New Research Finds Grid Instability is Increasing While Most Remain Unprepared for Outages

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) released new research quantifying the impacts caused by the aging, unreliable grid and increasing frequency of outages on U.S. families and businesses. The research captured in the white paper titled “Propane and the Future of Power: Achieving Reliability Beyond the Grid” reveals a significant and widening gap between how prepared commercial and residential decision-makers feel and their actual resilience to grid disruptions.

“We’re in a time when the reliability of the traditional electric grid is increasingly uncertain, and its ability to deliver power when needed is not always assured, Bert Warner, PERC director of commercial business development, said. “Still, only 13 percent of businesses protect their entire operation, and only 26 percent of homeowners have a backup power system. Our latest research can help decision-makers start thinking about their vulnerabilities before the next outage hits.”

In response to these findings, PERC has also launched its new Scouting Report, an assessment tool to help commercial decision-makers determine their vulnerability and build a resilient energy strategy. Users can enter key information about their operations to receive an Energy Resilience Score and personalized resources to improve reliability.

Addressing a Rising Crisis: The Growing Preparedness Gap
According to the new research from PERC, the reality of grid instability is increasingly hitting home for both businesses and homeowners. Across the country, power outages are becoming more frequent and lasting longer. Yet, despite these escalating disruptions, the study uncovered a significant “preparedness gap.” While the vast majority of respondents claim to feel prepared for a power loss, their actual readiness tells a different story. This false sense of security leaves communities and local economies highly vulnerable, a threat that will only compound as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) projects a staggering 100fold increase in outage risk by 2030.

Impacts on Commercial Industries

Grid instability carries devastating financial and operational cost implications for businesses. With nearly all organizations exposed to sudden, partial shutdowns, the consequences of an unreliable grid are severe:

• Massive Financial Losses: A single power outage can cost a commercial organization up to $78,000 in lost revenue, labor disruptions, and equipment damage.
• Lack of Redundancy: A staggering 87 percent of businesses lack the backup power necessary to protect their entire operation.
• Employee Well-Being: For 22 percent of businesses, employee safety and well-being was identified as the consequence with the greatest emotional toll.
• Hidden Expenses: Outages trigger a domino effect of additional costs, including increased insurance premiums, relocation expenses for personnel, and penalties incurred during downtime.

Impacts on the Residential Sector

Homeowners are equally vulnerable to the strained electric grid, facing significant financial burdens and emotional distress when the power fails:

• Heavy Grid Reliance: 67 percent of homeowners rely primarily on the electrical grid for their power.
• Unprepared for Outages: 74 percent lack any backup power systems, leaving critical home infrastructure entirely dependent on grid availability.
• Costly Damages: While food spoilage is the most frequent expense, 36 percent of homeowners cited home damage as their highest financial burden, with 22 percent reporting damages exceeding $1,000.
• Safety and Comfort Risks: The loss of comfort from downed HVAC systems is a primary concern for 48 percent of homeowners, while 32 percent are deeply concerned about family safety and well-being.

Pivot to Propane
To close this preparedness gap, businesses and homeowners must rethink their overall energy strategy. As grid vulnerabilities escalate, relying on a single power source is no longer a viable option. Propane delivers dependable, consistent energy, making it a highly reliable solution and complements the electric grid as its strongest, most reliable partner. The future of reliable energy isn’t “either/or” — it’s “and.”

“Closing the preparedness gap means taking control of your energy future before the next interruption,” Warner said. “Propane gives Americans the power to protect their homes, keep their businesses running, and ensure their peace of mind.”

To view the full white paper and the Scouting Report, visit https://propane.com/for-mybusiness/power-generation/

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About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry.

For more information, visit Propane.com.