Power Outage Guide 2024

Here’s what to do if you experience a power outage.

Last updated 08/23/2024

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Key Points

Report a power outage in your area to your utility company.
Follow this power outage checklist to stay safe when your electricity is out.
Power outages can affect plumbing, water, transportation, businesses, food, and medical devices, among other things.

Electrical surges during a power outage can ruin electronic appliances when the power comes back on. To prevent damage to your electronics, unplug important or large appliances, such as TVs and computers, as long as it is safe to do so. Surge projectors are also a great way to protect your appliances before a power outage, but it’s a good idea to turn them off before a major storm.

Power outage FAQs

Yes, you should be able to flush the toilet during a power outage. Power outages shouldn’t affect your plumbing if your home is connected to the municipal water supply. If you have a well, you may need to pour water into the tank to flush if it’s empty.
Plug your generator into a power inlet box outside and at least 20 feet away from doors and windows. Keep your generator dry and away from water to avoid electrical shock. Install carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
A rolling blackout may be put in place when the state’s power grid becomes overwhelmed with energy demand. In Texas, for example, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) temporarily shuts off power across specific areas to help curb demand and protect the grid from complete failure. Rolling blackouts typically last for a few hours and rotate over different areas of the region. On the other hand, power outages are sudden and unintentional loss of power, often caused by extreme weather or accidents that harm power lines.