transformers having to quickly power back up massive amounts of energy after the controlled outages concluded. This damage is somewhat comparable to blowing a fuse when you plug too many devices into one outlet in your home. While this damage may temporarily prevent the equipment from powering up every connected customer in the area, personnel will aim to restore as many as possible to provide relief before replacement equipment can be installed. In some instances, personnel may leave the area to work on other nearby repairs while replacement equipment is in route. This does not mean that Oncor has closed the outage or that we will not prioritize its full restoration.

Please first check the circuit breaker at the property. If power is still not restored after checking the breaker, please report it by calling 888-313-4747, texting OUT to 66267, using the MyOncor app or visiting Oncor.com. Additional damage may exist at your location that Oncor was not previously aware of when making the original repairs. Due to the large amounts of system activity surrounding power restoration, it may take some time for our tracking systems to accurately reflect your current status.

Remaining outages are the result of damage from most recent winter storm, previous winter weather and storm damage that could not be identified until equipment was re-energized, and damage to electric equipment caused by record-breaking low temperatures. Oncor personnel and out of state mutual assistance contractors are actively engaged in restoration efforts.

Restoration efforts have been hindered by two main factors. First, hazardous road conditions that greatly slow the time it takes for Oncor trucks and personnel to reach areas of repair, and pick up and deliver equipment to work sites. While temperatures finally rise above freezing, partially melting and refreezing ice may exacerbate these travel challenges. Second, we continue to identify damaged equipment as a result of transformers having to quickly power back up massive amounts of energy after the controlled outages concluded. This damage is somewhat comparable to blowing a fuse when you plug too many devices into one outlet in your home. While this damage may temporarily prevent the equipment from powering up every connected customer in the area, personnel will aim to restore as many as possible to provide relief before replacement equipment can be installed. In some instances, personnel may leave the area to work on other nearby repairs while replacement equipment or additional workers are in route. This does not mean that Oncor has closed the outage or that we will not prioritize its full restoration.

Oncor delivers electricity that you buy from your Retail Electric Provider (REP). Oncor bills the REP for the cost to deliver electricity to your home, so the bulk of Oncor charges on your residential electric bill are based on the amount of electricity you use. If you have been without power for an extended period of time, and have therefore used less electricity, it’s likely that your Oncor charges will be lower for this billing cycle. Your bill is also based on the rate charged by your REP, which varies based on which REP and plan you signed up for.

If your monthly meter reading occurs during an extended power outage, as many Texans experienced this week, Oncor may not be able communicate with a meter to determine the exact usage. In these situations, the current monthly usage reading used for billing may be estimated based on your previous usage. However, once power has been restored, we’ll obtain the actual usage from the meter, resend it to Smart Meter Texas and make it available to your REP – who will rebill if they find it necessary after receiving the updated readings.

Customers have power outages for two primary reasons: First, controlled power outages in response to the shortage of generation. Oncor does not generate electricity or control or operate generation facilities – we deliver it. As a result of this generation shortage, ERCOT, which oversees the Texas electric grid, has directed transmission and distribution companies like Oncor to reduce load on the electrical grid through controlled outages. 

These controlled outages were intended to roll throughout the service territory, but the high amount of load dropped from the grid prevented us and other utilities from performing regular rotations, leading to extended periods without power for many of our customers. We continue to strive toward providing any temporary relief that we can for those who have been without power the longest as soon as enough generation is available. 

Additionally, the second winter storm is also continuing to move through our service territory, potentially resulting in multiple inches of snow, significant ice and sleet accumulation. Personnel and out of state mutual assistance contractors are actively engaged in restoration efforts.

Controlled outages related to grid supply and demand have been significantly extended due to the current emergency grid conditions and severe cold weather. In order to preserve the reliability of the grid, ERCOT has said that additional generation will be needed before power can be restored. 

For controlled outages: ERCOT has been unable to predict when more generation will be available and when there will be enough electric supply to meet customer demand. We are doing all we can to ensure Oncor will be prepared to safely deliver electricity to our customers as soon as ERCOT allows.  

