Where the power grid fails most: States hit the hardest by power outages

America's power grid is struggling.

Power outages have increased a staggering 20% annually since 2019, with weather-induced blackouts now threatening millions of households across the country—especially along the coasts, the Great Lakes, and Gulf regions.

New research from Texas A&M University shows that these power outage hot spots face the highest levels of vulnerability, putting families at risk during extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent and severe.

You can't control the weather, but you can control how you prepare for future storms by protecting yourself with clean energy: Solar battery systems can be a lifeline during extreme weather.

Between 2000 and 2023, Texas was the leading U.S. state for major power outages, with more than 200 blackouts. In 2023 alone, Texas accounted for 13% of all power outages across the country. California followed, with 238 major power outages, while Louisiana residents endure the longest average blackouts at 470 minutes, or about eight hours. When the power goes out for days at a time, families face spoiled food, medical equipment failures, and dangerous indoor temperatures.

"We knew that the state of power system vulnerability nationwide is exacerbating,” said Dr. Ali Mostafavi, the director of the Urban Resilience AI Lab, in the report. “But the magnitude of that was shocking, and greater than we hypothesized." 

The Texas A&M research team used machine learning to analyze over 179 million data points sorted by time and location, creating a Power System Vulnerability Index (PSVI) that maps America's most at-risk counties. Their findings confirm what many people already realize: The grid is getting worse, not better.

When severe storms knock out power lines or heat waves overwhelm the grid, most homeowners typically reach for gas generators. But solar panels combined with battery storage systems offer advantages that generators can't match—they're silent, emission-free, and can power your home instantly without manual startup.

Modern battery systems store electricity from the grid or solar panels when rates are low, then automatically kick in during outages. Unlike generators that require constant refueling and maintenance, batteries provide seamless backup power that keeps your refrigerator running, medical devices operational, and lights on without the carbon monoxide risks of running a generator.

Adoption rates are rising as more people learn about the benefits of batteries: Thirty four percent of EnergySage shoppers purchased batteries alongside solar in the first half of 2024, and that rate increased to 45% by the end of the year. During extended outages, batteries paired with solar panels can recharge daily, providing long-term backup power as long as the sun shines. Generators eventually run out of fuel—and good luck finding gas stations with power during widespread blackouts.

The impacts of climate change impact some areas disproportionately: States like Alabama and Mississippi recently saw seasonal power outage spikes exceeding 50%. These aren't abstract statistics—they represent families losing hundreds of dollars in spoiled food, missing work, and risking heat stroke or hypothermia.

Power outages are expensive 

Power outages cost homeowners anywhere from as little as $25 for emergency supplies to $25,000 or more for major property damage (think flooded basements or burst pipes). Even a typical outage will run a family about $200 in spoiled groceries, not counting lost days working, hotel stays, or damaged electronics. For people with health conditions who have medical equipment that requires refrigeration or electricity, the consequences can be life-threatening.

So while it’s true that solar-plus-storage is a pricey upfront investment, the reasons why it’s worth it are apparent. A system typically costs between $20,000 and $30,000 after the federal solar tax credit, depending on system size. While that's a significant chunk of money, consider that a single extended outage can cost thousands of dollars or result in a medical emergency.

If you’re interested in adding battery storage to your existing solar panels, or getting solar-plus-storage for the first time, you’ll receive the full 30% tax credit if you act now and have them installed by the end of the year. You’ll end up paying thousands more if you wait to install your clean energy system until 2026 or later.

This isn't a temporary problem that utility companies will fix next year—it's an accelerating crisis driven by extreme weather and aging infrastructure.

About 80% of major power outages in the U.S. from 2000 to 2023  were due to weather events, and the number of those outages in the last decade was double that of the previous one. Which means that as hurricanes intensify, heat waves stretch longer, and winter storms become more severe, the grid will continue failing more frequently.

Battery storage provides insurance against this new reality. While utilities struggle to modernize decades-old infrastructure, installing a battery system now will protect your family through whatever weather extremes the coming decades bring.

The coasts, the Great Lakes, and Gulf regions are the highest-risk areas, putting millions of American families who live in power outage hot spots at risk. The question isn't whether you'll face extended blackouts, but when.

Solar panels with battery storage have evolved from an expensive investment to an essential home resilience upgrade. As outages surge and extreme weather becomes our new normal, the choice is simple: Invest in solar and backup power now while prices are lower and tax credits remain available.