Rolling Blackouts: What They Are and How to Prepare for Them (2024)

Blackouts have been hitting the American power grid for decades. The famous New York City blackout of 1977 was caused by a lightning strike while the blackout of 2003 was the result of a software bug. But rolling blackouts are different – they’re temporary blackouts planned by the grid operator in order to avoid more serious power outages.

So what’s the reason for rolling blackouts? Are they more likely to happen in some places than in others? And what can you do to prepare for them?

Let’s take a look at how rolling blackouts work, and whether you can expect them to impact the power grid in your region.

What Are Rolling Blackouts?

Rolling blackouts are an emergency procedure that power grid operators use to balance the power supply in a specific region. Unlike power outages caused by physical damage to power lines or power plants, rolling blackouts are usually temporary and intended to minimize the impact on local electricity consumers.

By turning off power to a series of neighborhoods or parts of the city one at a time, grid operators can avoid overloading the power grid while ensuring that no single neighborhood is without power for an extended period.

Although power companies may be able to warn customers of blackouts in advance, most of the time they’re hard to predict and happen with little to no warning.

What’s the Reason for Rolling Blackouts?

The reason for rolling blackouts is to protect the power grid from serious damage and to ensure power supply to critical locations, such as hospitals. Rotating outages are easier to deal with than a complete shutdown of the grid due to overloaded transmission lines or damage to power plants.

But why does the power need to be turned off in the first place? Because the grid needs to be maintained at a specific frequency – for the Texas power grid, that’s about 60 hertz – in order to function properly.

That frequency is maintained when the demand for power is equal to the amount of power that’s being added to the grid. If the energy demand is too high, then power generators can’t keep up and the grid gets overloaded.

What Is a Blackout vs. a Brownout?

Not all energy emergencies are serious enough to result in a blackout. In some cases, your energy provider may implement a brownout, in which they reduce the electricity supply but don’t cut it off entirely.

In a brownout, the power supply may drop by 10-25%. You may not notice any impact on low-voltage devices, such as light bulbs, but household electronics like computers could be affected.

By using smart power strips or surge protectors, you can protect these devices from damage — and also prevent them from drawing vampire energy when not in use.

Will There Be a Blackout in 2022-2023?

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The problem with blackouts is that they’re unpredictable. If the public utility commission in each region could schedule rolling blackouts a year in advance, then we’d have less to worry about. We could simply mark our calendars and plan ahead.

Since blackouts are hard to predict, we have to look at other risk factors instead. For example, heat waves, wildfires, and other extreme weather events tend to result in increased electricity demand and impacts on grid reliability.

So while we can say with a high degree of certainty that rolling blackouts will happen somewhere in 2022-2023, we can’t tell you exactly when or where.

Which Countries Have Rolling Blackouts?

Rolling blackouts can occur anywhere, although they’re more common in developing countries with unstable power grids.

In some countries, they’re a daily occurrence, while in others they only happen in rare cases, such as extreme weather events.

South Africa experiences up to 100 days of power outages per year, while in Kosovo, rolling blackouts occur every six hours.

In the U.S., states like California and Texas have seen the most high-profile power outages, but they’re becoming more widespread due to climate change.

Which Parts of the U.S. Are at Risk of Rolling Blackouts?

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The North American Electric Reliability Corporation found that several parts of the U.S. are at “high risk” and “elevated risk” of energy emergencies as of 2022.

For example, in the West, “widespread drought and below-normal snowpack has the potential to lead to lower than average output from hydro generators,” while in Texas, “wide-area heat events coupled with drought can lead to higher than expected peak electricity demand and tighter reserve conditions.”

Since different states use different power grids, it’s important to know which grid you’re on in order to prepare for rolling blackouts in your region.

Both the East and West Coast are on separate power grids – the Eastern and Western Interconnection – while Texas and Alaska each have their own state grids.

Are Rolling Blackouts More Common in Winter or Summer?

