Power outages are a nuisance. But while many of us think of power outages as briefly occurring during the occasional thunderstorm, power outages are a common reality that can be more expensive and destructive than you would realize. A Harris Interactive survey sponsored by Briggs & Stratton® revealed that 69% of U.S. adults, who had faced a power outage lasting more than 12 hours in the past two years, dealt with subsequent associated costs. From spoiled food to repairing damaged property, power outages can be costly.
Hidden Power Outage Costs: A Look at the Data
In the Briggs & Stratton survey, respondents shared their power outage costs.
What Are The Most Common Costs?
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40% had to replace spoiled food
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29% incurred costs for emergency supply purchases to protect their home and family during the power outage (including candles, flashlights, firewood, etc.)
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16% invested in a portable generator
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13% lost wages from having to take time off work
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11% reported property damage
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8% reported having to pay for a hotel room during the power outage
How Much Do These Expenses Cost?
The combined average of these incurred cost can top $3000. See the average* expense breakdown based on categories.
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Property Damage: $1,916
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Portable Generator: $650
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Lost Wages: $310
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Spoiled Food: $160
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Hotel: $108
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Emergency Supplies: $76
Property damage and other associated costs can be prevented by a backup power solution. The most significant costs hit the owners who faced property damage – spending money on repairs to sump pumps, basement flooding and general clean up. If your area commonly experiences power outages, it may be worth investing in reliable standby power from a home generator to help prevent any potential costs that power outages can cause.
Stay Protected with Backup Power from Briggs and Stratton Standby Generators
Now that you’ve read about the expensive consequences that can come with power outages – or perhaps you’ve experienced them firsthand – it’s time to learn how you can protect your home and family with preventative measures. Briggs and Stratton Home Generators are one of your best solutions to help guard against power outages, whether they’re caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, or even an uncertain connection to your power grid. You can learn more about portable vs. standby to find the best generator for your home.
*Estimates are for illustrative purposes only and should not be used to estimate power outage loss. Cost estimates were pulled from US News, 2012; STR Global, 2012; MoldReporter.org; and FloodSmart.gov. Costs vary from state to state and home to home. Briggs & Stratton is not liable for any damages that occur during a power outage.
Our generators are permanently installed for peace of mind in a power outage.