PLPW: Out of Power and Out of Pocket

Grid Failures Are Costing Americans More Than You Think

Across the country, families are dealing with blackouts caused by aging infrastructure, equipment failures, maintenance gaps, and more. We surveyed 1,005 Americans to understand how these non-disaster-related outages impact households emotionally and financially. With the average American household losing over $100 in spoiled food alone, it’s clear these “everyday outages” come with very real costs, especially for Texans.

Key Takeaways

• Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) experienced at least one power outage in the past year unrelated to weather or natural disasters.
• Washington (87%), Florida (81%), and New Jersey (75%) reported the highest rates of power outages in the past year unrelated to weather or natural disasters.
• During a single non-disaster power outage, the average American household loses $117 worth of groceries to spoilage.
• 1 in 5 Americans (20%) aren’t prepared to manage food loss during a power outage.
• Nearly 7 in 10 Americans say utility companies should provide grocery stipends after non-disaster outages, while 60% also believe they should reimburse for groceries lost during an outage.

Who’s Hit the Hardest and How They Cope

Power outages can be a regular disruption for many Americans, but they don’t affect everyone equally.

About 7 in 10 Americans (69%) experienced at least one power outage in the past year unrelated to weather or natural disasters. Washington (87%), Florida (81%), and New Jersey (75%) had the highest percentages of residents reporting non-weather-related outages. Homeowners also had higher rates of outages than renters (72% vs. 65%, respectively).

In Texas, Austin (75%) and Plano (73%) led the state in reported outages not linked to weather events. Dallas (69%) and Houston (67%) followed closely, while Fort Worth residents reported fewer disruptions (36%).

As for outages per household in the past year, Georgia had the most with 2.48. North Carolina (2.41), Tennessee (2.33), and Indiana (2.26) followed. Texas and Florida were next (tied at 2.25 each), and Ohio rounded out the top six with 2.16 outages.

Are Households Owed for Grocery Losses?

When the power goes out and food goes bad, it costs the average American household $117 per blackout. Some have had it worse than others, with 1 in 8 losing over $300 worth of groceries during a single outage. That’s a major hit for anyone, but especially low-income households.

Overall, 20% of Americans said they aren’t prepared to manage food loss during a power outage. More than a quarter of low-income Americans (earning under $30K annually) said the same, but this number drops to just 12% among higher-income earners ($75K and above). Renters were also more likely to feel unprepared (22%) than homeowners (18%).

Residents in Indiana (35%), North Carolina (34%), Ohio (29%), New Jersey (25%), and Arizona (24%) felt the least equipped to handle food loss during a blackout. In Texas, that number stood at 23%. To help pay for groceries after a non-disaster-related outage, 67% of Americans said utility companies should provide a stipend. Another 60% believed utility companies should reimburse their customers for groceries lost during an outage.

Emotional Impact and Anxiety

Beyond groceries and gadgets, outages take an emotional toll. Texans know this stress all too well.

Respondents in New Jersey reported the most financial strain due to outages (44%), followed by those in North Carolina (32%). In Texas, nearly one-third of residents said outages caused significant financial hardship. The impact was highest in Houston (44%) and Dallas (40%). Lower-income Americans were the most likely to feel the financial burden, with 25% saying non-disaster-related outages caused serious stress.

Overall, more than 1 in 10 Americans (15%) said they feel high anxiety or panic when a power outage begins. Baby boomers were the most likely to report this (18%), while only 13% of millennials and Gen Z said they experienced the same level of concern.

Conclusion: Everyday Outages, Everyday Losses

Non-disaster-related outages may not make the news, but they’re quietly costing families hundreds of dollars and emotional peace. Texans are also navigating frequent power cuts that disrupt daily life and drain household budgets. As more people call for grocery reimbursements and accountability, it’s clear this issue needs attention, as everyone deserves reliable access to power.

Methodology

We surveyed 1,005 Americans to explore how non-disaster power outages affect American households financially and emotionally. The generational breakdown of respondents was as follows: baby boomers (9%), Gen X (24%), millennials (49%), and Gen Z (17%). The data was collected in July 2025.

About Payless Power

At Payless Power, we know how stressful power outages can be, especially when you’re trying to manage a budget. That’s why we offer simple prepaid electricity plans with no credit checks or big deposits. Our goal is to make it easier for Texans to stay connected and in control, even when the unexpected happens.

Fair Use Statement

If you found this information helpful, feel free to share it for noncommercial purposes. Just be sure to include a link back to Payless Power for proper attribution.

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