How often do you lose power?

[PJPellet]

I am curious because reading other threads I get the idea that some areas are more prone to losing electric than other areas. Depending on the severity of weather I lose power maybe twice each year for a few hours. Usually due to high winds. How about everyone else?

EDIT: knocking on wood for the only twice each year

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Well we have been here almost 4 full years and in that time we have had the power flicker a few times (summer thunder storms) and go out for more than an hour once (cost a squirrel its life) we have gone through all kinds of storms that have left most of this area dark for a days or more a few times.

Our saving grace is everything is tree free from the substation to here and the substation has multiple independent feeds and gets taken care of fast.

ETA: Even so we have a small generator.

 

[ironpony]

once a winter for a day.......

generator back-up

 

[Bank]

Don't even ask. In Souther Maine (York County) my last four years I have lost power at the drop of a hat. 2008-5 days in an ice storm, 2010-4.5 days in snowstorm, not to mention various t-storms in the spring/summer. Hence the 8,000W Generac with Gen-Tran switch. Bring it on baby!

 

[tinkabranc]

We went many years where we only lost power once in a while for a couple of hours.
We had a portable generator for those times.

However, in the past few years we have been losing power more often and for much
longer durations from storms. e.g. days/weeks.
Sold the portable generator and installed a whole house standby last year.
Runs on NG and has about 75+ hours on it already.

 

[helismash]

I lose power a couple of times a year. Luckily, I am on a priority loop for a hospital and a nursing home so the power is never out for long.

 

[katwillny]

We loose power quite often, too often if you ask me. I have purchased a Generator to keep the stove going and to have some lights and TV. I also have a UPS that runs about 45 minutes once the power goes out so we are ok in that regards.

 

[DMZX]

We usually get one big blow a year that knocks it out for 12-18 hours. Freezing rain is not uncommon and if it knocks the power out the outage is usually a day or two, as it is more wide spread.

I have a 2000 watt Honda inverter that takes up the slack nicely.

 

[Frogwood]

LOTS of trees in our area so we often lose power during wind storms. Typical outage lasts 2 to 24 hours during storms. Use a portable generator to keep the stove, fridge, and a few other things going. The portable gen is good for a short term solution but I would really like to have a whole house standy setup someday.
If things get bad we go and stay with the in-laws...but it's gotta get REALLY bad before that happens.

 

[Nater]

Don't even ask. In Souther Maine (York County) my last four years I have lost power at the drop of a hat. 2008-5 days in an ice storm, 2010-4.5 days in snowstorm, not to mention various t-storms in the spring/summer. Hence the 8,000W Generac with Gen-Tran switch. Bring it on baby!

+1

In the past two months, more than 5 times. Lost it this morning for about an hour. Last time it was out for more than a day was the Halloween storm, where we lost it for somewhere around 3 days. We used to have two 6500w generators. Backup for the backup because we lose it so much.

 

[smoke show]

About three times in the last 12 years.

 

[343amc]

It seems I lose power whenever a bird farts near a power line.

 

[nate379]

This year been good so far, but the last couple years power was out 1-4 days most every windstorm (several!)

 

[jtakeman]

Generally not that often and usually only from bad weather and short outages! But this season has been killer! Storm Irene was out for 3 days and Alfred waas out for another 5 days! Lost it again this afternoon for a few hours while I was at work!

Gonna invest in a whole house genny that fires up automatically here pretty soon. And a cyberpower UPS backup for the stove!

 

[76brian]

Maybe once every couple of months my power will go out, but it's not off for long. 5 minutes max.

October 2008 we had an ice storm around here and my power was out for a couple of days. I was stranded at home during that one as I had just had eye surgery and couldn't drive for a couple of days. My fiancé at the time (ex now) did not drive at all, she was staying in town with friends so she could bus back and forth to work.

That was the worst couple of days ever. All alone in the dark and cold. No internet... no TV... no ham radio... make Brian go crazy. Needless to say, I bought a generator almost immediately after that experience.

G*d damn power hasn't been off for more than 5 minutes since!

 

[velvetfoot]

Not too bad for a rural-esque location.

For what it's worth,NY utilities are required to file an annual reliability report.
If you knew the substation and circuit number you were on, you could find out the stats for the year.
For example, for National Grid, page (pdf) 248,

It also discusses worst performing circuits, action plans, and the like.

Edit: Like I put in no longer works - I think it's a temp. link. You'd have to search for "annual reliability report" National Grid, on the dps.ny.gov website.

 

[whit]

Lose power several times a year. Causes are varied. Twice in the last year it was squirrels in the local substation getting juiced. Couple of years ago, within a week, drivers took out two utility poles - in one case a cement truck got tangled in a low hanging Comcast line between poles and pulled the pole behind it down, in the other it was just kids driving too fast. Then there are just old transformers blowing, and trees falling on lines....

Have a portable Yamaha inverter generator and have wired a transfer switch to run 4 circuits off of it, which is enough to run the basics. Haven't had to be in that mode for more than a few hours yet....

 

[Ridge]

We lose power maybe 2-3 times a year, mostly 1-2 hr but last winter it was 13 hr, so we could smell smoke in the house from the P61 but could not see it coming from anywhere, we have a OAK on the stove. We live on a Dead end gravel road in the middle of no where so we had a 12k GE generator with a whole house transfer switch installed and then installed a whole house surge protector also as our electrian recommended so now we are peace. The lectric went out and it came on at 1am 2 months ago for 4 hrs and it was a nice night and good weather? but thats what its for.

 

[mralias]

We lose pow

 

[mralias]

Sorry, power went out.....We lose power more than I care to mention.

 

[richkorn]

We lose pow

haha that's a good one!

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Its a sporadic thing here.

We lost power a few weeks ago after a nasty little storm blew through.

Maybe twice a year if that.

We are in a rural setting with areas that a heavy forest cover, and trees or limbs will fall during heavy winds or snows.

I have seen it happen in the middle of summer too.

Last summer a brisk summer wind caused a small dead tree to fall and tear out the power lines.

Its not a cronic problem, but it happens, and never at an oportune time.

Snowy

 

[flynfrfun]

...That was the worst couple of days ever. All alone in the dark and cold. No internet... no TV... no ham radio... make Brian go crazy. Needless to say, I bought a generator almost immediately after that experience.

G*d damn power hasn't been off for more than 5 minutes since!

Ha,ha. I did the same...bought a generator 5yrs ago, had a transfer switch wired in for the house after a 3 day outage in 20F temps. Haven't had so much as a flicker since! Arghh! It's a challenge to keep the fuel in the genny fresh.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Couple/few times a year. Usually for an hour or two. This year has been a good one with several days out at a time. That's a "5 year event"

 

[jamesdjs]

A few times a year for a couple of hours but if there is a bad storm it has been out for a few days ( ICE storm)
Alway have my back up generator for power.