For winter storm damage: Our crews and out of state mutual assistance contractors are now actively engaged in restoration efforts. Continued winter impacts such as extreme cold, treacherous road conditions and ice buildup may impact progress. However, these personnel are well experienced in working in extreme weather conditions and will be working around the clock to assess damages, clear debris and repair damaged equipment. Even then, power from ERCOT must be available for us to reenergize your home or business. 

The bottom line: Because ERCOT cannot yet tell us when power will be available, we continue asking all Oncor customers to be prepared to be without power for an extended period of time.

Controlled outages can affect customers differently based on the load reduction required by ERCOT. For example, customers near critical facilities, or those in limited areas where rolling outages cannot take place to maintain grid stability, may not experience outages, while those farther from these facilities or areas may experience multiple outages for longer periods of time. 

Additionally, in case there are instances of substantial generation drop, safeguards are built into our system that drop customer loads automatically to prevent cascading widespread outages, or ultimately a blackout. These are designed to be short term drops that are reset quicker than controlled outages to prepare for the next response opportunity. As these limited areas must be energized in order to provide this grid protection, it could affect you but not your neighbor. Keeping these limited areas energized also helps stabilize the system, so when controlled outages are done, we can more easily get everything reconnected and turned back on. These are diverse geographical areas across the grid, based solely on the mathematic and engineering needs of the electric system. 

Lastly, while these controlled outages were intended to roll throughout the service territory, the high amount of load dropped from the grid prevented us and other utilities from performing regular rotations, leading to extended periods without power for many of our customers. We continue to strive toward providing any temporary relief that we can for those who have been without power the longest as soon as enough generation is available. 

Outages due to storm damage also affect different customers in different ways. A downed power line might affect your home but again, not your neighbor.

Oncor does not own or operate generation facilities. The current cold weather has caused many of these generators to shut down and ERCOT has not told us when to expect them back on-line. We continue to strive toward providing any temporary relief that we can for those who have been without power the longest as soon as enough generation is available.

The location of controlled, or rotating, outages depends on a variety of load factors, including the amount ERCOT has directed us to drop and the amount available to be safely disconnected. These types of outages primarily occur in residential neighborhoods and commercial areas. We also strive to avoid dropping hospitals and other critical loads and infrastructure. 

Typically, Oncor’s emergency operation plans spread these outages across the service territory on a rotating basis. Due to this unique widespread power emergency however, ERCOT has directed Oncor to drop a record amount of load over a much longer period of time. Therefore, we have had to drop all available, non-critical load and regular rotations have often been prevented. These outages are absolutely critical for ensuring the integrity of the grid and preventing cascading impacts such as a blackout. We will continue to rotate outages where possible and aim to provide any temporary relief that we can for those who have been without power the longest as soon as enough generation is available.

You can view your electricity usage at the Smart Meter Texas website. The site stores daily, monthly and 15-minute interval electric usage data recorded by advanced meters and provides secure access to that data to customers and authorized market participants. Smart Meter Texas is endorsed by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Yes. In accordance with Public Utility Commission of Texas rules, Oncor’s Tariff for Retail Delivery Service includes provisions to provide non-standard metering services. A customer is able to receive non-standard metering service after signing an acknowledgement letter and providing a one-time upfront payment. A monthly charge will also be billed to you through your Retail Electric Provider. To request additional information, including the current one-time initial payment and monthly charges, please contact Oncor at 888.313.6862.

Yes. Customers with non-standard meter service will be unable to view/manage their own energy usage in almost real time and, additionally, may experience longer restoration times in case of service interruption; may be required to wait up to 45 days to switch Retail Electric Providers; and if switching from a standard (advanced) meter, may be required by their Retail Electric Provider to choose a different product or service before initiation of non-standard service.

Because advanced meters are now the standard meter, if you choose to have non-standard metering service, there are costs associated with that non-standard service which by Public Utility Commission of Texas rule are to be recovered from the customers requesting the non-standard metering service.

The costs include, for example, employee travel costs to manually read the meter on a monthly basis. Standard (advanced) meters are read remotely and do not require a visit to the meter.

