RESTON, Virginia — A significant power outage affected parts of Reston Wednesday night into Thursday, September 24, 2026, with residents in the South Lakes, Glade Drive and Shadowood areas reporting widespread electricity loss while Dominion Energy crews were dispatched.
Community reports quoting Dominion Energy’s outage map indicated that approximately 2,600 customers were affected across two outage zones at the height of the disruption. Residents later reported that the number had fallen to roughly 450 as electricity was progressively restored.
By Thursday morning, the situation appeared substantially improved.
Live county-level outage data showed only 47 Dominion Energy customers without electricity across all of Fairfax County, out of more than 415,000 tracked customers. That indicates the large Reston disruption had largely been resolved rather than continuing to affect thousands Thursday morning.
The exact cause of the Reston outage has not yet been publicly established. Dominion outage-map information shared by residents listed the cause as “pending investigation” while crews were dispatched.
What Happened During the Reston Power Outage?
Residents began reporting electricity failures Wednesday evening across portions of south Reston.
Multiple people described outages along South Lakes Drive and Glade Drive, while additional reports came from the Shadowood area.
Other nearby areas, including parts of Wiehle Avenue and Reston Town Center, reportedly maintained electricity, suggesting the interruption was concentrated in particular circuits rather than representing a Reston-wide blackout.
One resident sharing information from Dominion’s outage map said roughly 2,600 customers were affected across two separate outage zones.
Dominion information reproduced in another community update listed two work requests and said crews had been dispatched while the cause remained under investigation.
Reston Power Outage Data
| Detail | Latest Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Reston, Virginia |
| Outage Began | Evening of September 23, 2026 |
| Main Areas Reporting Outages | South Lakes, Glade Drive, Shadowood and nearby south Reston neighborhoods |
| Reported Peak Customers Affected | About 2,600 across two outage zones |
| Utility | Dominion Energy Virginia |
| Cause | Pending investigation in Dominion information shared by residents |
| Crew Status | Dispatched / working on restoration |
| Later Reston Estimate | About 450 customers reportedly remained before additional restoration |
| Current Fairfax County Dominion Outages | 47 customers in latest countywide tracker |
| Major Reston-Wide Blackout Continuing? | No indication of one |
| Restoration Status | Most service appears restored |
South Lakes and Glade Drive Among Areas Affected
The most consistent reports came from southern Reston.
Residents along South Lakes Drive reported losing power, while people living near Glade Drive and Shadowood described similar interruptions.
South Lakes High School is located at 11400 South Lakes Drive, within the general area where outage reports were concentrated.
The outage also coincided with South Lakes High School’s scheduled Back-to-School Night on September 23, although no authoritative information reviewed establishes that the school itself experienced a prolonged interruption or that the event was canceled because of the outage.
Residents farther north around portions of Wiehle Avenue and Reston Town Center reported that their electricity remained available.
That pattern is consistent with an outage affecting specific distribution circuits rather than the entire community.
Approximately 2,600 Customers Reportedly Lost Power
The “thousands affected” figure appears to come from Dominion outage-map information viewed by residents during the peak Wednesday night.
One community update reported approximately 2,600 affected customers across two Reston outage zones.
This number should be understood as a snapshot.
Utility outage totals change rapidly because customers may be restored in groups as crews isolate damaged equipment, switch circuits or complete repairs.
Indeed, a later community update said the remaining affected population had fallen to approximately 450 customers, concentrated between Soapstone Drive and Twin Branches Road along the Glade corridor.
Residents then continued reporting that their power had returned.
Dominion Crews Were Dispatched
Dominion outage information shared by residents showed crews had been dispatched.
Two outage work requests cited in a community post were listed with estimated restoration windows extending into the night, although some residents received electricity earlier than those estimates.
One resident along Glade Drive reported that electricity returned at about 8:20 p.m.
Others near Shadowood similarly said their service returned later Wednesday night.
Estimated restoration times can change as crews identify the equipment involved and determine whether electricity can be rerouted before permanent repairs are completed.
What Caused the Reston Power Outage?
The precise cause remains unclear.
Dominion outage-map information reproduced by residents listed the cause as pending investigation.
There is therefore no verified basis yet to attribute Wednesday night’s interruption to a fallen tree, transformer failure, vehicle crash, weather event or other specific equipment problem.
One community member speculated about electrical infrastructure near South Lakes and Colts Neck roads, but that observation is not an official determination and should not be treated as the cause of this particular outage.
Dominion or emergency authorities would need to confirm the actual equipment failure before a cause can be established.
Is Reston Still Experiencing a Major Power Outage Today?
The latest data suggests no.
PowerOutage.us currently shows just 47 Dominion customers without service across all of Fairfax County, compared with 415,345 Dominion customers tracked there.
