Utilities
City of Palo Alto Utilities
The City of Palo Alto operates its own utilities including electric, fiber optic, natural gas, water and wastewater service.
Contact us:
Utilities Customer Service Center, Ground floor
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Phone: (650) 329-2161
Fax: (650) 617-3142
UtilitiesCustomerService@paloalto.gov
Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8am-5:30pm
Friday 8am-4:30pm
Find answers to common questions and information.
Quick list of important phone numbers:
Electrical problems or outages: (650) 496-6914
Gas or water leaks: (650) 329-2579
Street light outages: (650) 496-6914
Sewer backups: (650) 329-2579
Call before you dig: 811 call 48 hours in advance to have underground utilities marked
Waste collection service issues: (650) 493-4894 Greenwaste of Palo Alto
Recycle/compost/landfill questions: (650) 496-5910
Storm drain issues: (650) 496-6974 after hours: (650) 329-2413
Fallen Trees: (650) 496-5953
How do I get the latest information?
Sign up on our email list to get updates on programs, rebates, workshops and important news. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Nextdoor.
Some important utilities services tips:
Smell gas? Act fast! Day or night, leave your home immediately and from a different location, call Utilities Dispatch at (650) 329-2579. Do not touch anything or look for the leak yourself!
Utilities crews enter your property for many reasons, including to read meters, make repairs to Utility equipment, and to conduct routine inspections of power, water and gas lines, poles and other utilities connections. Utilities workers always carry ID so if you’re ever in doubt, just ask to see it!
Sewer pipelines between home and the street may be a shared responsibility between you and the Utilities Department. If you experience a sewage problem, contact the Utilities Department so that we can determine responsibility for the blockage or break and verify the lines are safe to clean.
You are responsible for water leaks on your side of the meter. To avoid potentially significant charges, check your system often to identify current or potential water leak problems.
Please don’t mess with your meters! Call us instead and we’ll come out to help you. Turning off, opening, “testing” or moving any of your meters requires proper training and tools. Avoid getting hurt and paying for damaged meters by having a Utilities crewperson handle the job.
Are the right names on your Utilities account? To permit spouses, partners and family members to review, manage or close accounts, their names must be added in advance by the current account holder. To authorize adding or removing names, call Customer Service at (650) 329-2161.
Enroll in paperless bill service! Cut down on unnecessary paper and enjoy the convenience of paying your Utilities bill online anytime, anywhere, at www.paloalto.gov/myutilitiesaccount
Sign up now for the Alert SCC (Santa Clara County) emergency notification system! Help the City contact you about emergency situations and keep you posted as events develop. If you haven’t already done so, visit www.paloalto.gov/preparedness to sign-up.
Mind the Orange Cone Zones when you drive in Palo Alto! Utilities and Public Works crews put out cones to warn you about areas that are unsafe due to construction. Ignoring this warning by driving into blocked areas or between the cones is dangerous for the crews and can damage your vehicle.
Receive alerts and updates on any unplanned disruptions in utilities service by following us on Twitter or Facebook. You can also view www.paloalto.gov/outagemap for real time updates on power outages.
Questions about what goes in your recycle, compost and garbage containers? Zero Waste Palo Alto has resources to help at www.paloalto.gov/wgwtools or by calling (650) 496-5910.