No. You will need to contact Oncor to request non-standard metering service. However, prior to contacting Oncor, you should contact your retail electric provider to determine if there will be any impact on your current service plan. Depending on the type of plan you have currently, you may be required by your retail electric provider to choose a different plan, which may subject you to additional charges or fees required by your contract.

Your presence should not be required.

Some work requires us to make updates to meters. This will not affect your usage or the information sent to your retailer for your electric bill.

Oncor technicians will first come to your door to see if anyone is home before starting their work.

Oncor technicians will leave a door tag at the location with details of the work completed. If you are registered for My Oncor Alerts, you will also receive a text, email or voicemail, depending on your preferred type of messaging.

Yes. For this work, you may experience a brief power outage.

Oncor representatives always carry company identification. Oncor employees wear company uniforms and drive vehicles with company markings. Authorized contractors performing work on behalf of Oncor also carry identification and display signage depicting the same.

Oncor attempts to contact customers for this type of work through its My Oncor Alerts program. If you would like more information, please click here.

From the Project Details page, view the Project Manager section, where you can easily see your project manager’s phone number and email address.

On the New Construction Customer Dashboard screen, click the filter icon and choose one of the three filters to search for your Project.

• Project Name
• Project Type
• Project Number

From the New Construction Customer Dashboard screen, click on the project to which you would like to grant access. You will be directed to the Project Details page. At the top of the page, select Add External User, where you can enter the user’s email address and click add.

If you don’t see a project on your dashboard, please contact your project manager. If you do not know who your project manager is, please contact Oncor’s New Construction center at 888-222-8045.

Click the Reset Password link on the login page and follow the prompts to reset your password.

Please contact your project manager to discuss if any details are incorrect or if you have any questions about your project. If you don’t have your project manager’s contact information, you can find it by clicking on the project and navigating to the Project Details screen.

This section displays project tasks that you are responsible for. This section displays tasks and the scheduled due date for each task. If you believe one of the action items isn’t required or have a question about a due date, please contact your project manager.

Project manager assignment can take up to 48 hours from when you submit the request. If you do not see a project manager assigned to your project after that time, please contact Oncor’s New Construction center at 888-222-8045.

To access the New Construction Customer Portal, please utilize one of the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome.

Secondary email holders that are added to the Customer Contact Form will not be able to view the project. To add additional users to the project, please utilize the Add External User functionality.

The request can be made: 

1. After the main Oncor infrastructure to your subdivision or location is completed and energized.

2. Before you install driveways, sidewalks, paved parking lots, retaining/concrete walls, sprinkler systems, etc.

If the location has or plans to have an obstruction that could be in the path of the underground, Oncor will require the customer to provide and install the raceway for the service to Oncor specifications.

3. When your location is almost complete (no more digging planned).

Please review the Electric Service Guidelines for requirements.

Oncor will take several actions to start the process of installing your underground service, including sending a crew to perform the work, targeted within 10 business days.
 

Weather conditions and storms can impact this timeframe and the resources needed to complete this request.
 

The 10 business day timeframe also assumes that the site is ready for underground, the meter location is marked/addressed, and the pathway is free of obstruction. Any issues with site readiness will likely result in the order being canceled and require the process to start all over again. 

1. Ensure the underground pathway is clear of any and all debris, making it easy for our crews to mark and complete the work.

2. Ensure the entrance to the pathway is accessible to our crews.

3. Clearly mark the address on the meter base or meter location, assisting our crews in making sure the underground is installed at the correct location. If you have the ESI ID, you can mark that as well!
 

Note: Oncor does not bore under obstructions (i.e. driveways, paved parking lots, retaining/concrete walls). This may cause the underground order to be cancelled.
 

If the location has or plans to have an obstruction that could be in the path of the underground, Oncor will require the customer to provide and install the raceway for the service to Oncor specifications.
 

Please review the Electric Service Guidelines for requirements.

Customers must have the path completely clear for the crew to safely dig the trench. Any and all debris, including trash must be removed.

No, customers do not need to call 811. Oncor will contact line locate prior to the installation. The time required is already factored into the 10 business day target.

