Texas power outages: recent storms and how to prepare
Freezes, hurricanes and windstorms have all cut power to millions of Texans in the last few years. Here is what happened, and what you can do.
Recent major outages
- February 2021, Winter Storm Uri. The freeze led to a loss of power for more than 4.5 million Texas homes, according to the University of Texas at Austin Energy Institute. [1] A University of Houston survey found 69% of Texans lost electricity at some point, for an average of 42 hours. [2]
- May 16, 2024, Houston derecho. CenterPoint Energy said outages fell from 922,000 to nearly 15,000 in the week after the windstorm. [3]
- July 8, 2024, Hurricane Beryl. CenterPoint said 2.26 million of its customers lost power. [4]
How to prepare for the next one
- Keep flashlights and spare batteries where you can find them in the dark.
- Charge phones and power banks when a storm is in the forecast.
- If someone in your home uses medical equipment that needs power, make a backup plan ahead of time.
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed during an outage.
- Sign up for outage alerts from your utility, and bookmark its outage map.
- If you use a portable generator, run it outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, and never in a garage. [5]
Where a home battery fits
A home backup battery stores energy before the storm and switches your home over when the grid drops. How long it lasts depends on its charge and how much power you use. Our guides on backup runtime and batteries vs. generators go deeper.
VirtuGrid does not represent CenterPoint, Oncor, AEP Texas, TNMP or ERCOT. For live outage information, check your utility directly.
How the VirtuGrid program uses your battery
While the grid is up, the energy stored in your battery helps support the grid market. That grid work is how the program covers the battery and its installation. A reserve is kept for your backup.
When the grid goes down, your home switches to the energy reserved in your battery automatically. How long it lasts depends on the battery's charge and how much power your home uses.
VirtuGrid is an independent sales partner of SOLRITE. Licensed installers do the installation, and the program owns, monitors and maintains the equipment. Rates and terms are set in your agreement, which you review before you sign. See the details for Texas or Illinois.
Questions people ask
Your local utility handles outages and repairs, not your electricity provider. In areas of Texas with retail electricity choice, that is usually CenterPoint, Oncor, AEP Texas or TNMP. Co-ops and city utilities handle outages for their own customers.
It depends on the storm. A University of Houston survey after Winter Storm Uri found the average outage lasted 42 hours. Hurricane damage can take longer to repair.
Take the 30-second check on our Texas page to see if your home qualifies.
Sources
- University of Texas at Austin Energy Institute, ERCOT Blackout 2021
- University of Houston Hobby School, Winter Storm Uri survey (March 29, 2021)
- RTO Insider, Texas Public Utility Commission Briefs (May 23, 2024)
- PBS NewsHour / Associated Press, As Houston swelters, power company faces pressure to restore service (July 11, 2024)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC Warns of Generator, Carbon Monoxide and Fire Hazards Ahead of Hurricane Season (May 27, 2026)
More guides
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