Power Outage Preparedness Calculator
Work out your household's power needs during a blackout — battery size, generator fuel, and a full emergency checklist.
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Critical Appliances
Select what you need to keep running. Hours shown are estimated per day.
Backup Power Source
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Power outages in Australia — more common than you think
Australia's grid is under increasing stress. Summer heatwaves push demand to record levels. Bushfires damage transmission infrastructure. Severe storms — particularly in QLD, NSW, and VIC — regularly knock out power for days. The closure of coal plants and the transition to renewables has created occasional reliability challenges during the transition period.
- Summer is the highest risk season: When temperatures exceed 40°C across southeastern Australia, peak demand often strains the grid. AEMO (the Australian Energy Market Operator) issues load-shedding notices when supply is insufficient, cutting power to rotating zones. In 2022, South Australia and Victoria experienced planned outages during the heatwave event.
- Storms are the most common cause: Particularly in subtropical Queensland and coastal NSW, severe thunderstorms regularly bring lines down. Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy (NSW) report that storm damage accounts for the majority of extended outages each year.
- Fridge and freezer management: A full freezer maintains safe temperatures for 48 hours when unopened; a fridge for 4 hours. Keep a thermometer in your fridge (safe range: 0–4°C). A bag of ice can extend fridge life significantly. During summer outages, food safety is a major concern — when in doubt, throw it out.
- Battery stations vs generators: Modern lithium battery stations (EcoFlow, Jackery, Bluetti) are silent, clean, and safe indoors. A 1,000 Wh station costs $800–$1,500 and handles most short-term needs. Petrol generators are louder, require outdoor use, and need stored fuel — but are much cheaper per kWh for extended outages.
- Solar panels during a blackout: Standard grid-tied solar inverters shut off automatically when the grid fails — a safety requirement to protect linesmen. To use solar during an outage you need either a battery system, a hybrid inverter, or an EPS (Emergency Power Supply) function on your inverter. Check your inverter manual.
- Medical equipment: If anyone in your household uses a CPAP, nebuliser, home dialysis, or other powered medical equipment, emergency power planning is critical. Contact your energy retailer — medical concession customers may be prioritised for reconnection.
🦘 Fun fact: In January 2019, Adelaide experienced temperatures above 46°C for multiple days. The SA grid operator asked large users to reduce consumption, implemented emergency gas generation, and still experienced brief load shedding in some suburbs. At the same time, SA was also generating a record proportion of its electricity from wind and solar — showing both the challenges and possibilities of the energy transition.