Oncor targets the completion of the underground service order for 10 business days after it is requested (weekends and holidays are excluded). However, weather conditions and storms can impact this timeframe and the resources needed to complete this request.
 

The 10 business day timeframe also assumes that the site is ready for underground, the meter location is marked/addressed, and the pathway is free of obstruction. Any issues with site readiness will likely result in the order being canceled and require the process to start all over again. Once your worksite is ready for underground service, please contact Oncor New Construction Department at 888-222-8045 to reschedule.
 

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm & Sat 8am - 12pm

Please call the Oncor New Construction Department at 888-222-8045 for more information.

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm & Sat 8am - 12pm

For NEW RESIDENTIAL service, there is no cost to customers for an underground service order after Oncor’s necessary infrastructure has been completed to the subdivision.
 

For NEW COMMERCIAL service, there could be costs associated to the underground service order. Please contact your New Construction Manager for more information.
 

For EXISTING service (convert from overhead service to underground service OR reroute existing underground service), costs would be incurred by the customer. The cost for the project will depend on the site conditions, and a detailed review by an Oncor project manager is required before an estimate can be provided. Please call the Oncor New Construction Department at 888-222-8045 to initiate this process.
 

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm & Sat 8am - 12pm

For RESIDENTIAL service, Oncor or an Oncor approved contractor will do the complete installation!
 

For some locations—especially non-residential—builders or 3-phase service for residential may wish to install themselves.  There are specific requirements that must be met.
 

Please call the Oncor New Construction Department at 888-222-8045 for more information and requirements before doing any installation.

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm & Sat 8am - 12pm

For RESIDENTIAL customers, in most cases, the Oncor crew will dig the trench as part of the underground service installation for residential service. 

For commercial service, please contact your New Construction Manager.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call the Oncor New Construction Department at 888-222-8045.

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm & Sat 8am - 12pm

Please review the Electric Service Guidelines for requirements around underground service installations.

For any additional questions, please call the Oncor New Construction Department at 888-222-8045.

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm & Sat 8am - 12pm

Yes, Oncor will inspect the work prior to completing the underground service order.  

If the work does not meet the requirements in the Oncor Electric Service Guidelines, the installation will be delayed until the issue is resolved.

For any additional questions, please call the Oncor New Construction Department at 888-222-8045.

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm & Sat 8am - 12pm

Underground service installation must take place before a Move-In request--the final step in establishing power at a new location—can be completed. 

Please work with your chosen retail provider to ensure that a move in request has been sent to Oncor by visiting www.powertochoose.com. 

Once the underground service order has been completed and Oncor has received the move-in request, Oncor will activate service based on the date that you have agreed on with your retail provider.

Please note separate city and/or county inspections could be required before power can be activated. Click here for more information on city inspection requirements.

Common reasons include (but are not limited to):

1. The pathway is not clear of any and all debris.

2. Location was not able to be found or location is not clearly marked (technicians are not clear on where to run the underground).

3. Customer facilities were not ready (i.e. meter base location not marked).

4. Oncor is unable to contact the customer.

If your worksite is now ready for underground service, please contact Oncor New Construction Department at 888-222-8045 to reschedule.

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm & Sat 8am - 12pm

Please call the Oncor New Construction Department at 888-222-8045.

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm & Sat 8am - 12pm

Please note that Oncor targets the completion of the underground service order for 10 business days after the order has been resubmitted.

Please call the Oncor New Construction Department at 888-222-8045 to initiate the request to relocate existing underground service.

Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7am - 7pm & Sat 8am - 12pm

Yes. When submitting your underground service order, please provide your contact information and confirm your desire to enroll in Oncor’s My Oncor Alerts program to receive updates on your request. Click here to learn more about My Oncor Alerts and view the program’s Terms and Conditions. Message and data rates may apply.

The frequency of messages received varies based on outages or certain service requests affecting your property or ESI ID. After reporting an outage, you will receive at least two more emails, text or voice messages related to that outage. If your estimated time of restoration (ETOR) changes significantly while your power is out, you will receive another message with the updated ETOR. Messages concerning service requests are sent when the service request is created and when the request is completed or cancelled.

