City Of Ames: New Service Allows Customers To Text Power Outage Information

Press release from the City of Ames:

01/04/2022 8:30 AM

Beginning this year, Ames Electric Services customers experiencing a power outage will be able to contact the utility by text to report their address. Before using the service, customers must update or register their mobile phone number to their Ames Electric Services account. To ensure Ames Electric Services customers are aware of the texting option, the utility will be sending a welcome text to all current cell phone numbers at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6.

“We are excited to offer this new service as texting is a quick and reliable form of communication,” said Ames Electric Services Director Donald Kom. “Accepting text messages about an outage saves time for both the customer and the utility, and texting allows the utility to confirm information with customers with greater accuracy and higher response rates.”

Those wanting to opt out of the service or who are no longer customers can respond “QUIT” to the text. Customers who don’t receive the text can update or register a cell phone number by going to www.CityOfAmes.org/Outage. Customers can also call the Utility Customer Services at 515.239.5120 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to have information updated.

The number to report your power outage remains the same whether you call or text: 515.239.5240.

This press release was produced by the City of Ames. The views expressed here are the author’s own.