What Causes Power Outages? A Look At The Most Common Reasons

It sometimes begins with a flicker, but then there’s complete silence.

The quiet hum of the refrigerator dies, the lights go drab, and your laptop screen goes black in the middle of an email. You reach for your phone and find out that only 12% of the battery is remaining. Typical.

It is nearly 38 degrees outside, and you’re afraid the house is beginning to feel like a sauna because the air conditioner is now off.

You were halfway through making dinner, but now the electric stove has gone cold. Meanwhile, your kid is throwing a tantrum because their cartoon froze when the Wi-Fi connection is lost.

Everything was perfect five minutes ago.

And now? 

Chaos, thanks to the power outage.

But in a country like Australia, with one of the most sophisticated energy systems in the world, why do blackouts and power outages continue to be a nuisance? What exactly are the reasons behind such disruptions?

The causes are more complicated and varied than you may think. The most common causes of power outages in Australia are discussed in further detail below.

Power outages due to extreme weather

Mild weather isn’t exactly what Australia is known for. It might be quiet for one minute, and then you’re dealing with storms, heat waves, and bushfires. Unfortunately, the power lines are not always able to withstand the strain.

The system suffers when everyone turns up the air conditioning during a heat wave. That amount of pressure all at once is simply too much for the grid to handle. 

Then there are storms, which cause cables to be ripped down, poles to break, and trees to collapse. Floods can sometimes wreck the underground stuff, and lightning can fry a transformer in seconds.

Last but not least, bushfire season makes the power companies shut the systems down intentionally to keep the power lines from sparking more fires.

How to be prepared?

While you can obviously not control the severity of the weather, you can prepare for when it affects your power.

Pay attention to the weather warnings in your area, and if it gets crazy, make sure to charge your laptop, phone, and backup power bank.

Keep a battery-operated radio close at hand if you have one. It may be your only means of staying informed if the internet goes down.

Surge protectors can save your life during lightning storms, so plug your expensive devices into them.

When the day is really hot, the grid is often working the hardest. On such days, use electricity as little as possible; turn off any lights that aren’t in use, use ceiling fans, and take a cool shower.

It’s worthwhile to plan your usage around any off-peak offers your power provider may have. You may be able to prevent an outage AND save money by cooling the house before everyone else turns on their air conditioners.

Power outage due to the interference of animals and vegetation 

Australia is home to some amazing wildlife.

However, these companions whom we share our homes with can occasionally cause some mayhem, particularly when it comes to our electricity. In fact, statistics show that 10-20% of power outages in Australia are caused by animals.

While birds construct nests close to transformers and circuit breakers, squirrels gnaw through wires and cables, causing damage to equipment and disruptions to the electrical power supply.

Additionally, power outages are frequently caused by overgrown trees and plants colliding with electrical lines and poles.

Over time, rapidly growing trees that are not appropriately pruned back from infrastructure cause lines to deteriorate. 

How to be prepared?

To prevent these problems, utility companies and the consumers of electricity must work in tandem.

• Utility companies must guard against vegetation growth and animal damage to their equipment. Wildlife access must be restricted by physical guards and covers on wires, transformers, and generators.

• Pruning and routine tree trimming must be done around power lines to remove dangerous branches.

Power outage due to the failure of equipment

Overload situations, ageing, and wear and tear on the electrical infrastructure can all cause failure of equipment and power outages. 

The lifespan of the electrical grid and its constituent parts, such as transformers and generators, is limited.

The likelihood of failure rises as components deteriorate and corrode over time. Older technology that hasn’t been updated or replaced is more likely to break down.

Also, as mentioned above, demand that surpasses the rated capacity of gearbox lines, transformers, and generators (on extremely hot days) puts stress on the machinery and leads to malfunctions. 

Since one malfunctioning component increases the burden on nearby equipment, grid overload also causes cascading failures.

Circuit breakers and fuses are examples of protective electronic devices designed to prevent this, although their efficacy is diminished by age and neglect.

How are communities and the environment affected by power outages?

Power outages can be inconvenient; however, they can have serious effects, both on a person and the environment.

Impact on Communities:

• Risks to public safety – Traffic lights and street lights are not operational, and sometimes emergency services cannot respond.
• Risks to health – Hospitals, aged care facilities, and people who are reliant on medical devices, can put themselves into dangerous positions.
• Economic impacts – Businesses will close, food will spoil, and the service industry will not earn revenue during the service outage.
• Loss of communication – Cell networks and internet services will cease to operate.

Impacts on the Environment: 

• Increased generator use: Diesel or other types of generators to kick in, which results in additional greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels and increased noise pollution. 
• Food waste: Foods stored in a refrigerator spoil, which can contribute to methane emissions in a landfill as the food decomposes. 
• Water contamination risks: In a power outage, sewage treatment plants and water pumps with no electricity may cause serious environmental damage, such as a sewage overflow and public health concerns with drinking water safety.

How to Stay Safe on a Power Outage

Staying safe during a power outage means having a plan and making good choices:

• Do not use candles; always use battery-powered LED lanterns instead to avoid fires.
• If you have appliances and the power goes out, switch them off. Once the power returns, you may cause an electrical surge when everything is plugged in.
• Keep your fridge/freezer shut as much as you can to keep the temperature down. An unopened fridge can keep food cold for up to four hours.
• Make sure you only use generators outdoors, as they carry the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Stay up to date with a battery-powered radio or phone app, if the signal allows.
• Check on your neighbours, especially those who are elderly or have disabilities.

How to Stay Prepared for Extreme Weather Conditions

Extreme weather, whether it is storms, heatwaves, floods, or bushfires, is increasing in frequency. Preparation begins with the following:

Before;

• Build an emergency kit with essentials: drinking water, non-perishable food, a torch, batteries, a first aid kit, medications, and important documents.
• Charge all your devices and buy power banks or solar chargers.
• Prepare your home by pruning trees, cleaning gutters, and anchoring outdoor items.
• Have an evacuation plan, and know where the emergency shelters are in your area.

Long-term planning;

• Invest in solar + battery storage systems, so you can still have power at home when the grid goes down.
• Sign up for local alerting services and weather warnings.
• Check your insurance policies and make sure you are covered for natural disasters.

How to be prepared?

Infrastructure problems are beyond our direct control, but there are methods to be informed.

For information on scheduled maintenance outages in your region, visit the website or social media accounts of your electrical provider. This enables you to mitigate any inconvenience and plan well in advance for any disruptions.

Final thoughts

The main reasons for power outages and supply disruptions are severe weather, animal interference, and equipment failure. 

Understanding the causes of power outages in your area enables you to limit risks by taking precautionary actions, such as keeping vegetation surrounding power lines in a healthy state and keeping electricity consumption in check on very hot days. 

As consumers of electricity, knowing what causes power outages is important as it empowers customers to take preventive measures, make well-informed decisions, and strengthen their resistance to the causes of blackouts.

Common questions asked related to power outage