While Oncor does not charge for MyOncor Alerts, standard messaging and data rates may apply based on your carrier and mobile phone plan. If the text messaging option is selected, MyOncor Alerts works with most major mobile phone carriers.

Once your move out has been completed, you will be automatically unregistered from MyOncor Alerts for that property or ESI ID. You will need to go to oncor.com “MyOncor Alerts” to register your new address.

While looking at the map, you may not find an outage indicated directly over your home or business when you are without power. One outage event may affect multiple homes or businesses. The map places the outage symbol near the location of electrical equipment where the outage originates. For example, if multiple customers in the same neighborhood call in to report an outage, we will indicate an outage near that neighborhood. We will not show specific homes and businesses without power for the safety of your home or business.

Based on the information available during an outage event, the latest estimated restoration is the latest time we think all homes and businesses will receive power in the ZIP Code or county in the table or the group of outages represented on the map. When viewing the map, please zoom in on outages to see specific information for each outage. If an estimated restoration time is not yet available for your outage, you will see the latest estimated restoration time as being “Currently Unknown”.

A solar system uses solar panels and an inverter to convert sunshine into renewable energy for your home or business.

Surplus generation is any generated electricity not used, which will flow back onto the Oncor power grid.

Once the sun has set or is shaded by trees, clouds, and other objects, solar panels cannot generate electricity at the full capacity of the system. During these times, your home or business will first use any electricity generated from your system, and then use additional electricity provided from the Oncor power grid.

To measure surplus, your existing Oncor meter will be reprogrammed to operate as a two-way utility meter which allows it to separately measure electricity used from the Oncor power grid, as well as any surplus generation that flows onto the Oncor power grid. The Oncor meter will measure this surplus generation on the 057 outflow channel. It will also register your inflow, or usage, of electricity from the grid on the 001 inflow channel.

Solar panels are connected to your home’s electrical panel, which is connected to the Oncor power grid at the meter.
 

An Interconnection Application is needed to ensure a safe and reliable connection to the Oncor power grid. Once you have completed the interconnection process and received permission to operate, the Oncor meter will be reprogrammed to measure surplus generation.

If you are exploring a solar or other renewable system, we advise our customers to consider all options for making their home or business as energy efficient as possible. Reducing electricity usage by installing other energy efficiency measures first is typically more cost effective than installing a solar system. Please visit Take a Load Off, Texas to learn more.

If you’re ready to install a solar system, complete the steps below:

• Find an installer in your area. Please visit Oncor.com/solar to review questions to ask your installer
• Submit and track your Interconnection Application.
• Receive your Permission to Operate – turn your system on.

Oncor will reprogram your meter to measure your surplus generation and update your load profile to allow Oncor to send your measured surplus generation to your Retail Electric Provider (REP).

Once you are connected, you you may track your usage and surplus generation on smartmetertexas.com. You may also visit powertochoose.org. to review both buyback plans and non-solar rate plans.

Yes, Oncor will reprogram your existing meter to begin measuring surplus generation that flows onto the Oncor power grid as well as additional electricity you use from the power grid.

However, if you have an analog meter, please refer to "What if the customer has an Analog meter? What is Oncor’s Non-standard/Analog Meter process?"

Your system measures the total amount of generated electricity. The Oncor meter is not able to measure how much electricity your system generates. It only measures the surplus generation from your panels that flows onto the grid, if any, and the amount of electricity you used from the Oncor power grid.

Oncor operates in a deregulated electric market where net metering is not applicable. However, some Retail Electric Providers (REPs) offer renewable billing programs that offer credits for surplus generation. Please visit  powertochoose.org and select “Renewable Power” to learn more.

If you have completed the interconnection process and your Oncor meter has been reprogrammed to measure surplus generation, you can set up an account on smartmetertexas.com
 

View the Generation column to track measured surplus generation that flows onto the grid.

Once your meter has been reprogrammed, you can view the out-flow kWh value in the 057 channel on your meter to determine how much surplus generation has been measured. This value is cumulative, similar to the odometer on a car, not a monthly surplus generation total.

