Electric Power Interruptions
Louisiana customers averaged 80 hours of power interruptions in 2021, compared to 7 hours for the average U.S. customer.
Average annual duration of electric power interruptions, by state
Hours per customer
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. Notes: "Momentary" interruptions that last 5 minutes or less are generally omitted. Data reported by utilities using IEEE standard as well as any other method.
Winter Storm Elliott, which struck much of the country in December 2022, left hundreds of thousands of Southern homes without power and was a stark reminder of the fragility of America’s power grids.1 Extreme weather events tend to cause the longest interruptions.2 And as weather events become larger, affecting a wide swath of the country, the nation’s balkanized power grid means energy cannot travel to affected areas from unaffected areas.3 A more unified system would make the U.S. energy infrastructure more resilient. Such a system will also be critical for ensuring new sources of renewable energy generated in one part of the country can be transmitted to parts of the country with less wind and solar energy supplies.4 The Inflation Reduction Act includes funding to increase the development of U.S. electricity transmission infrastructure.5 From 2013 to 2021, Louisiana had the highest cumulative hours (183) of power interruptions of all states, and West Virginia had the third highest hours of interruptions (111).
Greater security for electric utilities is also needed. A December shooting attack on a North Carolina electrical substation left tens of thousands of people without power for nearly a week. The Department of Homeland Security has warned that domestic terrorists consider the U.S. power grid to be an attractive target due to lax security regulations.6
“Millions without power as winter storm batters U.S. with blizzards, freezing rain”. Williams. PBS. December, 2022. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/millions-without-power-as-winter-storm-batters-u-s-with-blizzards-freezing-rain
“U.S. electricity customers averaged seven hours of power interruptions in 2021”. U.S. Energy Information Administration. November, 2022. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=54639
“After strain from another winter storm, experts say it’s time to fix the electric grid”. Zullo. Louisiana Illuminator. December, 2022. https://lailluminator.com/2022/12/31/as-another-winter-storm-strains-the-electric-grid-its-time-to-fix-transmission-experts-say/
“A national US power grid would make electricity cheaper and cleaner”. Roberts. Vox. June, 2020. https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2020/6/20/21293952/renewable-energy-power-national-grid-transmission-microgrids
“Electricity Transmission Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022”. Congressional Research Service. August, 2022. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11981
“North Carolina Attack Shows Fragility of U.S. Power Grids, Experts Say”. Saul. Insurance Journal. December, 2022. https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2022/12/07/698270.htm
