Dallas Power Outage Tips: Stay Connected with EcoFlow Backup Power
Power outages in Dallas can strike at any time, whether due to severe storms, equipment failures, accidents, or high energy demand during extreme cold or heat. Knowing how to check outage statuses, prepare for emergencies, and stay safe is essential. In this guide, we’ll cover the most common causes of blackouts, key safety measures, and how to ensure you have reliable backup power to keep your essential appliances running.
How Do I Check the Status of My Power Outage in Dallas?
To check the status of a power outage in Dallas or the Fort Worth area, contact Oncor, the Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) responsible for maintaining the transmission and distribution lines in the area. You can view their outage map online, showing all the current outages in the area. To use the map, click on the outage icon. If it’s a cluster of outages, zoom in using the + button on the map or by scrolling on your mouse so you can click on your outage. When you click the icon, an info panel will pop up on the right, telling you more information, like the number of customers affected and when electricity is expected to return.
Alternatively, you can sign up for Oncor alerts, which will send notifications and real-time updates to your phone. To ensure you can stay connected, have one of the EcoFlow DELTA Series Portable Power Stations ready to keep your devices topped up.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Power Outages in Dallas?
Severe Weather
Severe weather is Texas's most common cause of power outages, and Dallas is no exception. Tropical storms, thunderstorms, and high winds, which frequently occur from March through June, can knock down powerlines or trees that fall on powerlines. Still, they can happen at any time of year, including in winter, when severe cold and ice can also damage equipment.
To stay empowered during blackouts, have one of the EcoFlow Portable Power Stations on hand as an emergency backup to keep your essential devices running. Unlike traditional generators, they use no fossil fuels and are safe indoors without risking deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
Equipment Failure
Equipment failure is another common cause of infrastructure malfunctions due to age and other factors. Our grid relies on aging coal and gas plants that are often unable to handle extreme cold and heat, leading to failures.
To gain energy independence and reduce reliance on an aging fossil fuel-based infrastructure, install an EcoFlow DELTA 3 Series Solar Generator (PV220W). It has a super-efficient 220W bifacial solar panel, so you can recharge it when the sun shines. This way, you’ll always have reliable power to run your essential appliances.
Accidents
Accidents caused by human error are also relatively common. For example, a car accident could damage a pole, construction crews damage cables overhead by misjudging the distance to the line, or excavators do not check to see where the underground cables are when digging.
Wildlife and Trees
While trees often fall on power lines during storms, they sometimes fall on their own or grow too close to the lines, causing an outage. Squirrels and other animals can also interfere with the lines, causing electrical shorts that lead to blackouts.
High Energy Demand
As the Dallas area grows, demand on the electrical grid increases. During extreme heat or extreme cold, we often turn up the electric heat or air conditioners, placing extra demand on the grid that can lead to outages, like in the winter of 2021.
During periods of peak demand, utility companies may also enact brownouts to prevent a blackout. You will still have electricity during a brownout, but the amount you receive will be reduced. Generally, most appliances will keep working, but brownouts can damage sensitive electronics like computers. You can protect your sensitive electronics using one of the EcoFlow DELTA Series Portable Power Stations as an uninterrupted power supply. Simply plug them into your power station, and you won’t have to worry about brownouts or blackouts.
Planned Outages
Electricity companies sometimes temporarily shut off the electricity to perform maintenance or upgrades. During periods of high energy demand, they may also plan rolling blackouts to prevent overloading and long-term infrastructure damage. Fortunately, with planned outages, your electricity company will warn you so you can prepare for them.
Illegal Activity
Although rare, power can sometimes go out due to vandalism and cyberattacks.
How To Stay Safe During a Dallas Power Outage
Prepare an Emergency Kit
Every home should have an emergency kit to keep your family safe when the lights go out. Ideally, keep the contents in a waterproof bin in a safe, accessible location in your home. Your kit should include the following items:
Rechargeable LED flashlights
Complete first aid kit
1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days
Non-perishable food for each person to last 3 days
Can opener, utensils
Food and water for your pets for 3 days
Prescription drugs for any family member who needs them
Soap, toilet paper, hand sanitizer
Fire extinguisher
Multi-tool and duct tape
Lighter or matches in a waterproof container
Blankets and warm clothing for all family members
Avoid Using Candles
Candles pose a serious fire hazard, so they should not be used for light. Instead, use LED flashlights and lanterns that can be recharged with your portable solar generator.
Purchase a Safe Backup Energy Supply
A household emergency power supply is critical to help keep all your essential devices running and your lights on during outages. Since they use batteries rather than fossil fuels, they are safe indoors. They’re also ultra quiet, so they won’t disturb you. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 is the perfect home backup solution; starting at 4000W, it will run all your essential appliances, including 120V and 240V. You can keep lights on, run medical equipment, and keep your refrigerator and freezer running to prevent food spoilage.
However, if you have a traditional generator, never bring it indoors, and keep it far away from all doors and windows. Also, do not use gas stoves or ovens to heat your home. This puts you at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which kills 400 people every year in the USA.
To gain even more home energy security, use one of the EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generators, complete with solar panels, to stay connected and safe during extended outages. In fact, with enough batteries and solar panels, you can create a whole home generator solution and go off-grid completely without having to worry about a blackout ever again.
Stay Away From Downed Lines
To avoid being electrocuted, stay at least 35 feet away from fallen power lines and anything they may be touching.
Stay Home
Always stay home during an outage unless someone needs emergency medical attention. There may be road hazards, and you need to keep the roads clear for emergency responders. If you need to leave, be sure you have cash on hand since the ATM probably won’t work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Report a Power Outage in Dallas?
To report an outage in the Dallas area, call Oncor at 888-313-4747 or text “Out” to 66267. You can also report blackouts online on Oncor’s website by clicking the “Report Power Outage” button.
Final Thoughts
Power outages in Dallas are unpredictable but inevitable, so being prepared is essential to stay connected and keep your family safe. Stay informed about outages using Oncor’s outage map or alerts, have an emergency kit ready, and consider a reliable backup power solution to keep your home running smoothly. The EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generators are the perfect household backup, safe to use indoors without risking carbon monoxide poisoning, and they come with solar panels to keep you connected during extended blackouts. With the proper preparations, you can protect your family, stay connected, and weather blackouts confidently.