- The Grid Landscape: How America’s Power System Is Structured
- Regional Hotspots and Disparities in Power Reliability
- Weather, Disasters, and the Path to Resilience
- Smart Solutions for Resilience: Batteries, Solar, and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready to Stay Powered During Outages With EcoFlow’s Portable Power Stations?
America’s Blackout Hotspots: Which States Lose Power the Most?
- The Grid Landscape: How America’s Power System Is Structured
- Regional Hotspots and Disparities in Power Reliability
- Weather, Disasters, and the Path to Resilience
- Smart Solutions for Resilience: Batteries, Solar, and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready to Stay Powered During Outages With EcoFlow’s Portable Power Stations?
One minute you’re cooking dinner, listening to music, and enjoying the cool AC, and the next, you’re unexpectedly in the pitch black. It’s a story all too common and frequent for Americans in recent years. Some regions across the country are more at risk than others, making power disruptions a growing concern for households.
Keep reading to learn more about the American power system, which states are most at risk for an outage, what causes them, and practical solutions to protect your home before the next one.
The Grid Landscape: How America’s Power System Is Structured
The continental U.S. power grids are not structured as a single, connected unit. Instead, it’s divided into three geographic systems: the Eastern Interconnect, the Texas Interconnect, and the Western Interconnect. Power is exchanged sparingly between them, as each interconnect has an independent electric power system.
Most of the electric grid was initially installed between the 1950s and the 1970s. The expected lifespan of these transmission lines is 50 to 80 years, indicating that most of the electrical infrastructure is nearing the end of its lifetime. As the country’s energy needs have grown, and continue to do so, the aging infrastructure struggles, leading to increased outages and inefficiency.
Regional Hotspots and Disparities in Power Reliability
A study by researchers at Texas A&M utilized machine learning to evaluate power outage data collected at Oak Ridge National Laboratory from 2014 to 2023. The study calculated a Power System Vulnerability Index (PSVI) for counties across the U.S. based on duration, frequency, and intensity of reported outages.
Overall, the study exposed a consistent increase in power system vulnerability across the U.S. over the past decade. The study also identified 318 counties across 45 states as outage hotspots, with the following as the most vulnerable areas:
West Coast (California and Washington)
East Coast (Florida and New England)
Great Lakes (Chicago-Detroit metropolitan area)
Texas Gulf Coast
If you live in one of these areas, you are more vulnerable to a power outage and should prepare your household ahead of the blackout.
Weather, Disasters, and the Path to Resilience
Extreme weather is one of the leading causes of power outages in the United States.
It’s no secret that these weather events are occurring more frequently across the country, from hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, fires, and heatwaves to cold snaps, heavy snow, and ice storms. Severe weather can physically damage the infrastructure, and peak electricity demands can overwhelm the system.
The risk for an outage isn’t the same across the country. The PSVI identifies four regions that are particularly vulnerable to a blackout: the West Coast, the East Coast, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf Coast. More specifically, urban areas in these regions are at the greatest risk. High-density population areas tend to strain the electrical system more than low-density rural areas.
Solar-plus-storage builds power resilience through independent power when you need it. A solar photovoltaic system paired with battery storage allows you to disconnect from the grid during an outage while keeping continuous electricity in your home.
Smart Solutions for Resilience: Batteries, Solar, and Storage
There are many options to build your home’s energy independence in case of an outage in your area. Here are three practical options that will last you through your next blackout:
Solar Panel + Battery: Store solar energy collected by solar panels directly into a battery system for silent, emission-free storage. Recharge the battery through the solar panels for unlimited power, generating electricity that lasts the entire length of the blackout.
Battery System: Store solar or grid energy in a home-integrated battery system. The EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus seamlessly integrates into your home for whole-home backup during an outage.
Portable Power Station: For smaller homes or apartments, portable power stations are gaining popularity for their practicality. They are compact and robust batteries that can be easily moved around the space wherever your electricity needs are.
DELTA 3 Max Plus Portable Power Station
Frequently Asked Questions
Which States Lose Power the Most in the U.S.?
Texas and California have consistently experienced the most power outages and the highest number of people affected by them in recent years. Other states that frequently lose power include Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Louisiana. Severe storms, such as hurricanes and snow, are the leading cause of these outages.
What Causes the Most Power Outages in the U.S.?
Severe weather is the leading cause of power outages in the U.S. More specifically, severe weather that damages the grid infrastructure. The second leading cause is damage from falling trees. It’s essential to prepare for outages when severe weather is predicted to protect yourself, your family, and your home.
How Long Do Power Outages Usually Last?
The length of the blackout depends on the reason why it happened. Planned maintenance can last a couple of hours. A minor line issue can take only a few minutes to correct itself. Major outages from severe storms with widespread damage can last for days up to a couple of weeks.
How Can Households Prepare for Blackouts?
Prepare your household for a blackout by building an emergency kit, creating or updating your safety plans, and planning ahead for medical needs. Avoid disruption and keep electricity flowing in your home, even if the grid is down, through alternative power sources like solar generators or portable power stations.
Ready to Stay Powered During Outages With EcoFlow’s Portable Power Stations?
With the increase in severe weather over the past decade and the aging American power grid, it’s a matter of when, not if, you experience a loss of electricity. If you live on the West Coast (California and Washington), the East Coast (Florida and New England), the Great Lakes (Chicago-Detroit metropolitan area), or the Texas Gulf Coast, the probability is even greater.
Get ahead of the next blackout with an alternative power source. EcoFlow offers a solution for everyone, from solar generators to portable power stations. Use an EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus for electricity, no matter the storm headed your way.