Knowing your local power company's outage map can provide real-time information on active outages in your area. Pairing these maps with reliable backup power sources like solar generators enables you to stay powered on even when the grid goes down. With the right preparation, you can keep your essential appliances running and maintain a comfortable home during an extended outage.
This guide will provide an overview of major U.S. energy company outage maps to help you monitor grid status. We'll also cover top solar generator recommendations for backup power to help weather both short and long-duration outages.
Major US Energy Company Outage Maps
When power outages occur, it's helpful to have access to an outage map from your local energy provider. These maps show current power outages and give estimates for when electricity will be restored. Here are some of the major energy companies in the US and links to their outage maps:
DTE Energy
DTE Energy provides electricity and natural gas to customers in southeast Michigan. The utility serves over 2.2 million electric customers and 1.3 million natural gas customers across 7,600 square miles.
DTE Energy's service area includes Detroit and many surrounding suburbs and communities. Major counties covered include Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, and St. Clair.
The utility maintains over 15,000 miles of electric distribution lines and over 20,000 miles of gas distribution pipelines. DTE Energy is committed to providing reliable service while modernizing infrastructure and building a smarter energy grid.
DTE Energy's electric service area is divided into 5 operating districts: Detroit, Downriver, Oakland/Macomb, Monroe North, and Monroe South. This allows more localized monitoring and response across the expansive territory.
Customers can check DTE's outage map online to see known electric outages in their area. The map is color-coded and provides estimated restoration times. This allows customers to plan accordingly during an extended outage.
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) provides natural gas and electric service to 16 million people across Northern and Central California. PG&E's service area stretches from Eureka in the north to Bakersfield in the south, and from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Sierra Nevada in the east.
PG&E operates over 106,000 miles of electric distribution lines and over 18,000 miles of interconnected transmission lines. The company owns and maintains over 48,000 miles of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines.
PG&E's electric system is interconnected with electric systems in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, allowing the company to import and export electricity throughout the western United States and Canada. PG&E gets its electricity from a mix of natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, and renewable resources such as wind and solar.
To check for power outages in PG&E's service area, customers can visit the PG&E Outage Map. The interactive map shows current electricity outages, along with estimated restoration times. Customers can enter their address to get outage information specific to their location.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy provides electricity to over 7.2 million customers across six states in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States. Their service area spans from Florida up to Indiana. Some of the major cities they serve include Charlotte, Raleigh, and Asheville in North Carolina, Cincinnati and Dayton in Ohio, and areas of central and northern Indiana.
Duke Energy manages an extensive network of power plants, including nuclear, coal, natural gas, solar, and hydroelectric facilities. They own over 50,000 miles of electric transmission lines across their territory.
During major outages, Duke Energy provides outage maps and estimated restoration times on their website and mobile app. Customers can check the outage map to see known outages in their area and report an outage if needed. The map shows current outages with red dots and updates status in real-time as crews work to restore power.
Duke also issues press releases, posts on social media, and sends email alerts to impacted customers during large-scale power outages. They have an online outage center with resources to help customers prepare for extended outages.
Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, providing electricity to approximately 2.6 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Georgia. Their service area covers most of central, southern and eastern Georgia, including the cities of Atlanta, Columbus, Macon, Augusta, Savannah and the surrounding metropolitan areas and rural communities.
Georgia Power's service area covers nearly two-thirds of the state, operating through a network of power plants, transmission lines, substations, and distribution systems. They generate electricity from a diverse fuel mix including natural gas, coal, nuclear power and renewables. The company delivers reliable electricity to 154 of 159 counties in Georgia.
During major storms and power outages, Georgia Power provides outage maps and restoration information on their website and mobile app. Customers can view the outage map to see known outages in their area, estimated restoration times, and crew status. The map is frequently updated as crews assess damage and restore power across the region.
Dominion Energy
Dominion Energy provides electricity to over 7 million customers in 18 states across the central and eastern U.S. Their service area stretches from Connecticut to North Carolina. Some of their major service areas include:
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- West Virginia
- South Carolina
Dominion Energy operates an interactive outage map on their website that shows current power outages across their entire service area. You can zoom in to see outages down to the neighborhood level. Each outage on the map shows an estimated time for restoration. The map is color coded to indicate the number of customers affected in each outage area.