Since Reston represents only part of Fairfax County, the current number of outages specifically inside Reston would necessarily be no greater than that countywide Dominion figure.
That is dramatically lower than the approximately 2,600 customers reportedly affected at Wednesday night’s peak.
The available evidence therefore indicates that the large Reston outage has been mostly or effectively restored, although isolated customers may still experience individual service problems.
Virginia Has Other Outages Thursday
There are still thousands of power outages elsewhere in Virginia, but they are concentrated primarily outside Fairfax County.
Current statewide tracking shows approximately 8,688 customers without electricity across Virginia, with the largest outage totals in Norfolk, Newport News, Virginia Beach, Roanoke and Chesapeake.
Dominion accounts for a substantial share of those outages statewide.
Those outages should not be confused with the Reston incident.
Fairfax County currently represents only a very small portion of Dominion’s statewide outage total.
How Dominion Restores Power
Dominion says its restoration process begins with major transmission lines and substations, followed by primary distribution lines and then smaller secondary service lines serving individual neighborhoods and homes.
That can cause outage numbers to fall rapidly when repairs restore a large circuit.
It may also explain why some Reston residents regained electricity while nearby streets remained dark for longer.
Customers whose neighbors have electricity while their own property remains without service should report their address rather than assuming Dominion already knows about the individual interruption.
How to Report a Reston Power Outage
Fairfax County directs Dominion Energy customers experiencing an electricity outage to contact the utility or use Dominion’s outage-reporting system.
Dominion’s Virginia customer service and outage number is:
866-366-4357
Fairfax County also lists that number on its official power outage preparedness page.
Dominion’s website and mobile app allow customers to report outages and follow restoration progress.
Address-specific information from Dominion’s live map will generally be more current than a static news article when determining whether a particular Reston neighborhood is still affected.
Downed Power Lines Should Be Treated as Energized
Dominion advises residents to stay at least 30 feet away from a downed electrical line and assume the wire remains energized.
If a fallen line poses an immediate danger, residents should call 911 first and then notify Dominion.
People should also avoid touching vehicles, fences, water or other objects that may have come into contact with damaged electrical wires.
Previous Reston Outages Were Separate Incidents
Reston has experienced several significant power interruptions in previous months, but those should not be confused with Wednesday night’s outage.
In March 2026, hundreds of south Reston residents lost electricity after a fallen tree damaged a power line along Hunter Mill Road. The incident temporarily closed the road.
Fairfax County also experienced larger storm-related outages in June, including an event that knocked out electricity for more than 21,000 Dominion customers countywide.
Those incidents occurred months earlier and do not establish the cause of the September 23 Reston outage.
Final Reston Power Outage Update
As of Thursday, September 24, 2026, most electricity appears to have been restored following Wednesday night’s significant outage in Reston.
Community reports based on Dominion Energy’s outage map indicated that approximately 2,600 customers across two outage zones were affected at the peak, particularly around South Lakes Drive, Glade Drive and nearby south Reston neighborhoods.
Dominion information shared during the outage showed crews dispatched and the cause listed as pending investigation.
The number of affected customers subsequently fell sharply, with residents reporting restoration throughout the evening.
Current countywide data now shows only 47 Dominion customers out across Fairfax County, strongly indicating that the Reston outage affecting thousands has largely ended.
Customers who remain without electricity should report their individual address directly to Dominion because isolated service issues can remain even after a larger circuit has been restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many customers lost power in Reston?
Residents sharing Dominion outage-map information reported approximately 2,600 customers affected across two outage zones at the peak Wednesday night.
Which parts of Reston were affected?
Reports were concentrated around South Lakes Drive, Glade Drive, Shadowood and surrounding portions of south Reston.
Is power still out for thousands in Reston?
No. Current Fairfax County tracking shows only 47 Dominion customers without electricity across the entire county, indicating most Reston service has been restored.
What caused the outage?
The cause has not been confirmed. Dominion outage information shared during the disruption listed it as pending investigation.
Were Dominion crews responding?
Yes. Outage information shared by affected residents showed crews had been dispatched, and customers subsequently reported electricity returning.
How do I report a Reston power outage?
Dominion Energy Virginia customers can call 866-366-4357 or use the company’s online outage-reporting tools.
Disclaimer
This article reflects outage information available on September 24, 2026. The approximately 2,600-customer peak is based on Reston residents reporting figures displayed on Dominion Energy’s live outage map during Wednesday night’s disruption; it was not independently retrievable as a permanent Dominion historical total. Current county-level data confirms that outages have since fallen sharply. The cause of the Reston interruption remains unconfirmed and has not been attributed to weather, equipment failure or another event without authoritative evidence.