Got an Outage? SAEC Introduces New Text Alert System for Reporting

Everyone has experienced the frustration of losing power while getting ready for work in the morning, during a pivotal moment of a favorite TV show, or just before the start of that college football game you and a few friends have gathered to watch on a Saturday afternoon.

While South Alabama Electric Cooperative (SAEC) can’t stop power outages, the Cooperative hopes to better communicate with members when they do occur.

As part of a new outage management system, SAEC can now send text messages to notify members of outages in their area. The Cooperative can also receive texts from members who want to report an outage at their service address.

“The key to it working is proper information,” says Andy Kimbro, SAEC’s Vice President of Member Services. “We’ve got to have their cell number to make it work.”

Members can log into their accounts at southaec.com to ensure they have the correct cellphone numbers registered with their accounts. A welcome text is planned to introduce members to the system.

Those who have provided cellphone numbers to SAEC are automatically registered with the outage management system. When the Cooperative receives an alert from a member, the system pulls up the service address that corresponds with the registered number.

There’s no need for long explanations. SAEC will set up keywords members can use when texting the system at 1-800-556-2060. The outage management system will do the rest.

SAEC will then send a text to confirm the reported outage, notify the member when a crew has been dispatched and even send an estimated timeframe for restoring service.

Members can opt out of the text message system.

In cases where a member has multiple service addresses on their account, the system will send all service addresses and ask for the correct address of the outage, says Justin McLendon, Manager of SAEC’s Service Operations.

At times of a large outage, the system can pinpoint specific areas where crews have restored power, so messages are not sent to those members during the remainder of the outage.

With 11,504 members and 17,613 power meters, SAEC hopes the text message system will make reporting outages more efficient and less frustrating for members.

“It’s going to be more informative for the members of what’s going on,” McLendon says.