Utility Outage - East Lansing Campus
Campus
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Power outage
Michigan State University is currently doing steam restoration as a result of a power outage on September 19, which took out power to campus and the boiler responsible for steam. Campus updates and the restoration plan map are available online https://msu.edu/emergency
Report facility issues related to the power outage
Please help: Our teams at the front of this repair are getting a lot of calls from their campus partners. We value the relationships. In this situation, please direct questions to Contact IPF at 517-353-1760 so that our team members can focus on getting campus operations restored and fully operational as quick as possible.
Urgent requests: call ContactIPF at (517) 353-1760 instead of sending an email or online ticket. Urgent requests include life safety, water leaks, broken windows or doors, or similar items that should be addressed within 24 hours. Life safety requests include items that involve human/animal life safety, research impacts, or facility damage.
PRINT a Contact IPF flyer for your on campus location.
September 26, 2026
9:00 a.m. - plans to continue restoration through Zone 5 include closing Giltner Hall on Sunday, September 27. Please see the notice for details. Campus updates, including a comprehensive FAQ, and the restoration plan map are available online https://msu.edu/emergency.
September 25, 2026
6:00 p.m. - Steam restoration continued throughout the day. Today crews completed work in Zone 5 with these buildings getting steam restored: Computer Center, Hannah Administration Building, and Natural Sciences. Zone 5 and 6 are the zones in north campus.
While restoration progress today was slower than planned due to the complexity of the campus infrastructure, crews continued to make meaningful progress while prioritizing the safety of personnel and the long-term reliability of restored systems. The deliberate pace taken today reflects the team's commitment to completing this work safely and correctly.
Campus updates, including a comprehensive FAQ, and the restoration plan map are available online https://msu.edu/emergency.
September 24, 2026
7:00 p.m. - Steam restoration is continuing throughout the day. Today crews completed Zones 7. Campus updates and the restoration plan map are available online https://msu.edu/emergency.
September 23, 2026
4:30 p.m. - Steam restoration is continuing throughout the day. Today crews completed Zones 3 and part of 4. Campus updates and the restoration plan map are available online https://msu.edu/emergency.
September 22, 2026
2:30 p.m. - Steam restoration is continuing throughout the day. Crews have completed Zones 0, 1 and 2. The restoration plan map is available online https://msu.edu/emergency. In buildings where steam has been restored, there is now hot water for sinks, showers, autoclaves, etc. A few buildings in these zones are experiencing issues with their building heating system that is impacting space temperatures. View the list of buildings impacted and the notice about the building temperatures in those buildings. We have a plan to resolve the building temperature issues once campus steam is fully restored.
September 21, 2026
5:00 p.m. - The following buildings have steam restored. A couple of these buildings will need hot water restored independent of the steam restoration.
- Radiology
- Clinical Center
- Life Sciences
- Bott
- Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building (ISTB)
- IQ/BioEngineering
- Engineering Research, will need hot water restored
- Linen Services
- Regional Chilled Water Plant
- Plant and Soil Sciences
- Molecular Plant Sciences
- FRIB
- Veterinary Medical Center
- Wharton Center for Performing Arts
- Conrad Hall
- Fee Hall
- Akers Hall
- Hubbard Hall
- Holmes Hall
- IM East
- McDonel
8:25 a.m. The power plant has successfully restarted a power boiler and steam turbine and synchronized the turbine with the campus electrical grid. Steam production will continue to ramp up, supporting efforts to restore steam distribution across campus.
September 20, 2026
10:00 a.m. Power has been restored to most of campus. The heating and cooling system will take additional time to be fully restored, impacting hot water to residence halls, educational buildings and dining facilities. Steam service will take time to bring back online. Crews are working around the clock to restore services and assess campus conditions. There are no safety concerns about being on campus. View the MSU Today update.
8:30 a.m. Power has been restored throughout most of campus. The MSU Union will resume normal operating hours today, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
3:00 a.m. Michigan State University has restored power to the majority of campus following the outage at the T.B. Simon Power Plant. Crews continue working to bring the remaining buildings fully online and additional updates will be provided.