Oncor does not offer solar credits. Some Retail Electric Providers (REPs) offer credits to customers that are enrolled in a buyback program but not all. It is not required for solar customers to participate in these programs. Once your solar system is installed, you may visit smartmetertexas.com to track your electric usage and surplus generation. You may also visit powertochoose.org to review both buyback plans and non-solar rate plans.

REP buyback Programs can be found at powertochoose.org or by calling the Power To Choose helpline: 866-797-4839. Visit this site to review your options and select the plan that is best for you.

When the interconnection process has completed and you have received permission to operate, Oncor will place an order to have the meter reprogrammed to measure surplus generation, which generally takes about three weeks.

The load profile that allows measured electricity usage and surplus generation to be sent to the Retail Electric Provider requires one full billing cycle – 30-60 days – from the meter reprogramming date to update.

If you are participating in a REP buyback program, there are many reasons why credits may not show up on your bill:

• Your home or business may have used all of the electricity generated by your solar system.
• Please confirm that your meter has been reprogrammed to measure surplus generation.
• Please confirm the REP is receiving measured surplus generation. If you contact your REP and they indicate that your account does not have surplus generation data, then request that your REP contact Oncor.

Customers can expect the following costs:

• The amount for the installation and setup that are paid to the installer.
• For customers who financed their solar system, finance charges that are paid monthly to lease the system.
• Your REP’s rate, which should include the Oncor standard transmission and distribution charges per kilowatt hour used from the Oncor power grid.
• System Upgrade Fee: If a customer’s system size is large enough to require upgrades to the Oncor power grid, Oncor will provide a time and cost estimate. The customer has the option to reduce system size to avoid this cost.

For information related to Oncor’s incentive programs visit Take a Load Off, Texas

As long as you are connected to Oncor’s grid, Oncor will bill your Retail Electric Provider various charges. Oncor bills a monthly customer charge in addition to per kWh usage charges, so even if you don’t use any electricity from the Oncor grid, there will still be an Oncor charge to your REP.

If, and how, Oncor’s charges are passed on to you by your REP depends on the contract you signed with your REP. For information about these charges from Oncor on your electric bill, you will need to contact your Retail Electric Provider (REP). Your REP should understand the components of Oncor's delivery system charges and should be able to explain them to you. Oncor's delivery system charges are not a result of your installation of a solar system.

An Interconnection Agreement is the agreement between the customer and Oncor, which allows the customer to interconnect their solar/renewable system to the Oncor power grid in order to generate electricity. This agreement is initiated by the installer submitting an Interconnection Application on the Oncor installer portal.

To interconnect your renewable system to the Oncor distribution system:

• Your installer sends you a Tariff Application for signature.
• The installer submits the solar installation via the web-based installer portal.
• Oncor reviews the solar project and required documentation, performs a study, and prepares an Interconnection Agreement.
• Once the Interconnection Agreement is signed by all parties, Oncor provides a Permission To Operate (PTO) letter to both the customer and the installer.
• Once the PTO has been granted, Oncor creates an order to reprogram your meter to measure any surplus generation sent to the grid. Generally, the meter is reprogrammed within 3 weeks.

'Surplus generation values are provided to the customer's retail electric provider (REP) within 30 to 60 days of the PTO. Customers can see the daily and monthly electricity data recorded in 15-minute intervals by their meter at smartmetertexas.com.

Please note these steps are for certified systems. Please refer to the non-certified process:“What is the general process description for applications that are not certified?”

You may operate your system when the interconnection has been approved and you have received the permission to operate (PTO) letter from Oncor.

Please note that the interconnection process requires customer signatures on two documents. The first is the Tariff Application. This signed document initiates Oncor’s review of the interconnection. The second is the Interconnection Agreement. The permission to operate will be distributed when Oncor has completed the review of the interconnection and the Interconnection Agreement is signed by the customer and by Oncor.

If you operate a solar system without signing the Interconnection Agreement, and before receiving the PTO from Oncor, you are violating the Oncor tariff and the Public Utility Commission of Texas rules, which may be subject to a fine and possible disconnection by Oncor.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas requires Oncor to provide permission to operate within 30 days of the interconnection submission date. Please refer to, “What are the steps to interconnect my renewable system to the Oncor power grid?”