Although we often think of blackouts as a summer emergency, they can happen during any time of year when power demand is higher than normal. Heat waves, cold snaps, and winter storms can all result in power outages.

That’s because an increased use of heaters and air conditioners can put strain on the power supply. As energy usage approaches peak demand, utility companies may ask consumers to reduce their energy usage voluntarily to avoid a blackout.

But in some cases, that isn’t enough, and regulators have no choice but to turn to rolling blackouts or load shedding as a last resort.

That’s what happened in Texas in 2021, when a severe winter storm caused a spike in demand, and regional power plants – including natural gas plants and wind turbines – couldn’t keep up. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) had to turn off power in many parts of the state, impacting residents from Austin to Houston.

For some Texans, the power outage lasted for days, so this wasn’t technically a rolling blackout, but rather an extreme energy emergency.

How Do You Prepare for a Rolling Blackout?

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For many of us, electricity isn’t just how we keep the lights on: it’s also how we heat our homes in the winter and keep them cool in the summer. The longer a blackout goes on, the more serious the impacts, especially for those who rely on electricity to power their medical devices, such as an oxygen machine.

Here are four ways to prepare your home for a power outage:

Stock Up on Supplies

If there’s a major blackout in your region, you won’t be the only one without electricity. Groceries and pharmacies may be without power too – and even if they’re open, they may not be able to keep up with demand for essentials.

Be sure to stock up on supplies in advance. In addition to food and medicine, make sure you have flashlights, extra batteries, and warm clothes (for winter blackouts).

Invest in a Backup Power Supply

If you live in a region where rolling blackouts are common, you may want to invest in an alternative energy source, such as a generator or solar power.

Another option is an energy storage device, such as the Tesla Powerwall, which uses the same lithium-ion battery technology used in many electric cars.

Although solar panels and energy storage devices can be expensive to install, there are tax incentives and renewable energy rebates available in some states.

Choose More Energy-Efficient Appliances

Upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances won’t spare you from rolling blackouts, but they may allow you to be less reliant on the electrical grid.

For example, if you live in a region where rolling blackouts are common in the winter, you can install radiant heating in your home.

Not only is this method more efficient than forced-air ventilation, but it can also be installed in a way that doesn’t rely on the power grid at all.

Monitor the Situation

Finally, keep an eye on the news and watch out for recommendations from your energy provider. They may send you an email or text to warn you of a potential power outage and ask you to reduce your energy usage.

If you can, adjust your thermostat or turn off your air conditioner during times of peak demand. Instead, use a fan to circulate air around the room.

Not all power outages are caused by rotating blackouts, though. Visit PowerOutage.us to find out whether you’re experiencing a rolling blackout or another power issue.

How Long Do Rolling Blackouts Last?

If your power outage is due to a rolling blackout, then you can expect the power to come back on in 1-2 hours. In more serious cases, it may take longer. Rolling blackouts take place during times of high energy use, so you’re more likely to experience them in the afternoon or evening, rather than in the middle of the night.

Neighborhoods with critical infrastructure, such as hospitals and fire stations, may be spared from rolling blackouts.

Residents can help to reduce the risk of rolling blackouts in their region by taking steps to weatherize their home and use more energy-efficient appliances.

Compare Rates to Get the Best Energy Prices

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Since rolling blackouts are controlled by the grid operator, you may experience them regardless which power supplier you get your electricity from. For example, in Texas, Just Energy, Amigo Energy, and Tara Energy all draw power from the same grid.

But that doesn’t mean you won’t get better rates by switching to another provider. In fact, some power suppliers encourage energy conservation by offering free nights to customers who reduce their energy usage during times of peak demand.

With Just Energy, you can download an app to track your home energy usage and even get alerts about planned outages and extreme weather events. You can also choose a green energy plan to ensure that your money is going to renewable energy providers and contributing to a more sustainable grid. You might not be able to avoid rolling blackouts but you can be prepared.

Brought to you by justenergy.com

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