During major storms and outages, Dominion Energy will post updates on the status of restoration efforts. They have an online outage center with info on cause of outages and crew status. Customers can also report outages and get estimated restoration times.
Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy provides electricity and natural gas to over 6.7 million customers in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The company serves 46,000 square miles across the Lower Peninsula, from the Mackinac Bridge in the north down to the Indiana and Ohio state lines. Consumers Energy is headquartered in Jackson, Michigan.
Consumers Energy's service area includes Southeast Michigan as well as the capital city of Lansing and other major cities like Flint, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids. The majority of Michigan's population relies on Consumers Energy for power.
Customers can monitor outages and view the Consumers Energy outage map through their online account on the Consumers Energy website or mobile app. The outage map shows current outages with details on estimated restoration times. Customers can also report outages and receive status updates through these platforms.
During major outage events, Consumers Energy works to restore power safely and as quickly as possible. However, backups like Growatt solar generators are recommended for anyone who relies on power for medical devices or other essential needs.
National Grid
National Grid is an electricity and natural gas utility company that serves customers in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Their service area covers 3.3 million electricity customers and 3.4 million gas customers across nearly 20,000 square miles.
National Grid operates in the following states:
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Rhode Island
Some of the major cities and towns in National Grid's service area include:
- Albany, NY
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Long Island, NY
- New York City, NY
- Providence, RI
- Syracuse, NY
- Worcester, MA
During power outages, National Grid provides up-to-date outage maps and information on their website and mobile app so customers can check the status of outages in their area.
Real-Time Outage Tracking
The interactive power outage maps provided by major utility companies offer real-time tracking of current power outages. As outages occur and spread across regions, the maps are continuously updated to reflect the locations experiencing blackouts.
Icons representing outage areas appear on the map, allowing users to see a visualized overview of the widespread grid failures. The maps also display estimates for power restoration, so you can check when electricity is expected to come back online in your neighborhood. Some provide hour-by-hour restoration estimates.
By monitoring the real-time maps, individuals can follow the progress of restoration crews working to bring power back. The changing patterns on the map make it easy to understand the timeline and scale of blackouts caused by severe weather, fallen trees, or other grid disruptions. Having access to current outage data helps households know what to expect and plan accordingly during prolonged multi-day blackouts.
Outage Location Pinpointing
Utility companies utilize advanced systems to pinpoint exactly where power failures have occurred. Their outage maps can identify affected areas down to the street level, showing the precise locations currently experiencing a blackout.
When the map detects an outage in your neighborhood, it will highlight the area on the map and indicate how many customers are impacted. In major outage events affecting hundreds or thousands of customers, the map provides a bird's-eye view of the overall spread and location concentration.
With granular data presented on the map, you can quickly check if surrounding streets have also lost power or if it is an isolated issue only on your block. The street-by-street precision helps utility providers efficiently deploy repair crews and restoration efforts to the right places.
Outage maps that narrowly pinpoint locations deliver transparency around problems in your vicinity. You gain visibility into where service has been disrupted near you while providers gain actionable data to restore electricity faster. The location technology behind the maps allows for a timely, targeted response when the lights go out.
Estimating Restoration Times
The interactive outage maps provided by utility companies are useful for estimating how long it will take for power to be restored in your area. When outages occur, the map will show color-coded regions indicating estimated restoration times (ETAs).
Typically, there will be regions marked in red, orange, yellow, and green. Red zones have the longest ETA, while green zones should have power restored most quickly. As utility crews work on repairs, the regions will change color as the ETAs are updated.
By checking the map periodically when your power goes out, you can get a sense of how much longer you can expect to be without electricity. The maps empower customers with more transparency into the restoration process. Rather than sit and wonder when the lights will come back on, you can monitor the progress through the online map.
Some key things to note about restoration times shown on outage maps:
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ETAs are based on preliminary assessments by utility crews. Actual restoration may take longer than estimated if additional issues emerge.
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Prioritization is given to areas with the largest number of customers affected, critical infrastructure, or dangerous electrical hazards.
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After main distribution lines are repaired, individual homes/buildings may still need to be reconnected. Total restoration can take longer.
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Weather can hinder repair efforts, so ongoing storms may delay progress and push out ETAs.
