Power Outages and Mental Health: How Americans Are Coping With an Unstable Grid

Across the U.S., rolling blackouts and extended brownouts have become more common, leaving millions without reliable access to electricity. To better understand how these interruptions are affecting daily life, we surveyed 1,000 Americans about their recent experiences, emotional responses, and coping strategies during power outages. We also analyzed federal data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to identify which states see the highest number and longest duration of outages each year.

Key Takeaways

• 3 in 4 Americans have experienced a 30-minute (or more) power outage in the last year; 3 in 5 have experienced at least one in the last 6 months.
• Nearly 2 in 5 Americans (39%) report having increased stress and anxiety in the last year due to power outages.
• 13% of remote workers had to take an unplanned PTO day due to a power outage.
• 44% of Americans have experienced a power outage while working from home.
• 70% of Americans who work remotely have lost work hours in the last year due to power outages; 21% have lost a full workday equivalent (8 hours) or more.
• The states with the most power outages every year, on average, per customer are Maine (4.75), Alaska (3.66), Louisiana (2.65), Tennessee (2.5), and West Virginia (2.41).
• The states with the longest power outages on average (in minutes) are Louisiana (470), Mississippi (399), West Virginia (341), Idaho (338), and New Jersey (335).

Daily Disruptions and Rising Stress

For many households, outages have become a regular occurrence.

Many Americans (75%) said they experienced at least one 30-minute power outage in the past year. Overall, 74% of those affected dealt with multiple disruptions, while 26% reported just one outage. More recently, 3 in 5 experienced a power outage in just the last 6 months. When the lights go out, respondents most often reported feeling frustrated (69%).

Nearly half (44%) said they lost power during the workday, while 1 in 5 had to juggle childcare or other dependent responsibilities without electricity. About 2 in 5 Americans (39%) said outages have increased their stress and anxiety in the last year. Parents and millennials were the most likely groups to report this, at 46% and 44%, respectively. To cope, people turned to small solutions like using battery-powered devices (53%), lighting candles or flashlights to relax (41%), or simply going outdoors (31%).

Beyond the immediate disruption, outages have taken a toll on public trust. A majority of Americans expressed doubt in power grid improvements over the next 5 years, with 81% lacking confidence in the federal government’s ability to stabilize the system. Another 72% didn’t trust their state government to fix the grid, and 61% had no faith in their utility company’s ability to do so. Gen X respondents were the most doubtful of the federal government (82%), while Gen Z had the least trust in both state governments (76%) and utility providers (69%).

The Remote Work Strain

As more jobs shift online, reliable electricity has become essential for remote workers. Outages are both inconvenient and costly.

Seventy percent of remote employees lost work hours over the past year, with 1 in 5 losing the equivalent of a full workday. Even short disruptions created professional setbacks: 16% of remote workers had to drop out of virtual meetings, while 13% had to take unexpected PTO. Some faced even greater consequences at work. One in 10 had their time docked, and 5% lost a client, contract, or their job due to power interruptions.

The most severe cases show just how damaging outages can be to careers. Two percent of remote workers said outages led to missed promotions, reprimands from managers, or formal HR warnings. These findings highlight the widening gap between employees who have reliable electricity and those left vulnerable to career risks due to grid instability.

Where Power Outages Hit Hardest

Outages affect Americans differently depending on where they live. Based on the EIA’s Annual Electric Power Industry Reports from 2019 to 2023, here are the state residents facing the most and longest power outages in the country.

On average, Maine led the nation with 4.75 outages per customer annually, followed by Alaska (3.66), Louisiana (2.65), Tennessee (2.5), and West Virginia (2.41). States with the longest-lasting outages were Louisiana (470 minutes), Mississippi (399 minutes), West Virginia (341 minutes), Idaho (338 minutes), and New Jersey (335 minutes).

Despite these challenges, many households are preparing themselves with backup power solutions. Overall, 81% of respondents reported having some form of backup. Portable power banks (54%) and mobile hotspots (46%) were the most common solutions, while fewer relied on generators (14%) or solar chargers (7%). Backup battery systems were also rare, with only 7% of households reporting access. Interestingly, every respondent from Michigan said they had access to backup power options.

Conclusion: Powering Through Uncertainty

Power outages are a hassle. They interrupt your day, add stress, and make it harder to stay connected, especially if you work from home. For households trying to juggle work, dependents, and daily routines, losing power can throw everything off. Until the grid improves, simple, affordable solutions are the best way to stay prepared.

Methodology

For this study, we surveyed 1,000 Americans about their power outage experiences in the last year, the anxiety they experience, and how they impact their lives. Of the respondents, 26% work remotely, and 16% are freelancers. Additionally, 75% reported experiencing at least one power outage in the last year.

For the last section of the study, we leveraged U.S. Energy Information Administration data to analyze the average number of power outages impacting each customer per state and the average length of each outage.

About Payless Power

Payless Power provides affordable prepaid electricity plans to Texas residents, helping families and individuals access reliable power without credit checks or hefty deposits. For households impacted by outages and looking for flexible options, Payless Power offers simple plans designed to keep budgets in check while providing the electricity people depend on every day.

Fair Use Statement

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