Two-Thirds of American Homeowners Have Experienced a Power Outage This Year, Majority Worry Power Outages Will Become More Common
Surveyed U.S. homeowners report frequent outages, limited preparedness, and rising concern about grid reliability and future demand pressures.
Rhea-AI Summary
Sunrun (RUN) released survey findings showing widespread concern among U.S. homeowners about power reliability in 2026.
In an online survey of 2,000 homeowners, 59% said they are concerned that local outages will become more common, and two‑thirds reported already experiencing a power outage this year, averaging three outages and 5.5 hours for the most recent event. Nearly half rated their household preparedness low enough to have had a “power outage reality check,” while 47% said a backup power source would make them feel most prepared.
Concern about grid stress is high: 75% worry that the growing number of data centers could contribute to future outages, and only 38% are confident their local grid can meet rising electricity demand. Sunrun, which serves more than 1.2 million customers, highlights its no‑upfront‑cost battery‑plus‑solar systems that can power critical home loads during outages and participate in distributed power plant programs that compensate customers for supporting the grid.
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Key Figures
- Homeowners surveyed
- 2,000 homeowners
- Talker Research survey commissioned by Sunrun
- Concern about more outages
- 59%
- Homeowners concerned local outages will become more common
- Homeowners experiencing outages
- Two-thirds
- Reported experiencing a power outage in 2026
- Average outages
- 3 outages
- Average among households experiencing an outage in 2026
- Average outage duration
- 5.5 hours
- Most recent outage among affected homeowners
- Concern about data centers
- 75%
- Homeowners concerned data centers could contribute to future outages
- Confidence in grid capacity
- 38%
- Homeowners confident their local grid can meet increased data-center demand
- Preferred preparedness improvement
- 47%
- Homeowners selecting a backup power source
Historical Context
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Voltus agreement connected residential storage capacity with AI hyperscaler programs
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
home-to-grid technical
dispatchable power technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Survey finds that
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nearly three in five (
The survey results are being released to coincide with National Preparedness Month, reinforcing this year’s theme of “Americans Stand Ready.” Two-thirds of American homeowners reported already experiencing a power outage in 2026, and nearly three-quarters of those affected said they are worried they’ll experience another within the next year.
“Power outages are no longer something homeowners only think about when a major storm is approaching,” said Sunrun CEO Mary Powell. “Americans are concerned about the availability and reliability of their power supply and are seeking the peace of mind that comes from being prepared with home backup power for when the grid goes down.”
For homeowners who have already experienced an outage this year, their households experienced an average of three outages. And their most recent outage lasted an average of 5.5 hours, although some homeowners reported going without power for days.
Power Outage Reality Check
Homeowners rated their “household preparedness” for a power outage at 6.6 out of 10 on average, and nearly half (
Skepticism About Grid’s Ability To Meet Demand
Homeowners aren’t necessarily confident the power grid can keep pace with changing electricity demands.
Adding to their fears about potential future outages, only a third (
When asked what poses the biggest threat to their area’s power reliability, homeowners overwhelmingly view severe storms as the primary threat. In fact, when combined with winter weather and extreme heat, weather-related events captured more than half of all respondents’ concerns.
Power Outage Disruptions
The consequences of power outages go well beyond sitting in the dark. Among those who said they experienced an outage, the greatest disruptions included losing heating or cooling (
Nearly one-third of homeowners (
The stakes were even higher for the
Among those households, electrically dependent needs included refrigerated prescription medications such as insulin (
“A power outage can quickly become more than an inconvenience when it affects the essentials families rely on every day, from keeping food and medications refrigerated to maintaining a safe temperature at home," Powell added. “Home battery storage paired with solar can provide greater energy resilience by helping keep critical parts of the home running when the grid goes down.”
Sunrun’s Solution For Families and the Grid
With the power grid aging, demand for electricity rising, and outages becoming more frequent, more and more Americans are seeking energy independence and protection from blackouts and rising energy rates. Serving more than 1.2 million customers nationwide, Sunrun leads the industry with home battery and solar energy systems without any upfront costs, enabling more families to affordably gain energy security.
Homeowners with a Sunrun battery-plus-solar system can comfortably power through extended grid outages without needing gasoline for a noisy generator or worrying about the limited capacity of portable storage devices. Sunrun’s whole-home battery storage capacity allows homeowners to run heating, air conditioning, and large appliances without interruption.
Even when the grid is operating normally, Sunrun’s home batteries empower homeowners to manage peak energy rates and achieve utility bill savings. By drawing daily on their own stored energy generated from their rooftop solar panels, homeowners can reduce the amount of costly energy they consume from the grid.
Sunrun’s unique solution doesn’t just benefit individual households. The battery systems also enable customers to support their local power grid through Sunrun’s distributed power plant programs. Customers are compensated for sharing energy with the grid during peak demand hours, helping control costs and prevent grid emergencies for all residents in their communities.
About Sunrun
Sunrun Inc. (Nasdaq: RUN) is America’s largest provider of home battery storage, solar, and home-to-grid power plants. As the pioneer of home energy systems offered through a no-upfront-cost subscription model, Sunrun empowers customers nationwide with greater energy control, security, and independence. Sunrun supports the grid by providing on-demand dispatchable power that helps prevent blackouts and lowers energy costs. Learn more at www.sunrun.com.
Media Contact
Wyatt Semanek
Sr. Director, Corporate Communications
press@sunrun.com
Investor & Analyst Contact
Patrick Jobin
SVP, Deputy CFO & Investor Relations Officer
investors@sunrun.com
Research methodology:
Talker Research conducted an online survey of 2,000 homeowners who have access to the internet from August 18 through 24, 2026; the survey was commissioned by Sunrun and administered and conducted by Talker Research. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.
To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
How prepared do homeowners feel for future power outages, based on the survey?
Homeowners rated their “household preparedness” for a power outage at an average of 6.6 out of 10. Nearly half (47%) said they have experienced a “power outage reality check” that made them realize they were not close to being prepared. Among those who lost power, 48% reported making some change to prepare for the next blackout.
What kinds of disruptions did homeowners experience during recent outages?
Among respondents who experienced an outage, the most common disruptions were losing heating or cooling (57%), food spoilage (48%), and loss of internet or cell service (44%). Nearly one‑third of homeowners (32%) sought shelter at another household that still had electricity from the grid or a backup power source.
What does the survey reveal about perceptions of outage causes and future grid threats?
When asked about threats to local power reliability, homeowners most often identified severe storms as the biggest concern. Combined with winter weather and extreme heat, weather‑related events accounted for more than half of all reported concerns. In addition, 75% are concerned that the growing number of data centers in the U.S. could contribute to future outages, and only 38% feel confident their local grid can reliably meet increased electricity demand from data centers.
How and when was the Sunrun homeowner outage survey conducted?
Talker Research conducted the online survey of 2,000 U.S. homeowners with internet access from August 18 through 24, 2026. The survey was commissioned by Sunrun and administered by Talker Research, which provides a questionnaire link and methodology details through its Transparency Initiative process and methodology page.