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Why Texans plan for outages
Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 left millions of Texans without power for days, and Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 left more than two million customers in the Houston area without electricity, many during extreme heat. Severe storms, wildfires, hail and grid stress also cause local outages every year. You can't control the weather, but you can decide in advance what you will keep running and how.
Four backup options compared
| Portable power station | Portable generator | Whole-home standby generator | Whole-home battery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost* | ~$300–$3,500 | ~$500–$2,500 (plus transfer switch) | ~$10,000–$20,000+ installed | ~$10,000–$20,000+ installed |
| Runs | Essentials: fridge, router, lights, devices | Several circuits or major appliances with a transfer switch | Most or all of the home | Essentials or most of the home depending on size |
| Fuel | Stored battery (recharge from wall, car or solar) | Gasoline or propane | Natural gas or propane | Stored battery, recharged by solar or grid |
| Noise / fumes | Silent, no fumes | Loud, carbon monoxide risk | Moderate, installed outdoors | Silent, no fumes |
| Runtime | Hours to a day on small loads | As long as you have fuel | Days with a steady fuel supply | Hours to a day; longer with solar |
| Best for | Renters, apartments, short outages, medical devices | Budget coverage for key circuits | Long outages, large homes | Solar owners, quiet backup, frequent short outages |
*Rough ranges, not quotes. Prices vary widely by brand, size and installation.
Sizing: what can you run?
Two numbers matter. Power (watts or kW) is how much you can run at once, and energy (watt-hours or kWh) is how long you can run it. Energy = power × time. A rough guide to typical running watts:
| Appliance | Typical running watts | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi router and modem | 10–30 W | Easy to keep on |
| LED light | 5–15 W each | |
| Phone / laptop charging | 10–80 W | |
| Refrigerator | 100–250 W | Starting surge can be 3× or more |
| Fans and TV | 50–150 W | |
| Furnace blower (gas furnace) | 400–800 W | |
| Sump pump | 400–1,100 W | Surge applies |
| Window air conditioner | 500–1,500 W | Surge applies |
| Microwave | 1,000–1,500 W | |
| Central air conditioner | 3,000–5,000+ W | Large startup surge; the hard one |
| Electric water heater | ~4,500 W | Usually excluded from backup |
Typical ranges; check the nameplate on your own equipment.
Worked example. Suppose your essentials (refrigerator, router, a few lights, fans and device charging) average about 500 W. Over 24 hours that is 12,000 Wh, or 12 kWh. A 2 kWh power station would last roughly 3 to 4 hours at that load after inverter losses, while a 13 kWh home battery could cover about a day. If you want to run central air, the picture changes dramatically, so look closely at the kW rating and not just the kWh capacity.
Safety rules that matter
Carbon monoxide kills. Never run a generator in a garage, basement or enclosed space, or near doors, windows or vents. Keep portable generators outdoors at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointing away. Install battery-backed CO alarms on every level and near sleeping areas.
- No backfeeding. Don't plug a generator into a wall outlet. Use a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician.
- Fuel storage. Store gasoline in approved containers away from living space and ignition sources. Rotate stored fuel and use a stabilizer.
- Keep it dry. Run generators on dry ground under a proper canopy, not in the rain.
- Test regularly. Start generators monthly and exercise batteries per the manufacturer's instructions.
- Power stations indoors. Battery power stations produce no exhaust, but keep them ventilated and away from heat sources and follow the manual.
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Which option fits you?
Renters, apartments and small budgets: portable power station
Quiet, safe indoors and ready in seconds. Choose enough capacity for the essentials you listed, and check whether it can recharge from solar panels or a car. Popular makers include EcoFlow, Jackery, Anker SOLIX and BLUETTI; compare capacity (Wh), continuous output (W), recharge options, warranty and real-world reviews rather than marketing numbers.
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Occasional multi-day outages and tight budgets: portable generator with a transfer switch
Costs less per watt than batteries but needs fuel, maintenance and careful placement. Budget for a transfer switch or interlock and the electrician.
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Large homes and long outages: standby generator
A permanently installed standby generator starts automatically and can run for days on natural gas or propane. It requires a licensed installer, permits and annual service. Get several quotes from authorized dealers and ask about service plans.
Solar owners and quiet backup: whole-home battery
Batteries from companies like Tesla, Enphase and others store solar power or grid power and take over when the lights go out. Look at the continuous kW rating, the number of batteries and whether the system can start your air conditioner. If you also want solar, see our solar guide; many installers quote battery backup together with panels.
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Before-the-storm checklist
- List your essentials and their wattage, including medical devices.
- Charge power stations and power banks, and fill fuel containers if applicable.
- Test carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries.
- Know where your main breaker and any transfer switch are.
- Keep flashlights, a battery radio and a printed contact list.
- Know how to report an outage to your local delivery company, not your retail electricity provider.
- Check on neighbors, especially older adults and anyone relying on medical equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Can a portable power station run my whole house?
Almost never. Most portable power stations store between about 0.25 and 4 kWh and cannot run central air conditioning for long. They are best for essentials such as a refrigerator, internet router, phones, lights and fans, or for a medical device. A whole-home battery or standby generator is built for larger loads.
How big a generator or battery do I need?
Add up the running watts of everything you want to power at once and note the biggest starting surge, usually from air conditioning or a well pump. That sets the size (in kW) you need. Then multiply your average watts by the number of hours you want to run to get the energy (in kWh) a battery must hold.
Is it safe to run a generator in my garage?
No. Never run a generator in a garage, basement, carport or near doors, windows and vents, even with the door open. Exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which can kill in minutes. Federal safety guidance says to place portable generators outside, at least 20 feet from the home, with the exhaust pointing away. Install working carbon monoxide alarms.
Can I plug a generator into a wall outlet?
No. Backfeeding a house through an outlet is dangerous and illegal in many places, and can electrocute utility workers. Use a properly installed transfer switch or interlock, which a licensed electrician should install, or use extension cords rated for the load.
Do solar panels keep my power on during an outage?
Not by themselves. Standard grid-tied systems shut down when the grid does. You need a battery and an inverter set up for backup operation.
How long does a home battery last during an outage?
It depends on the battery's energy (kWh) and your loads. A 13 kWh battery running 1 kW of essentials can last roughly 12 hours, longer with solar recharging or careful use. Central air conditioning can drain it much faster.
Will a generator run on natural gas during a winter storm?
Standby generators fueled by natural gas or propane can run for days, but supply conditions can differ in widespread events. Ask your installer about fuel supply, and consider a dual-fuel model.
General information only, not engineering or safety certification. Always follow manufacturer instructions, local codes and use a licensed electrician for permanent installations.