DIY solar customers will need to gain access to the Oncor Installer Portal to submit an Interconnection Application for Oncor’s review. These customers will need to contact Oncor Distributed Generation at dg@oncor.com to start the interconnection process

To have an Interconnection Agreement transferred to your name, email dg@oncor.com. Please include your address, phone number, and email to complete the transfer of ownership of the system.

Oncor will send you a Tariff Application and a new Interconnection Agreement for your signature. Your load profile that allows Oncor to send measured surplus generation to your REP will be updated within one full billing cycle from the interconnection approval date.

Once your load profile is updated, you may track your usage and surplus generation on smartmetertexas.com. You may also visit powertochoose.org to review both buyback plans and non-solar plans.

Yes, a new application will be required and once it is processed, a new Interconnection Agreement will be provided showing the equipment addition and change in capacity.

Please call Oncor at 866-728-3674 to check the status of your Interconnection Application.

Please contact us at dg@oncor.com to request to cancel your Interconnection Agreement.

Please contact your installer for updates to your equipment. For updates to your personal information such as name and address, please contact your REP and they will take the proper actions to notify Oncor of any changes to your personal information. Please ask the REP to submit a change via 814-PC to Oncor.

For more information, please contact us at dg@oncor.com.

A certified DRG system is an inverter based system which has been tested and certified to meet the standards specified in UL-1741 Utility Interactive (Underwriters Laboratory). Your DRG system vendor can verify DRG system certification. If your system does not meet these requirements, it is a non-certified system and may require increased process time and possibly a fee to study the systems impact on the grid.

For additional information regarding certification listings, refer to:

https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/topics/renewable-energy/solar-equipment-lists

https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/63157.pdf

Systems that do not meet the requirements of UL-1741 Utility Interactive are not certified. The general process involves:

• Oncor receives a completed Interconnection Application and secures an Impact Study Fee and secures an Impact Study Fee
• Oncor prepares and submits to customer an Impact Study or Service Study
• Oncor secures payment from customer identified in the Impact Study for any required system changes
• Oncor schedules and completes any required system changes
• Oncor reviews customer relay test reports
• Oncor prepares, submits and secures an executed Interconnection Agreement from customer
• The application for small non-certified systems can be obtained by contacting Oncor at dg@oncor.com.

Final authorization for operation is granted after the Interconnection Agreement is executed, proper metering is installed, and all of the general process items are completed.

Oncor's Tariff for Retail Delivery Service provides a chart showing the various Oncor study fees for different types of application requests. In general, for small inverter based systems there are no fees. However, customers are responsible for any upgrades to the distribution system, like increases in transformer or other facilities’ capacity, to support your solar system.

The study fee chart is located in the Interconnection Application.

You may install your DRG system at any time. You will need to submit an Interconnection Application on the customer’s behalf via the installer portal. Customers are not authorized to operate the system until the Interconnection Agreement has been completed, and Oncor has provided the Permission to Operate letter.

You may install your DRG system at any time. You will need to submit an Interconnection Application on the customer’s behalf via the installer portal. Customers are not authorized to operate the system until the Interconnection Agreement has been completed, and Oncor has provided the Permission to Operate letter.

The requirements for interconnection are specified in the Electric Service Guidelines and the Interconnection Application. These documents can be found on the Oncor website.

The Oncor interconnection requirements specify a manual disconnect device. This disconnect must have a visual break that is appropriate to the voltage and current level, be accessible to utility personnel, and be capable of being locked in the open position. Oncor requests that this disconnect include a caution label placard and be located within 10 feet of the Oncor meter in a readily accessible location. Customers installing disconnects that are not located near the Oncor meter will need to follow the Oncor placard guideline.

Oncor requires a one-line diagram and layout sketch to provide design confirmation of the manual disconnect requirement. The one-line diagram should include the Oncor meter, the visible, lockable and labelled AC disconnect (VLLD) and the generation equipment. One-line diagrams do not show physical layouts, but show the sequence of things like switches, breakers and devices between the Oncor meter and your generation equipment. The diagram is not required to show a high level of detail, but should identify the components listed above.

