A super simple iPhone app for checking PG&E power outages, designed to save your battery while the power is out.
Simple Outages answers the two questions that matter: is the power out at my address, and when is it expected back?
It leaves out everything that drains a phone. There are no maps, and it checks for updates only every 15 minutes.
Simple Outages is an independent app. It isn't made by or affiliated with PG&E. If safety is a concern, use PG&E's official outages service.
Last updated: November 13, 2026
Simple Outages shows whether there's a power outage at an address in PG&E's California service area, along with outages nearby. It's built to work with as little information as possible.
You can use your current location or search for an address. Either one is optional.
Current location. If you tap Use My Location, iOS asks for permission first. The app gets your location once, only while it's open, and then stops. It never tracks you in the background. You can turn location access off at any time in Settings, and search for an address instead.
Address search. As you type, the app uses Apple Maps to suggest addresses in California and to find where the one you pick is.
What's saved. The app saves the one location you chose (its coordinates and a short address) on your device, so it's there the next time you open the app. It isn't sent to the developer, backed up to any developer server or shared with anyone. Choosing a new location replaces it, and deleting the app removes it.
To do its job, the app sends a location's coordinates to these services. It doesn't send your name, contact details, or any account or device identifier.
| Service | What it receives | Why |
|---|---|---|
| California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) outage data, hosted by Esri ArcGIS | The coordinates of the location you chose | To find outages at and near that location |
| Apple Maps | The text you type in the search, plus coordinates | To suggest addresses, find where they are and name the places where outages are |
These services may record standard information such as your IP address, as any website does. Their own privacy policies cover how they handle it:
If you tap Report an Outage or open the official outage map, the app opens PG&E's website in your browser, and PG&E's privacy policy applies there.
The app isn't directed at children under 13 and doesn't knowingly collect any information from anyone.
Simple Outages is an independent app. It isn't made by or affiliated with PG&E or Cal OES. For official outage information, use PG&E's website.
If this policy changes, the new version will be posted here with a new date.
Questions about this policy: spencer@holtawaydesign.com