The Difference Between Blackouts and Brownouts

Many people are cranking up their air conditioning due to the hot weather. That could result in a brownout. Strong summer storms have become a regular occurrence so far this season, causing power cuts during the hottest part of the year.

It is a good idea to understand the differences between the two during the summer season. This is what to know.

The difference between blackouts and brownouts

There are a number of differences between brownouts and Blackouts.

Blackouts

There is a loss of electricity. Some last for a short time, but others can last for days or even weeks. It depends on what caused the power to go out, and how difficult it is to get it back. There are a number of common causes for black outs.

• Damaged transformers or electric lines (resulting from storms, fallen trees, and/or accidents)
• Increased power demand that pushes the grid beyond its limit
• Lightning strikes to electrical poles
• Disturbed underground power lines
• Ice build-up on power lines

Brownouts

Brownouts are usually caused by situations beyond the power company's control. When the demand for electricity is approaching capacity and the power company limits the electricity in certain areas, brownouts occur.

The homes that are part of a brownout still have electricity. It will be dim even if you are able to turn on a lamp.

‘Rolling’ blackouts and ‘planned outages’

Sometimes, when the power company knows that the grid will be maxed out, it may choose to instate rolling power cuts. These occur in multiple areas for a limited amount of time, and are usually announced by the power company.

A rolling power cut is not the same as a planned power cut. It is more likely that those are scheduled in advance for maintenance.