5 Common Causes of Power Outages

Power outages are no fun, and a lot can go wrong when they happen. The first question that often comes to mind when they occur is how they happened in the first place. Here are some common causes of power outages you might be wondering about and some ways to avoid them.

Bad Weather

The main culprit of a power outage tends to be bad weather. Tornados, hurricanes, ice storms, and flooding can lead to the power in a building going dark. We can’t control the weather, but we can control how we prepare for it. Therefore, having a backup generator is a must for any home or facility.

Fallen Trees

Severe weather can affect an area in many ways, including producing fallen trees thanks to high winds. No matter what season it is, a fallen tree can result in a power outage when it falls on utility poles and wires. However, weather isn’t the only cause of fallen trees; they can also fall due to old age. When this occurs, there’s no telling when the power might come back on. If you have old trees around your home, make sure you take care of them before it’s too late.

Animals

If you live in a rural area, you might also have to deal with the possibility of wildlife bringing down your power, too. Animals don’t know any better and can cause power outages by making a home on power lines. Animals can also chew on wires, which can lead to power disruptions as well.

Accidents

The next common causes of power outages is a car wreck or construction accident. A car could hit a utility pole, and because there are power lines underground, digging in the wrong spot during construction can also trigger a blackout. Keep this from happening to you on the job with a power distribution cart that can allow you to resume work.

High Demand

Sometimes, power outages can also happen because there’s simply a lot of demand for electricty in the area. For instance, warm weather might cause more homes and buildings to use their air conditioning and therefore use more energy than normal.