Current Demco Outage Map (2024)

FAQs

How long do most power outages last? ›

Outages typically last 1-2 hours.

The District of Columbia suffered the least from power outages, with about 0.47 per year on average. Utah and Wisconsin are close second and third with 0.60 and 0.75 annual outages, respectively.

It can stem from inclement weather conditions, human error, equipment failure, and even animal interference. Scheduled maintenance can also cause a power outage, though this is usually communicated to households in advance by the utility company.

Almost one-quarter of 2022 power outages occurred in California. The state of California also came in first for the most power outages overall in the last 20 years: 2,684.

As the USDA notes in Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency, your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.

Can I Shower When the Power Is Out? To shower when the power is out, your home needs a traditional tank-style water heater. If that water heater still has hot water in reserve, then you can take a warm shower. If you plan to take a shower, you need to do it soon after the power goes out.

California stands out as the state with the most power outages between 2002 and 2022. This state had a total of 94 outages, 28 more than second-place holder, Florida. The likelihood of an outage is much higher in California than in any other state.

Projections from NERC paint a dire picture: between 2024 and 2028, an alarming 300 million people across the United States could face power outages.

States with the greenest grids

Washington state had the cleanest grid overall as of 2022, the product of its prodigious hydropower resources drawn from the Columbia River.

The most likely cause is a bad connection or faulty wiring issue that does not allow an adequate flow of electricity to certain fixtures. That's why it's important to cut power to those fixtures when you discover the problem—loose wires are a leading cause of house fires, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

Should you turn off breakers during a power outage? ›

Be sure to unplug or turn off large electronics and appliances—like HVAC and refrigeration units—to prevent additional damage. Sometimes the easiest way to do this is by turning off individual breakers at the electrical panel. Once power is restored, systematically turn units back on.

Flickering lights is a complete, momentary power outage, sometimes just for a second or two. Your lights may also flicker a few times before you lose power entirely. Generally, flickering lights occur when there is a fault in our electrical system, such as a tree or branch contacting a power line.

Responsible for the greatest number of substation outages across the U.S., squirrels enter substations in search of shelter and warmth—and possess the instinct to remember the best nesting sites.

The states and regions most at risk are Texas, California, the Southwest, New England and much of the Midwest, according to NERC's 2024 Summer Reliability Assessment released Wednesday.

Most power outages can be restored within hours, but those caused by storms or violent winds that damage electrical lines and equipment can linger for days or even weeks.

A blackout ends when your body finally absorbs the alcohol and your brain can make memories again. Sleep helps end blackouts because rest gives the body time to process the alcohol. Others, though, can digest liquor while still awake. That means a blackout could last minutes to even days.

Each planned power outage is likely to last around three hours, and in emergency cases, this could be longer. You'll be contacted before it's planned, with the details of the time when the power will be cut.

Extended power outage means an interruption in electric service lasting more than 24 hours.