September 19, 2026
10:30 p.m. The source of the failure has been identified. Crews are diligently working at the T.B. Simon Power Plant to repair the issue. The T.B. Simon Power Plant produces electricity and steam power for campus. Once the power plant comes back online, power will be methodically restored to all buildings and campus facilities over a period of time. The university is optimistic that power will be restored by the morning. View the update from MSU Today.
10:00 p.m. some buildings have grooved piping that may start leaking at the joints. It is not harmful to touch. Report leaks to Contact IPF at 517-353-1760.
7:45 p.m. Michigan State University has identified the cause of the power outage affecting campus and is actively working to restore power. The university does not yet have an estimated time for power to be restored and anticipates it may still be hours until campus is fully restored.
Light towers are being placed at intersections on campus; please use caution when driving. The campus community should be aware that MSU DPPS Green Light phones may not be working; please call 911 or text 911 in the event of an emergency. View MSU Today update.
7:00 p.m. Dining halls on campus are now closed. Downtown East Lansing still has power. Due to the ongoing power outage, the MSU Union will be closing at 8:00 p.m.
6:45 p.m. Internet and cell phone service have both been impacted as a result. Campus is currently experiencing cellular service disruption due to the power outage. Coverage should improve as you move off campus. The university is working with Verizon Wireless to mitigate the situation and to bring additional mobile cellular units to improve coverage. Please call or text 911 in the event of an emergency.
4:15 p.m. Michigan State University is currently experiencing a widespread power outage. Crews are working to quickly identify and diagnose the issue. The timeframe for power to be restored can not be determined at this time.
Aside from the outages, there is no threat to campus.
Additional information will be shared as it becomes available. View MSU Today statement.
- Now that the power is up, can I use a space heater?
Space heaters are regulated because they can create system imbalances, overload building electrical circuits, and can use a significant amount of energy. If used improperly, space heaters can also become a fire hazard. Learn more about building temperatures and space heaters.
- As a student living on campus, what do I need to know?
- Residence hall bathrooms, community kitchens and laundry rooms do not currently have hot water. Cold water remains unaffected.
- Residence hall and on-campus apartment Primary Service Centers are open during their normal business hours. If a location needs to close, updated information will be posted.
- Residence Hall occupants should be mindful of outside temperatures when opening windows, as the building heat is not on.
- If on-campus residents are experiencing any issues in their room or bathroom, please submit an On-Campus Resident Service Request, or visit the Primary Service Center for urgent needs.
- Students living on campus with RCPD accommodations should work with their Access Specialist for questions and concerns related to the power and hot water outages.
- When will the hot water be back?
Hot water will return in regions as the steam is returned to campus.
- What about refrigeration for medications?
In an effort to ensure medications remain safe, please keep your refrigerators closed unless you absolutely need to access items from within. Per the CDC, most refrigerated medications are unaffected by being in a fridge without power for up to 24 hours; however, please check your specific medication manufacturer's website for specifics.
If you have medical questions, please call the 24-hour nurse line at 517-353-5557.
- What about students, staff and animals on campus?
Life safety is prioritized in emergency situations for both people and animals.
- Are dining halls still open?
As of 7 p.m. Saturday evening the dining halls have closed. Downtown East Lansing still has power.
- Can I still get into my building?
If you do not need to be on campus, please avoid the area so that emergency responders can focus their efforts. If you are on campus and need into a building you will need to use the main door for your building as other doors are locked.
- What do I do if my medical equipment needs power?
The widespread power outage may be affecting your medical equipment. If you are experiencing any issues or require assistance, please contact your nearest Service Desk.
- Is the water safe?
The water in the system and the water that will be delivered once the hot water is restored is all safe.
Please call or text 911 to report any emergencies or call 517-355-2221 to report any non-emergency related issues.
Urgent facilities requests include life safety, water leaks, broken windows or doors, or similar items that should be addressed within 24 hours. Life safety requests include items that involve human/animal life safety, research impacts, or facility damage. Call ContactIPF at (517) 353-1760 instead of sending an email or online ticket.