CONTACT US: (979) 968-3181 or (866) 968-3181 | PAY BY PHONE: (844) 971-1048 | TEXT "OUT": (844) 971-1048
To report a power outage, please call Fayette Electric Cooperative Inc. at either of the following numbers:
979-968-3181 or 1-866-968-3181, or text "out" to 1-844-971-1048.
Before you text your outage:
✔ Make sure your mobile number is listed in SmartHub.
✔ Or call (979) 968-3181 to verify your enrollment.
Only text “OUT” during a real outage.
SmartHub Set Up Tips:
✔ Link your mobile number to your FEC account or meter.
✔ Multiple accounts? Report via SmartHub or call (979) 968-3181.
✔ Already getting texts from 1-844-971-1048? You’re good to go!
✔ Need help? Call Member Services at (979) 968-3181, Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
When a call or text is received to report an outage, our outage management system uses your telephone number or account number to identify the location without power. When power is lost, most do not remember their account number and therefore use their phone number when reporting an outage to the automated system. It is essential to keep your phone number and email address current on your account to report the outage through the automated system and to receive notifications.
So, if you’ve changed your phone number lately, give us a call at (979) 968-3181 or log into your SmartHub® account and click “Contact Us” to update your records. Current e-mail addresses are also important if we need to contact you. It may save you some time and frustration later.
Sign up for SmartHub text alerts!
If you’re signed up for text alerts, you’ll be the first to know when your location experiences a power outage, and you’ll receive an update as soon as service is restored. It’s a quick, convenient way to stay informed and enjoy peace of mind - even when you’re away from home.
Did you know you can now report a power outage and view our Outage Map in the SmartHub app?
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Stay Safe During an Outage
What To Do If Your Power Goes Off
To report a power outage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call Fayette Electric Cooperative inc. at one of the following numbers: (979) 968-3181 or 1-866-968-3181.
Be Prepared for Storms!
If your lights go off during a storm, be prepared for the power outage. Assemble supplies to have on hand rather than rushing around when the storm is coming.
Did you know you can now report a power outage and view our Outage Map using the SmartHub app?
All Fayette Electric Cooperative members count on FEC to provide reliable electric service, but none more than those who rely on life-sustaining electrically powered medical equipment. If this is you or someone who permanently resides at your home, you may be eligible for our Residential Critical Care and Chronic Condition Program.
What is It?
Our Residential Critical Care and Chronic Condition Program is a registry of residential service locations where people rely on life-sustaining electrically powered medical equipment. When planned outages or service interruptions for nonpayment are scheduled, we will make all reasonable efforts to provide advance notice so preparations can be made.
What It is Not
Our Residential Critical Care and Chronic Condition Program does not guarantee priority electric service or priority service restoration, and locations registered in the program are not exempt from planned service interruptions. Registered customers are not exempt from their financial responsibilities to pay timely for electric utility services provided or from potential termination of service under Fayette Electric Cooperative policies.
Who Qualifies?
To qualify, the location must be the permanent residence of someone diagnosed by a physician with one of the following medical conditions:
Chronic Condition: Having been diagnosed by a physician as requiring an electric-powered device (or heating or cooling of the home) to prevent the impairment of major life function. To maintain chronic designation, members must reapply once a year.
Chronic Condition, Lifelong: Same as chronic condition, but does not require annual re-certification or application.
Critical Care: Having been diagnosed by a physician as requiring an electric-powered device to sustain life. To maintain critical care designation, members must reapply once every two years.
Critical Care, Lifelong: Same as critical care, but does not require biennial re-certification or application.
How Do I Apply?
Or request an application by calling Fayette Electric Cooperative at (979)968-3181 or 1-866-968-3181.
You may also pick up an application at FEC’s office located at 2111 N. Von Minden Road, La Grange, TX 78945 and return it in person or by mailing it to FEC’s Member Service Department at PO Box 490, La Grange, TX 78945.
Important Information About Electricity Load Shedding & What it Could Mean to You
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. ERCOT is responsible for ensuring that the supply of electricity is sufficient to meet system demand (load) for electricity in most of the State.
When electric supply provided by all available power generation plants, (thermal and renewable generation resources) and other sources becomes insufficient to meet the demand, ERCOT begins emergency operations. During a power emergency when electric supply cannot meet consumer demand for electricity and all other operational tools have been exhausted, the demand for electricity must be reduced to avoid uncontrolled blackouts. As a last resort, ERCOT will instruct electric utilities to implement controlled customer outages to reduce the demand for electricity on the ERCOT grid. This is referred to as load shed and will last until the power emergency is resolved by ERCOT.
Typically, before calling for controlled customer outages, ERCOT takes steps to reduce the demand on the electric grid by asking all types of consumers to reduce electric usage. Electric utilities, including Fayette Electric Cooperative (FEC), via the FEC’s ERCOT Transmission Operator, Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corporation (LCRA TSC), are obligated to immediately implement load shed procedures when ERCOT instructs.
During customer load shed events:
- All members should assume their power could go out without advanced warning. Efforts will be made, as much as possible, to provide advanced notification of pending outages, but circumstances do not always allow that to happen.
- Members designated as Critical Load, in accordance with PUC guidelines, are not guaranteed an uninterrupted supply of electricity. It is the responsibility of the retail member to make necessary arrangements for alternative sources of electric power should a localized outage or load shed event occur.
- Residential members dependent on electric-powered medical equipment, such as those designated as Critical Care or Chronic Condition, in accordance with PUC guidelines, are encouraged to have a solid backup plan in the event they lose electricity. It is important to note that these members are not excluded from controlled outages and may lose power during a load shed event. Anyone who depends on electricity for life-sustaining equipment should have a backup plan in place.
- The procedure for a member to apply to be considered a critical care residential account, a critical load industrial account, or critical load according to commission rules can be found here.
- Electric utilities will prioritize continuity of service for certain accounts whose service is critical to the community during an emergency or those whose service provides major support to the integrity of the electric system during an emergency. Examples include hospitals and certain public safety accounts.
- Because a load shed event is an emergency order from ERCOT based on a shortfall of electricity being generated, electric utilities, including FEC / LCRA TSC, do not have the information to be able to notify individual members if they may lose power, when they may lose power, or how long the load shed event may last.
- In extreme power emergencies, ERCOT may require electric utilities to shed large amounts of load over long periods of time. In these instances, electric utilities like FEC / LCRA TSC may not have the ability to rotate outages without risking the stability of the entire electric grid. When this happens, some members may be without power for an extended period of time. These outages are critical for ensuring the integrity of the state’s electric grid and preventing a system-wide blackout, which could be long-lasting and have a significant impact on all aspects of life.
- Electric utilities are required to continue to comply with ERCOT-controlled customer outage instructions until ERCOT determines that outages are no longer required.
- The Public Utility Commission of Texas website provides examples for members to reduce electricity use at times when involuntary load shedding events may be implemented.
- Regardless of the nature of the load shedding event, Fayette Electric Cooperative and the Cooperative’s ERCOT Transmission Operator (LCRA TSC) are committed to ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to its members 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. While we may not control the issues or conditions that have required ERCOT’s order to shed load, we will do everything in our power to restore electricity when we are able to safely do so. In addition, we will work to keep our members informed about the situation through local media outlets, social media, and direct communications to you.