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Concept
Power outage
Summary
A power outage (also called a powercut, a power out, a power failure, a power blackout, a power loss, or a blackout) is the loss of the electrical power network supply to an end user.
There are many causes of power failures in an electricity network. Examples of these causes include faults at power stations, damage to electric transmission lines, substations or other parts of the distribution system, a short circuit, cascading failure, fuse or circuit breaker operation.
Power failures are particularly critical at sites where the environment and public safety are at risk. Institutions such as hospitals, sewage treatment plants, and mines will usually have backup power sources such as standby generators, which will automatically start up when electrical power is lost. Other critical systems, such as telecommunication, are also required to have emergency power. The battery room of a telephone exchange usually has arrays of lead–acid batteries for backup and also a socket for connecting a generator during extended periods of outage.
During a power outage, there is a disruption in the supply of electricity, resulting in a loss of power to homes, businesses, and other facilities. Power outages can occur for various reasons, including severe weather conditions (such as storms, hurricanes, or snowstorms), equipment failure, grid overload, or planned maintenance.
When a power outage occurs, the affected area experiences a loss of electrical power, which can have several consequences. These may include:
- Loss of lighting: Without electricity, lights in homes, buildings, and streets go out, resulting in darkness.
- Disruption of appliances and electronics: Power outages can cause appliances, computers, televisions, and other electronic devices to shut down or malfunction.
- Loss of heating or cooling: In areas where electricity powers heating or cooling systems, a power outage can result in a loss of temperature control, making the environment uncomfortable.
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