Two-Thirds of American Homeowners Have Experienced a Power Outage This Year, Majority Worry Power Outages Will Become More Common

A survey of 2,000 American homeowners conducted in August 2026 found that two-thirds have experienced a power outage this year, with nearly three-quarters of those affected anticipating another within 12 months. The average household reported three outages, and the most recent lasted 5.5 hours, though some endured days without power. Concerns about outage frequency are widespread, with 65% of respondents believing disruptions will stay the same or increase, compared to 16% who expect them to decline.

Nearly half of homeowners rated their preparedness for a blackout at 6.6 out of 10, and 47% admitted to a “power outage reality check” revealing inadequate readiness. Severe storms, winter weather, and extreme heat were cited as the top threats to power reliability by over half of respondents, while 75% expressed concern about data centers straining the grid. Only 38% were confident their local grid could meet rising electricity demand from data centers.

Among those who lost power, 57% reported losing heating or cooling, 48% faced food spoilage, and 44% lost internet or cell service. Nearly one-third sought shelter elsewhere during an outage, and 28% had a household member dependent on electricity for medical needs such as refrigerated medications or CPAP machines. The disruptions underscore the broader consequences of grid failures beyond mere inconvenience.

Sunrun, the largest U.S. provider of home battery storage and solar systems, highlights its no-upfront-cost solutions as a way to enhance energy resilience. Customers with Sunrun’s battery-plus-solar systems can maintain power during extended outages without generators, while also reducing utility bills by using stored solar energy. The company’s distributed power plant programs allow customers to share energy with the grid during peak demand, supporting community-wide reliability.