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Power Outages – Types, Causes, and Management Tips

Life would undoubtedly come to a standstill without an electricity supply. From corporate offices and factories to residences, streets, and neighborhoods, every possible public and private space is powered by electricity. Consequently, a power outage can cause considerable inconvenience and delay economic activities, disrupt communication, affects household activities, cause food spoilage in storage facilities, and more. 

Common causes of power outages

Turbulent weather conditions
Storms are classified as the most common causes of power outages.

Power Outages – Types, Causes, and Management Tips
Fierce winds can cause trees to topple over powerlines, disrupting the power supply. Snow, heavy rains, and lightning can also cause power cuts.

Vehicle accidents and collisions
Accidents involving vehicles can sometimes cause problems with electric infrastructure, such as power lines and pillar boxes. Vehicles colliding with utility poles can also lead to power outages, particularly in areas characterized by heavy snowfall.

Animals
Animals are curious creatures who love to explore the environments around them. However, their inquisitive nature can land them in dangerous situations, particularly involving electricity. Several animals are attracted to the humming sounds and warmth of electric units and may suffer serious, life-threatening injuries due to electric shocks. Consequently, the power supply may be interrupted due to the corpses left behind in these spaces. Sometimes, waste from bird nests can accumulate on insulators or power lines, causing power cuts.

Natural calamities
Natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and hurricanes are some of the leading causes of power cuts. Such power cuts can continue even after normalcy is restored, as the aftermath of such calamities often persists.

Maintenance work
An area may sometimes experience a power outage due to maintenance work carried out periodically to upgrade the distribution grid in the locality. In such cases, residents and commercial property occupants are typically informed in advance about the outage. They will also be provided with the details on the date and approximate duration of the power outage.

Failure of bill payment
Certain residential or commercial areas may experience power cuts due to failure to pay for the electricity on time. In such cases, electricity is restored upon bill payment.

Types of power outages

Blackout
A blackout refers to absolute power cut in an area, often due to damage caused by natural disasters. In such situations, the restoration of electricity may be a challenging task. Such blackouts severely affect individuals inhabiting or frequenting the place and can majorly hamper economic activities in the region.

Brownout
A brownout occurs due to problems with the electric power supply or electric voltage. Consequently, less electric power is supplied to the area, causing outages. Excessive electricity usage, particularly during specific periods like extremely cold weather conditions, can lead to brownouts. Unlike blackouts, brownouts do not cause total loss of power supply; however, they can cause poor performance of certain equipment like electric ovens, owing to lack of electric power supply.

Rolling blackout
A rolling blackout is a planned power outage carried out for maintenance work, such as the upgradation of the distribution grid in areas facing grid instability. It may also be conducted to enhance a city or town’s infrastructure. Sometimes, a rolling blackout is scheduled in case of insufficient fuel to facilitate a full-capacity electricity supply.

Permanent fault
A permanent fault is caused by a fault in the power lines. Although such power cuts are sudden, the power supply can be quickly restored by fixing the underlying issue in the electric supply mechanism.

Tips for handling a power outage situation

Steer clear of power lines
Fallen power lines can be dangerous during and after a power outage. Therefore, in power-cut situations, one must maintain a safe distance of at least 35 feet from fallen power lines.

Avoid opening the refrigerator repeatedly
Opening the refrigerator multiple times can eventually cause foods to return to room temperature. Unopened refrigerators can preserve food at cold temperatures for nearly four hours, while unopened freezers can store foods in their frozen states for up to two days. Thus, it is advisable first to eat perishable foods during an outage and limit the refrigerator’s opening to preserve foods for longer periods.

Operate a generator in a dry, open space
A generator should be operated over a dry surface placed in an open space, not installed inside or too close to one’s home, garage, or office. Connecting the generator to the interior space through long extension cords is better. One must also avoid using or touching a generator with wet hands during rain.

Replace candles with flashlights
A burning candle during a power outage can cause safety hazards. Thus, replacing candles with battery-operated flashlights or solar lights is always advisable. If a candle needs to be used, it should be placed in candle holders and away from flammable items.

Unplug electrical appliances and devices
Electric surges can cause severe damage and threaten safety; therefore, all electrical devices and appliances should be unplugged during a power outage.

Currently, power outage maps are available online to provide regular information on regional power restoration by address in different states and cities. Using such resources can help understand the outage’s nature and initiatives taken toward power restoration. Handling a power outage is about remaining vigilant and following specific safety measures to prevent hazards.

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