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Ellensburg rolls out Outify tool to improve outage messaging and customer notifications
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Summary
Ellensburg staff described a new outage-management tool, Outify, that enables two-way phone and text alerts, populates an outage map and flags medical‑alert customers; customers can opt out if desired.
Buddy Stanovich, the city’s energy services director, told the council that the utility implemented an outage communications tool called Outify to improve two‑way notifications and situational awareness.
"We implemented this tool called Outify that would allow some two‑way communication between our customers," Stanovich said, explaining that the platform can handle phone calls and text messages and generates an outage map on the city website.
Nut graf: The system is set up to use account phone numbers to send targeted messages and to mark customers with medical alerts for prioritized follow‑up. Stanovich said customers may opt out and opt back in by texting "start." He emphasized that internal staff views a more detailed, internal outage map that helps crews and operations respond efficiently.
Stanovich also warned residents to know their provider: Ellensburg sits between Puget Sound Energy and a nearby PUD, so customers should confirm which utility serves their address to find the correct outage number. He added safety guidance for generator owners (do not run generators indoors or connect them directly to a panel) and urged customers to stay clear of downed lines and call 911.
Why it matters: The tool centralizes outage information for both customers and operations staff, aids medical‑alert tracking, and provides a public‑facing outage map to improve transparency during interruptions. Staff said the platform supplements existing outreach and that they continue to perform contractor engagement and standard damage‑prevention messaging.
