We have all been there before. The power goes out unexpectedly, leaving us in the dark. While a power outage can be a minor annoyance, it can significantly disrupt our lives. We can’t cook our food, take a hot shower, or watch television when the power is out.
Power outages are quite a nuisance, and the effects can be far-reaching. For instance, you might have to throw away all the food in your fridge. And if you work from home, a power outage can mean lost productivity. In some cases, power outages can even be dangerous and life-threatening.
If you know some of the most common causes of power outages, you can be better prepared for when they happen. But what exactly causes this phenomenon to happen? Here are 12 of the most common causes of power outages.
Power Outage Cause #1: Severe Weather
One of the most common causes of power outages is severe weather. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, nearly 80% of all power outages are caused by weather-related events. Most weather-related power outages are caused by storms, such as thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
These storms can damage power lines and equipment, causing them to fail and resulting in an outage. Flooding can also damage power lines and disrupt service. If floodwaters rise too high, they can damage or even destroy power poles and transformers. High winds can also damage power lines and disrupt service. Strong winds can topple trees and power lines and even cause flying debris to damage equipment.
Power Outage Cause #2: Power Equipment Failures
Sometimes, power outages are caused by equipment failures. For example, a generator can fail due to old age or poor maintenance. If a generator fails, it can cause an outage.
Another example is a transformer failure. If a transformer fails, it can cause an outage because it can’t supply power to the lines. Power lines can also fail due to old age, corrosion, or damage from severe weather, thus causing an outage.
Power equipment failures are too complex for the average homeowner to handle. You should contact a residential electrician for repairs and assistance.
Power Outage Cause #3: Animals
You must think, “How can animals cause a power outage?” Well, it turns out that they can. Birds, squirrels, and snakes are all known to cause power outages. They do this by coming into contact with power lines or equipment, causing them to fail. In some cases, the animals may even be electrocuted in the process.
Power Outage Cause #4: Human Error
You may be surprised to learn that human error is also a leading cause of power outages. Accidents, such as car accidents, can damage power lines and equipment, causing an outage. Vandalism, such as graffiti or breaking equipment, can cause an outage. Sometimes, people deliberately sabotage power lines or equipment to cause an outage.
Power Outage Cause #5: Natural Disasters
Natural disasters, such as earthquakes and wildfires, can also cause power outages. Earthquakes can damage power lines and equipment, while wildfires can damage or destroy power poles and transformers. In other cases, natural disasters can even damage or destroy entire power plants, resulting in widespread outages.
Power Outage Cause #6: Cyber Attacks
In recent years, cyber-attacks have become a leading cause of power outages. Hackers can target power plants and other critical infrastructure, causing them to fail and outage. Hackers may even deliberately sabotage power lines or equipment to cause an outage. For instance, in 2015, hackers caused a blackout in Ukraine that affected 230,000 people.
Power Outage Cause #7: Load Shedding
Load shedding deliberately cuts power to certain areas to prevent a widespread outage. This is usually done when the electricity demand is high or when there is a problem with the power grid. For example, during a heatwave, load shedding may be used to prevent the grid from becoming overloaded. This can help to avoid widespread blackouts.
Power Outage Cause #8: Power Surges
A power surge is a sudden and brief increase in electricity. Power surges can damage or destroy electrical equipment, causing an outage. They can also cause fires, further damaging equipment and disrupting service. Sometimes, power surges are caused by severe weather, such as lightning strikes. Other times, they may be caused by equipment failures or human error.
Power Outage Cause #9: Brownouts
A brownout is a temporary reduction in voltage. Brownouts can cause lights to dim or flicker and can disrupt service. They usually occur when the electricity demand is high, there are shortages in network capacity, or extreme weather conditions lead to power outages.
Power Outage Cause #10: Solar flares
Solar flares are sudden bursts of energy from the sun. They can disrupt power grids and cause blackouts. Solar flares can also damage or destroy electronic equipment, causing an outage. In some cases, solar flares may even cause widespread blackouts, affecting millions of people.
Power Outage Cause #11: Geomagnetic storms
Geomagnetic storms are caused by changes in the Earth’s magnetic field. They occur when the sun’s magnetic field interacts with the Earth’s, disrupting the power grid. Geomagnetic storms can cause widespread blackouts and damage to electronic equipment.
In 1989, a geomagnetic storm caused a blackout that affected 6 million people in Quebec, Canada. The storm can also disrupt satellite communication and navigation.
Power Outage Cause #12: Excavation Digging
An unusual power outage can be caused by excavation works, such as digging a trench or drilling. This is because the excavated material can damage or disrupt power lines and equipment. In some cases, the excavated material may cause an explosion, leading to an outage. It is advisable to contact your local power company before beginning any excavation work.