There are different factors that could cause power outages near you. The risk of power outages have risen in many areas. Disasters can occur without warning at anyplace, any time. This is why you should know how to find information about power outages near you. This will help you prepare adequately for any form of outbreak. In this article, we will touch on the reasons for power outages. We will also provide you with resources to determine your exposure possibility.
Purpose of a power outage
Power outages can happen as a result of damage or failure of some part of the system. It can also happen as a preventive measure to secure lives and ensure safety. Let’s look at these two headings.
Damage
Damage to electrical equipment can lead to power outages. In addition to this, failure of markets involved in the generation, distribution or transmission of electricity can cause power outages.
- Equipment failure: When a tree branch comes in contact with the wires carrying electricity to a property, it may lead to damage. This is a potential source of a power outage and can affect operations and power supply to that property.
- Generation: This is a very rare occurrence that happens when there are not enough electricity distributed to meet everyone’s expected needs. The causes of this type of outage can vary and can be difficult to access. The causes may include, but not limited to, the following: market manipulation, problem with fuel supply and extreme deviation from historical weather conditions. If not properly managed, this type of outage can pose a serious threat for grid stability.
- Distribution: Distribution is used to explain the part of the electric grid that powers directly to your home. In general, distribution lines are those wires you see in front of your house on a pole. If these distribution lines are damaged, its impact is usually limited to a smaller area with fewer people. This kind of damage may be caused by animals, stray balloons, errant drivers or malfunctioning equipment.
- Transmission: Transmission lines refers to lines that transports electricity generated in a distant place to places closer to where people live. If this is damaged, there is a higher tendency for disruptions across larger geographic areas than most of the other types.
Preventive
One of the most used ways to protect people and property from electrical risks is to shut off power. Examples of outages that are intended to provide safety:
- Fire safety settings on protective equipment: This setting is done in order to shut off power in the event of a problem to prevent fire or electrocution. The settings can quickly cut off power to a line to avoid a spark that could lead to a wildfire.
- Planned work: Power in a particular area may be temporarily shut off to safely perform planned maintenance or construction work.
How to find information about power outage near you
You can contact your local distributor network operator or the National Power Grid in your location. You can also check service numbers or visit their websites and social media pages for information.
How can I determine my exposure to Power Outage
Below is a list of various resources available for determining your exposure to different types of power outages:
Areas more prone to PSPS events
Although PSPS events can be called anywhere, different areas are more likely to be subject to them.
Distribution
You can review the annual electric reliability repost in the location where you are presently. This way you can know if you live in an area that has historically lower than average reliability. You can also ask for reliability information directly from your utility.
Generation and Transmission
You can check for available applications that are designed to give you an outage notification. This way you get alert to any current or likely issues with the bulk generation and transmission system.
Areas where the fire safety settings may be activated
In general, it’s possible for utilities to activate fire safety settings in designated areas during situations that are more likely to lead to a catastrophic fire outbreak.