Feb 9, 2023
America is a powerful country, but its power grid is vulnerable.
In 2022, there were 163 direct physical attacks on the U.S. electric grid, according to data from the Department of Energy reported by Bloomberg. The number represented a 77% increase from 2021.
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Attacks and vandalism on the country’s electrical infrastructure can result in widespread power outages that affect a large number of residents and cause substantial economic damage.
In December, for instance, attacks that left two electrical substations in North Carolina peppered with gunfire knocked out power to roughly 45,000 homes and businesses.
“From this incident, it appears that the electrical grid continues to be extremely vulnerable,” said Jon Wellinghoff, CEO of GridPolicy Consulting Inc. and former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulator Commission.
Soaring attacks on the U.S. power grid come at a time when many consumers are struggling with spiking electricity bills.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, electricity prices for consumers in December 2022 were 14.3% higher compared to a year ago.
Here are some tips on how you can prepare for a power outage. With spring yet to arrive, it’s important to stay warm when you are (temporarily) off the grid.
Keep the house warm
When the power goes out, it can be difficult to heat your home. Therefore, it’s critical to prevent warm air in your house from escaping.
You might want to consider air-sealing your house and adding insulation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that by doing so, homeowners can save about 15% on heating and cooling costs, or an average of 11% on their total energy costs.
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In other words, this is something that you can do even if you’re not concerned with a blackout. With rising energy costs, we could all use some savings on our utility bills.
You can use caulk for cracks and openings around door and window frames. You can also try weatherstripping to seal movable components such as doors and windows.
More: Heat pump tax credits for 2023
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Stock up on food and water
While you are finding ways to keep the house warm in a winter power outage, there’s one thing in your house that doesn’t want to get warm — the refrigerator.
When there’s no electricity coming out of the wall outlet, your fridge won’t be able to keep food cold for long. Food kept in freezers can generally last longer, but in the case of a long-term power outage, it will probably still be spoiled.
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To ensure you have enough food supply in such a scenario, consider filling your pantry with non-perishable food. Good options include canned foods like beans and soup. Dried fruits, nuts, crackers, powdered milk and cereal also tend to have a reasonably long shelf life.
You may want to get some bottled water, too, just in case something happens with the water supply during the power outage.
And make sure you have a manual can opener.
Find a backup power source
Ultimately, the best way to minimize the impact of a power outage is to have a backup power source, such as a generator.
You probably won’t be able to power the entire house on a backup generator, but it should allow you to run some essential appliances — such as a fridge — when the grid is down.
Of course, generators are big-ticket items and not every household is willing to invest in one.
If you just want to charge electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, you can get a power bank. Power banks store energy and come in different capacities. The bigger the capacity, the more charges it can provide.
Lastly, just like in the old days, you’ll want to have some flashlights, a radio, and plenty of batteries on hand in a blackout as well.
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Jing is an investment reporter for MoneyWise. He is an avid advocate of investing for passive income. Despite the ups and downs he’s been through with the markets, Jing believes that you can generate a steadily increasing income stream by investing in high quality companies.
