OFF THE GRID: United States Power Outage Tracker (2024)

FAQs

Which states have the most power outages? ›

Number of major blackouts by select state in the United States 2000-2023. Between 2000 and 2023, Texas was the leading U.S. state for major power outages, with almost 264 blackouts in the 23-year period. California followed, with 238 major power outages throughout the period under consideration.

Please call us at 1-800-611-1911 so we can assist you. If you received a notification from us about an outage in your area, enter your Outage Number above. You can find it on your notification. With a bit more information, we can help you retrieve more accurate outage data for your location.

The consequences of power failure

The pumps bringing water to apartments and houses are dependent on electricity. This means that the water would seize to flow in high-rise buildings in case of a power outage. On lower floors, water availability will worsen as water towers run out of water.

What caused the outages? In the immediate sense, the reason millions of Southeast Texas residents went days without power is that Hurricane Beryl slammed into the Houston area last week, maintaining Category I strength for most of its passage over the city and doing at least $2.5 billion in damage from its winds alone.

More blackouts are expected in 2024 and beyond.

That's because generators can go offline during prolonged cold snaps, threatening the reliability of the natural gas supply and infrastructure. However, some areas could see increased blackouts even under more moderate weather conditions, the NERC report says.

The first thing to do is call your utility company. They should tell you which power grid you're on. Alternatively, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) website has a useful map you can reference. Colored regions sell electricity in the wholesale market.

Use a receptacle voltage tester by plugging the device into the outlet. The lights on the device will come on to indicate the presence of a live electrical current. Test an electrical outlet with a non-contact voltage tester by holding the tester about an inch away from the short slot on the outlet.

What is a Public Safety Power Shutoff? Severe weather, such as high winds, can cause trees or debris to damage equipment. If there is dry vegetation, this could lead to a wildfire. That's why we may need to turn power off to keep you safe. This temporary outage is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).

Final answer: Loss of electricity can impact various aspects of daily life, but humans can survive without it for a few days to several weeks. It is advisable to be prepared for electricity outages by having emergency supplies and alternative power sources such as generators or solar panels.

Is our power grid in danger? ›

America's power grid is facing a serious reliability crisis. Power demand is expected to rise, while power generation is struggling to keep pace with increased electricity usage.

Fortunately, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power are practically infinite. On the other hand, the availability of fossil fuels, which still account for a significant portion of the world's electricity production, is limited, and their continued use poses environmental challenges.

Texas is the lone state in the contiguous United States with its own power grid. Embracing the go-it-alone spirit of the Lone Star flag, Texas power companies chose to keep their operations within the state's borders largely to avoid federal regulation.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, is the state's electric grid operator. It acts as traffic control – ERCOT doesn't own power plants or power lines, but it does direct where electricity goes. It makes sure electricity supply matches demand at all times.

A brownout happens when the voltage drops or dips below the usual mains supply level. It is similar to a sag – a short-term drop in voltage – but can last for anywhere from a few minutes through to several hours or even days.

Texas is the largest energy producing state in the United States.

Certain regions NERC assessed are at elevated risk of electricity supply shortages, which means that these areas could face electricity supply shortfalls during periods of more extreme summer conditions. These areas include parts of California, the Southwest, the Midwest, Texas, and New England.

Texas had 210 weather-related power outages — more than any other state — from 2000 to 2023, according to an analysis by the nonprofit Climate Central that used power outage data from the U.S. Department of Energy.

There are a variety of circ*mstances that can cause power outages ranging from natural causes like weather and animals to equipment failures and scheduled upgrades. In Michigan, fallen trees or broken limbs are the reason behind a power outage around 33% of the time, making them the leading cause for lost electricity.