The layout sketch shows the overhead view of the physical layout between the Oncor meter, the visible, lockable and labelled AC disconnect (VLLD) and customer generation. The requirement of the layout sketch is to identify if the VLLD is near the Oncor meter. This sketch is not required to show a high level of detail for the entire system, but identify the components listed above.

If you are interested in the solar photovoltaic program, visit Take a Load Off, Texas

Yes, all renewable systems must submit an Interconnection Application. Please visit Take a Load Off, Texas to learn about the Solar Energy Efficiency Program requirements.

Stand-alone generators that do not operate in parallel with the Oncor grid are not required to submit an Interconnection Application. Emergency generators with transfer switches that "break before make" do not need to apply as they never "parallel or operate synchronously" with the Oncor distribution system. However, these generators do fall under the jurisdiction of the local electrical inspection authorities and the National Electric Safety Code.

Contact your REP for billing questions, or Oncor about your meter and electric usage

If the battery system operates in parallel, for any length of time, with the utility and it can both charge and discharge into the utility system then an Interconnection Agreement is required. Please contact Oncor for specific questions.

Please view the Oncor installer portal for information regarding the status of your customer’s application.

Customers who have opted out of having an AMS meter and have an analog (non-standard) meter are not eligible for solar or other renewable systems. If the customer would like to update the meter, they can call 1-888-313-6862

Streetlight repairs typically take 5 to 10 days to complete. Some cities maintain their own streetlights. If a streetlight is not maintained by Oncor, the responsible party must be notified, which can delay repairs.

In most cities we serve, street lights are owned and maintained by Oncor. In some cases, cities, homeowners associations, planned developments, etc., choose to install and maintain their own street lights.

If the light is facing the street, it is more than likely a street light. If the light is located in a back yard, alleyway or parking lot, it is probably a guard light or private lighting. At OncorStreetLight.com, street lights will be shown in yellow, guard lights are blue and private lights are shown in green. Clicking on the blue or green icons provides information on how to report a problem.

Repairs for these lights should be reported by the property owner where the light is located or to their retail electric provider. Clicking on the blue or green icons on the online streetlight reporting map provides information on how to report a problem.

Lights may be owned privately, by a utility company other than Oncor, by a government entity (Texas Department of Transportation, North Texas Tollway Authority) or a city. For example, the cities of Arlington, Fort Worth, and Wichita Falls are some of the cities where Oncor delivers electric service, yet we don’t own most or any of the street lights.

Call TxDOT’s toll-free customer complaint line at 800.558.9368. Operators are available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

If we were successful in repairing the light, it should be operating shortly after we receive the outage report. If you provide either a telephone number or email address on our online reporting form, you can indicate if you would like to be notified when the repair is complete. Text or email notifications are the quickest way to receive confirmation that the repair has been completed.

You can request service for a new construction project here. This site will guide you through the process depending on the type of new construction project you are building (residential, commercial & industrial, multi-family residential, or subdivision developer). If you still need help, contact our New Construction Management Center at 888.222.8045 or email us at c3ncmc@oncor.com.

An ESI ID, or Electric Service Identifier, is a 17-digit number found on an electric bill that is unique to a property address. The ESI ID can then be used when contacting a REP to set up an account to establish electric service.

If a property has multiple meters at one address, such as an apartment complex, each meter will have a separate ESI ID.

If you need assistance identifying your ESI ID, please contact your Retail Electric Provider (the company to which you pay your electric bill). If you do not have a REP, click here to see if your property has an ESI ID.

If you currently have electric service, please contact your Retail Electric Provider (REP) at the number on your electric bill to stop or move your electric service. If you do not currently have electric service and want to start service, please follow these steps:

• Visit powertochoose.org, the electric choice website of the Public Utility Commission of Texas. There you can compare offers and choose the electric plan that best fits your needs.
• Once you choose a REP, contact them to initiate electric service.

You can request service for a new construction project here. This site will guide you through the process depending on the type of new construction project you are building. If you still need help, contact our New Construction Management Center at 888.222.8045 or email us at c3ncmc@oncor.com.