Page 13 - Piedmont_Spring_2022

THE COST OF
POWER OUTAGES
IN THE U.S.

BY THE NUMBERS
Power outages cost American
87% of power outages are caused by households $150 billion annually with
THE COST OF weather-related outages accounting
severe weather (50,000 or more customers).
POWER OUTAGES for $25 - $70 billion per year.
IN THE U.S. infograPhiC Courtesy of kohler Co.

500 87 % $ 150

Thousand
X2 Billion

BY THE NUMBERS
Power outages cost American
87% of power outages are caused by7% of power outages are caused by
8 households $150 billion annually with
severe weather (50,000 or more customers).severe weather ( (50,,000 or more customers)rs).
weather-related outages accounting
Number of people on average affected Weather-related power
for $25 - $70 billion per year.
daily by U.S. power outages. outages have doubled since 2003.
Source: Patterson, Thom. "U.S. electricity blackouts skyrocketing.” CNN Tech, 15 Oct. 2010. Web. www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/08/09/smart.grid/.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy. Economic Benefits of Increasing Electric Grid Resilience to Weather Outages. By the President’s Council of Economic
Advisors and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. Aug. 2013.
87
87
% %
Source: Samenow, Jason. "Report: Power outages due to weather have doubled since 2003." The Washington Post 11 Apr. 2014.
500
500
500
Source: Campbell, Richard. United States. Congressional Research Service. Weather-Related Power Outages and Electrical System Resiliency. 2012.
150
150
150
$ $
WHAT CAUSES THE POTENTIAL COST
Thousand
Thousand
Thousand
Billion
Billion
Billion
X22
POWER OUTAGES? TO HOMEOWNERS
X
14.8% 29.7% $ 10,000
Burst or Frozen Pipes
Wind/Rain Equipment
Failure
Number of people on average affected mber of people on average affected
Nu Weather-related power
Weather-related power
21,000
$
daily outages have doubled since 2003.
daily by U.S. power outages.by U.S. power outages.
outages have doubled since 2003.
icon
Source: Patterson, Thom. "U.S. electricity blackouts skyrocketing.” CNN Tech, 15 Oct. 2010. Web. www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/08/09/smart.grid/. Patterson, Thom. "U.S. electricity blackouts skyrocketing.” CNN Tech, 15 Oct. 2010. Web. www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/innovation/08/09/smart.grid/.
Source: Flooded Basement
10.1%
Source: U.S. Department of Energy. Economic Benefits of Increasing Electric Grid Resilience to Weather Outages. By the President’s Council of Economic
Source: U.S. Department of Energy. Economic Benefits of Increasing Electric Grid Resilience to Weather Outages. By the President’s Council of Economic
11.3%
Advisors and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. Aug. 2013.
Advisors and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. Aug. 2013.
Operator Error
Source: Samenow, Jason. "Report: Power outages due to weather have doubled since 2003." The Washington Post 11 Apr. 2014.
Source: Samenow, Jason. "Report: Power outages due to weather have doubled since 2003." The Washington Post 11 Apr. 2014.
Lightning $ 500 - 30,000
$
Source: Campbell, Richard. United States. Congressional Research Service. Weather-Related Power Outages and Electrical System Resiliency. 2012.
Source: Campbell, Richard. United States. Congressional Research Service. Weather-Related Power Outages and Electrical System Resiliency. 2012.
Mold Removal
WHAT CAUSES 7.7% THE POTENTIAL COST
then, the couple have installed a Generac Guardian 22-kilowatt (kW) the power comes back on, the generator automatically shuts off.”
5.9%
POWER OUTAGES?
Voltage
TO HOMEOWNERS
home backup generator, which is wired into their garage’s main Backup generators can also protect the home from damages and
250 - 500
$
$
Voluntary
Reduction
breaker panel. The natural gas generator is securely bolted outside expensive repairs after a power outage, Tydrich said. “Water damage
Reduction
10,000
Food Loss
$
onto a concrete foundation beside the house. from frozen pipes, mold issues from failed air conditioning and flood
5.5%
29.7%
29.7%
29.7%
14.8%
14.8%
“The generator has come on two or three times since then,” he remediation from failed sump pumps are just a few of the outage-
Burst or Frozen Pipes
5.3%
Cold Weather
Equipment
Equipment
Equipment
Wind/Rain
Wind/Rain
said. “The power fails and, literally, five seconds later, you hear a related costs that can add up fast.”
$
110/Night
Supply
F
Failureailure
Failure
click, and the power is restored. It’s instant, with no flicker. All you Generators can be sized and equipped to handle specific loads in-
Shortage
Alternative Shelter
5.2%
21,000
$
hear outside is the generator humming away. There’s no interrup- cluding heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or an entire
icon
Fire
5%
tion. It’s sort of reassuring.” home. Each situation is different, and homeowners should consider
Flooded Basement
Ice Storm
Source: Michigan Fire Claims, Inc.;
10.1%
10.1%
10.1%
Added Leila Hallan: “The only reason we know it comes on is when their budget, use and criticality of specific systems or appliances.
Auburn Hills Michigan
11.3%
11.3%
Source: FloodSmart.gov
Operator Error
Operator Error
Operator Error
we hear it outside. You wouldn’t know it’s on. It’s no noisier than an A wide range of natural gas generators is available. For example,
(A two-inch flood in a 2,000 sq. ft. home)
Totals are greater than 100% because some events fall into multiple

