Power Outage 87111 (2024)

FAQs

How long do most power outages last? ›

Outages typically last 1-2 hours.

To find out if there is a power outage in your area, go to the Outage Tracker Map and enter your address in the search bar. The map will show if there is an outage in your area and the number of customers affected.

Most commonly, the circuit breaker has been overloaded and tripped off. The circuit breakers are typically found in the breaker panel box that is often located in the garage, basem*nt, or utility room. The second most common reason is there is a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) that has tripped off.

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.

Depending on the amount of water remaining in the pipes, you might be able to flush your toilet several times while the power is out. Eventually, however, your tank won't fill up anymore because the pumps are down. When this happens, you will need to flush your toilet manually by pouring in a bucket of water.

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.

A power outage may: Disrupt communications, water and transportation. Close retail businesses, grocery stores, gas stations, ATMs, banks and other services. Cause food spoilage and water contamination.

Turn the power in the circuit off, selecting it on the electrical panel with the circuit breaker. Verify that the power is off by placing the voltmeter on the two output points at the bottom of the circuit breaker. The voltmeter will show that there is no voltage if the light does not light up.

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.

There are many possible causes for a partial power outage in your home with no breaker tripped. First, check all of the outlets in the affected area to see if any have loose or damaged wires. If so, these need to be repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

Why do my neighbors have power but I don't? ›

You may be on a different distribution line or transformer than your neighbors. There may be damage to your service line that must be repaired before your power is restored. There may be damage to the electrical wiring in your home that must be repaired before power is restored.

Sometimes the main breaker will trip when there is a power outage. If this happens, it could be that there was an electrical overload. If the power to your area is back on after an outage, but your home still doesn't have electricity, check the electrical panel. You might have to reset it to restore power.

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.

In the last 20 years, Florida has had the most people per capita impacted by power outages — more than 900,000. In 2022, California accounted for 24% of all U.S. power outages, and Texas accounted for 14%. California, Texas, and Pennsylvania are the states most affected by power outages during the winter.

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.

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.

Utility workers can fix a minor incident, such as a fallen power line, in around 2-3 hours. But when the cause of a blackout is severe weather or a natural disaster, you can expect to be out for several days and even months in some extreme cases.

Planned power cuts and how they work

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.