Power Outage in Kent or Sussex County, Delaware? Who to Call and How to Use a Generator Safely
Outage phone numbers for Delmarva Power, Delaware Electric Cooperative, Dover and Milford, how restoration works, what to check after a storm, and generator and food safety.
Updated 2026-10-26. First State Home Link is a free referral service operated by Doorstep Digital (Milford, Delaware). We are not a contractor and do not perform any work ourselves. We connect homeowners in Sussex and Kent counties with independent local service providers, who set their own prices and are responsible for their own work. We are not affiliated with any electric utility; confirm details with yours directly. For downed wires, fire or carbon monoxide symptoms, call 911.
Quick answer
Check your breakers, then report the outage to the utility on your bill. Downed wires: stay away and report them right away. If you use a portable generator, run it outside at least 20 feet from doors and windows, and never plug it into a wall outlet.
Outage numbers
- Delmarva Power (Kent & Sussex): 1-800-898-8045, or 1-800-898-8042 (24/7); online at delmarva.com.
- Delaware Electric Cooperative: 855-332-9090, press 1 (how to report; coverage map).
- City of Dover Electric: 302-736-7086, option 3, 24/7 (Dover outages).
- City of Milford Electric: 302-422-6616 (option 2 or 5) during business hours; 302-422-8081 after hours and weekends.
- Smyrna, Clayton, Lewes and Seaford: these towns run their own electric utility; use the number on your bill.
When you need an electrician instead
Call an electrician, not the utility, if only part of your house is out and resetting the breaker doesn't fix it, a breaker keeps tripping, the service mast or meter box was pulled off the house in a storm (the utility handles a damaged meter itself), or you want a transfer switch or standby generator installed. Delaware licenses electricians through the Board of Electrical Examiners; check their license before work starts. To get connected with a local electrician, see our electrical page. If the outage leaves you without heat, see heating help and our frozen pipes guide. More guides: all homeowner guides.
Generator safety checklist
- Outside only, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents; never in a garage, crawlspace or shed.
- CO alarms on every level of the home; if you feel dizzy, sick or weak, get to fresh air right away.
- Keep it dry; run it on a dry surface under an open, canopy-like cover.
- Turn it off and let it cool before refueling.
- Use heavy-duty outdoor cords rated above the total load, with all three prongs.
- No backfeeding. A transfer switch installed by an electrician is the safe way to power house circuits.
Sources: AllReadyDE utility information (University of Delaware), Delmarva Power Storm Preparation Handbook, Delaware Electric Cooperative outages, City of Dover electric outages, City of Milford Electric Department brochure, Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, CPSC portable generator safety alert, American Red Cross generator safety, FoodSafety.gov: food safety during a power outage.
Common questions
Who do I call to report a power outage in Kent or Sussex County?
Call the utility on your electric bill. Delmarva Power: 1-800-898-8045 for Kent and Sussex counties (AllReadyDE), or 1-800-898-8042, the number on Delmarva's own storm handbook, 24/7, or report online at delmarva.com. Delaware Electric Cooperative: 855-332-9090, then press 1, or use the DEC Connect app. City of Dover: 302-736-7086, option 3, 24/7. City of Milford: 302-422-6616 during business hours, or the Milford Police non-emergency line, 302-422-8081, after hours and weekends.
How do I know which electric company serves my house?
Check your bill first. In Kent and Sussex, most homes are served by Delmarva Power or Delaware Electric Cooperative, which has a coverage map on its website. The towns of Dover, Milford, Smyrna, Clayton, Lewes and Seaford run their own municipal electric utilities (they are members of the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation), so residents there call their town.
Is it just my house, or the whole street?
Check your breaker panel or fuse box for a tripped breaker first, and see whether neighbors have lights. The City of Milford notes that if your home is the only one without power, the issue could be with your own equipment. Report it to the utility either way, because utilities don't always know about an outage until someone calls.
Why are my neighbors' lights back on but mine aren't?
Utilities restore the biggest problems first. Delmarva lists the order as downed live wires and public safety facilities, then transmission lines, substations, main distribution lines, neighborhood lines, and last, the service lines to individual homes. Delaware Electric Cooperative also restores power to the largest number of people first. If you're still out after your street is back, call again and ask for a call back.
What should I check after a storm?
Once it's safe, look at the line where it connects to your house and at your meter box. Delmarva's storm handbook says to call it at 1-800-375-7117 if the meter itself is damaged, and to contact a licensed electrician if repair work is needed on your side. Never touch or go near a downed wire; assume it is live and report it.
Can I run a portable generator in my garage with the door open?
No. The CPSC says never to use a generator inside a home, garage, crawlspace or shed, even with fans or open doors, because deadly carbon monoxide builds up in minutes. Run it outside only, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, and put battery-powered or battery-backup CO alarms on every level of the home.
Can I plug my generator into a wall outlet or the dryer outlet?
No. Powering house wiring through an outlet is called backfeeding, and the CPSC warns it can electrocute utility workers and neighbors served by the same transformer. Plug appliances into the generator with heavy-duty outdoor extension cords, or have a licensed electrician install a transfer switch to the National Electrical Code, as the Red Cross recommends. If a Milford line worker comes to your home, let them know you have a generator.
How long is food in the fridge safe without power?
FoodSafety.gov says a closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds a safe temperature about 48 hours, or 24 hours if half full, if the door stays shut. Throw out meat, dairy, eggs and leftovers that have been above 40°F for more than 2 hours, and never taste food to decide.
What if someone at home depends on medical equipment?
Delmarva Power customers who rely on electric medical equipment can register for its Emergency Medical Equipment Notification Program by calling 1-800-375-7117. Registration gets you notice of planned outages and major storms, but it does not move you up the restoration list, so have a backup plan.