What usually causes power outages when weather conditions are not bad?

Question

Asking this because my area literally just had a power outage while it’s drizzling rain outside. During the worst storms my area has had we somehow never lose power but during small rainfalls or even the hottest and nicest days of the summer, we lose power. Besides lines being damaged by strong winds, what usually causes power outages?

In: 2

Answer 1

A power outage just means there has been a problem with the system.

Many outages will be weather related – a spike in ac usage due to hot weather perhaps, or a storm causing damage to the power lines and transmission equipment.

There can also be spikes or unexpected demands for other reasons – a big holiday or event causing heavy use, or unexpected draw from industrial or other large scale users.

But equally it can also happen on a small scale – if a transformer fails or there is another unexpected fault in your local substation that can cut power to an area until it is repaired, or it could even be something as simple as a digger accidentally digging through an underground power line while doing work somewhere…

Answer 2

A power outage just means there has been a problem with the system.

Many outages will be weather related – a spike in ac usage due to hot weather perhaps, or a storm causing damage to the power lines and transmission equipment.

There can also be spikes or unexpected demands for other reasons – a big holiday or event causing heavy use, or unexpected draw from industrial or other large scale users.

But equally it can also happen on a small scale – if a transformer fails or there is another unexpected fault in your local substation that can cut power to an area until it is repaired, or it could even be something as simple as a digger accidentally digging through an underground power line while doing work somewhere…