Lightning
500 - 30,000
Lightning
$
$
initiating-event categories.
air conditioner; it just has a different tone. And, it is seamless. When Source: MoldRemediationCostGuide.com (continued on page 14)
Source: Carrns, Ann. "Hurricane Damage Questions, Part 2:
Source: Campbell, Richard. United States. Congressional Research Flooding and Food." The New York Times, 31 Aug. 2011.
Mold Removal
Service. Weather-Related Power Outages and Electrical Web. http://nyti.ms/1kRyv2z.
7.7%
7.7%
System Resiliency. 2012. 7.7% Source: Hotels.com® Hotel Price Index (HPI®)
5.9% Voltage oltage oltage Spring - Summer 2022 ❙ naturalliving 13
5.9%
V V
POWER OUTAGE ESSENTIALS
Please recycle this magazine after you read it. Reduction $ 250 - 500
$
V
Voluntary oluntary
Reduction
Reduction
Reduction
Reduction
Make sure you have these items readily available during the next power outage.
Food Loss
5.5%
5.5%
5.5%
For a full list and more tips, visit kohlergenerators.com.
5.3%
5.3%
Cold
Cold WeatherWeatherWeather
Cold
• Flashlight • Gas for your car (gas stations may not be able to pump gas)
$
110/Night
Supply
Supply
•Self-powered radio • Unplug major appliances (prevents overloaded circuits when power is restored)
Shortage • Unplug lights with the exception of one so you know when power is restored
Shortage
• Extra batteries for flashlights,
5.2%%%
5.2
5.2
radio, cell phones, etc. • Emergency numbers and contact information Alternative Shelter
5%
5%
• Non-perishable food & water F F Fireireire
(x3 days)
Ice Storm
Ice Storm Source: Michigan Fire Claims, Inc.;
Source: Michigan Fire Claims, Inc.;
• Extra medications Auburn Hills Michigan
Auburn Hills Michigan
Source: FloodSmart.gov
• Extra cash Source: FloodSmart.gov
Totals are greater than 100% because some events fall into multiple
Totals are greater than 100% because some events fall into multiple otals are greater than 100% because some events fall into multiple
(A two-inch flood in a 2,000 sq. ft. home)
T
(A two-inch flood in a 2,000 sq. ft. home)
• First aid kit Source: MoldRemediationCostGuide.com
initiating-event categories.
initiating-event categories.
Source: MoldRemediationCostGuide.com
• Backup power Source: Carrns, Ann. "Hurricane Damage Questions, Part 2:
Source: Carrns, Ann. "Hurricane Damage Questions, Part 2:
Flooding and Food." The New York Times, 31 Aug. 2011.
Source: Flooding and Food." The New York Times, 31 Aug. 2011.
Source: Campbell, Richard. United States. Congressional Research Campbell, Richard. United States. Congressional Research
Source: Campbell, Richard. United States. Congressional Research
Web. http://nyti.ms/1kRyv2z.
Service. Weather-Related Power Outages and Electrical Weather-Related Power Outages and Electrical Web. http://nyti.ms/1kRyv2z.
Service. Weather-Related Power Outages and Electrical
Sources: Kohler Generators and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH); FLASH.org Source: Hotels.com® Hotel Price Index (HPI®)
Source: Hotels.com® Hotel Price Index (HPI®)
System Resiliency. 2012.
System Resiliency. 2012.
POWER OUTAGE ESSENTIALS
EMERGENCY BACKUP POWER
IS A MUST-HAVE FOR HOMEOWNERS
Make sure you have these items readily available during the next power outage.
For a full list and more tips, visit kohlergenerators.com.
Which option is best for you?
• Flashlight • Gas for your car (gas stations may not be able to pump gas)
• Self-powered radio • Unplug major appliances (prevents overloaded circuits when power is restored)
PORTABLE GENERATORS
STANDBY GENERATORS
• Extra batteries for flashlights, • Unplug lights with the exception of one so you know when power is restored
• Designed for commercial worksites, campsites, • Permanently attach to a home similar to a
radio,cell phones, etc.
• Emergency numbers and contact information
• Non-perishable food & water
tailgates and other portable settings central air-conditioning unit
(x3 days)
• Power a handful of appliances via extension cord • Run on propane or natural gas (self-feeding fuels)
• Extra medications
• Must be present to operate and refuel • Turn on automatically when power is lost;
• Extra cash
• Must be safely operated away homeowner does not need to be present
• First aid kit
from the home and open
• Backup power • Can power everything in a home, including heating,
windows in order to prevent HVAC, lights, appliances and sensitive electronics
carbon monoxide poisoning • Some standby generators, like those from Kohler,
Sources: Kohler Generators and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH); FLASH.org
• No installation required can be operated remotely from a smartphone
• Run on gasoline or diesel
EMERGENCY BACKUP POWER
IS A MUST-HAVE FOR HOMEOWNERS
Which option is best for you?
PORTABLE GENERATORS STANDBY GENERATORS
• Designed for commercial worksites,campsites, • Permanently attach to a home similar to a
tailgates and other portable settings central air-conditioning unit
Source: Kohler Generators (KohlerGenerators.com)
• Power a handful of appliances via extension cord • Run on propane or natural gas (self-feeding fuels)
• Must be present to operate and refuel •Turn on automatically when power is lost;
• Must be safely operated away homeowner does not need tobe present
from the home and open • Can power everything in a home, including heating,
windows in order to prevent HVAC, lights, appliances and sensitive electronics
carbon monoxide poisoning • Some standby generators, like those from Kohler,
• No installation required can be operated remotely from a smartphone
• Run on gasoline or diesel
Source: Kohler Generators (KohlerGenerators.com)