Overall, the restoration time estimates should provide helpful guidance during power outages. But remember that variables could affect the accuracy, so continue monitoring for updates.
Safety Tips During Power Outages
Power outages can occur without warning and leave you scrambling to stay safe. Follow these tips to keep you and your family secure when the lights go out:
Have flashlights ready
Keep flashlights with spare batteries in easily accessible places around your home so you can find them quickly when it gets dark. LED flashlights provide long-lasting illumination.
Avoid downed power lines
Assume any fallen wires are live and stay at least 10 feet away. Report any downed lines to your utility company.
Turn off electrical appliances
Prevent power surges from damaging your electronics by unplugging or turning off devices when the outage first hits.
Close freezer/refrigerator doors
An unopened fridge will keep food cold for about four hours. Minimize openings to maintain interior temperatures.
Use generators safely
Gasoline generators should only be operated outdoors in ventilated areas to avoid toxic fumes. Ensure your hands are dry before touching a generator.
Leave one light on
This will alert you when power has been restored to your home.
Check on those needing assistance
Help elderly, disabled, or sick neighbors who may need extra help during an extended outage.
Avoid carbon monoxide
Do not run generators, grills, or camp stoves inside your home or garage. Install carbon monoxide alarms.
Prevent fires
Use battery-powered flashlights instead of candles which can easily start fires.
Following basic safety measures will help you ride out a power outage safely until electricity is restored.
Solar Generator Overview
A solar generator is a portable power station that uses solar panels to recharge its built-in battery pack. It allows you to harness the power of the sun to generate electricity on-demand for a wide range of uses. Solar generators have become extremely popular in recent years as reliable and eco-friendly alternatives to gas generators.
The key benefits of using a solar generator include:
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Clean energy source - Solar power generates electricity without any fumes, noise or fuel costs. It's a renewable energy direct from the sun.
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Silent operation - Solar generators make no noise when in use, unlike noisy gas generators. Stealth and quiet operation.
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Eco-friendly - Solar energy doesn't create any carbon emissions. Solar generators have zero carbon footprint.
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Portable power - Compact sizes and built-in handles allow easy transport and power on-the-go.
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Outage resilience - With grid failures, solar generators keep essentials powered reliably using solar and battery storage.
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Cost saving - Free solar recharging saves money over time compared to using gas. Lower fuel and maintenance costs.
Solar generators provide a versatile portable clean energy solution using solar power and battery storage technology. Top products from Growatt deliver reliable eco-friendly backup power for outdoor recreation or emergency preparedness.
Growatt Solar Generators
To ensure you have reliable backup power during an outage, Growatt's solar generators are an excellent solution. Growatt offers high-capacity, portable power stations powered by solar panels to provide renewable, clean energy whether you're on-grid or off-grid.
Two of Growatt's most popular solar generator models are:
Growatt Solar Generator INFINITY 2000
The Growatt Solar Generator INFINITY 2000 has a 2048 watt-hour lithium battery capacity.
Coming Soon...
Growatt Solar Generator INFINITY 1500
The Growatt Solar Generator INFINITY 1500 packs a 1512 watt-hour battery capacity with dual charge methods. Key details include:
- 1512Wh Capacity & 2000W Output
- Wall charge from 0%-80% in 1 hour; 0-100% in 2 hours
- Up to 12 Diverse Outlets
- Reliable 24/7 backup power (EPS)
- Easy & Remote Control via App
- 2-Year Warranty
With large energy capacities and solar recharging, Growatt's portable power stations like the Solar Generator INFINITY 2000 and INFINITY 1500 provide reliable off-grid power for home backup or outdoor adventures.
Conclusion
As we've seen, power outages can occur for a variety of reasons, from severe weather to equipment issues. Having access to power outage maps provided by your local energy company can help give you an estimate for how long you may be without electricity.
To keep essential appliances powered and avoid disruption during an extended outage, having a backup power source on hand is highly recommended. Of all the options available today, Growatt portable power stations stand out as one of the most reliable and efficient solutions.
For anyone concerned about power reliability in their area, keeping a Growatt solar generator fully charged provides great peace of mind. With the ability to recharge from wall outlet or solar, having backup power couldn't be easier. Stay powered, stay prepared.
