Power outage preparedness

The grid will fail.
Your power doesn't
have to.

Americans lost power for an average of 11 hours in 2024. Colorado alone saw 55,000+ wildfire shutoffs. Sol Country shows every backup power option at every budget — from $199 to full home protection.

11 hrsAvg US outage 2024
55,000+CO PSPS customers 2024
$5,500Xcel battery rebate
Find my backup power options →
▾
The problem

America's grid is getting
less reliable every year.

The US electrical grid was built in the 1950s–70s. Utilities are spending $1.4 trillion to upgrade it — but outages are increasing as extreme weather intensifies. In 2024, Americans experienced an average of 11 hours without power — the highest since tracking began.

Wildfires
Colorado, California, and the Southwest face increasing wildfire risk. Utilities implement PSPS shutoffs to prevent power lines from igniting fires.
PSPS = days without power
Winter storms
The 2021 Texas freeze left 4.5 million households without power for days. Colorado's mountain communities face similar winter storm risk annually.
Multi-day risk in cold snaps
Hurricanes
Gulf Coast and Southeast customers face multi-day outages after major hurricanes — increasingly frequent and intense.
Days to weeks without grid
Grid overload
Summer heat waves strain the grid as air conditioning demand peaks. Rolling blackouts affect California, Texas, and the Southeast during extreme heat.
Rolling blackouts in heat waves
11 hrs
Avg US outage 2024
55,000+
CO PSPS affected 2024
4.5M
TX households lost power 2021
100%
Utilities increasing rates to fund grid repairs
Colorado specifically

Why Colorado faces
unique outage risk.

Colorado's combination of aging grid infrastructure, dry summers, and increased wildfire activity creates one of the highest outage risk profiles in the US.

Xcel Energy's PSPS program — intentional power shutoffs to prevent wildfire ignition — affects tens of thousands of Colorado customers every summer.

What is a PSPS?

A Public Safety Power Shutoff is a deliberate power outage initiated by Xcel Energy when weather conditions create extreme wildfire risk. High winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation can trigger a PSPS affecting entire neighborhoods or cities.

PSPS events typically last 12–48 hours but can extend longer in severe conditions. Unlike storm-caused outages — PSPS events are forecast in advance (usually 24–48 hours) giving you time to prepare.

Highest risk: Jefferson County, Boulder County, Larimer County, Douglas County (Front Range foothills).
Personal risk check

Enter your address.
We'll match it to a backup
power level.

Sol Country checks your county against Xcel's PSPS wildfire zones, hurricane history, and grid-stress patterns — then recommends the right backup tier and links you straight to the kit.

Free · no signup · address used only to look up your county wildfire/PSPS tier.
Your backup power options

Every option from
$199 to full home
protection.

Sol Country carries backup power options at every budget. Here's what each level protects — so you can buy the right amount of backup power for your situation.

Important: Solar panels alone do NOT provide backup power during outages. They automatically shut off to protect utility workers. Backup power requires a battery OR portable power station paired with your solar panel.
Level 1 — Essentials
$199–499
Powers
  • Phone charging
  • Laptop
  • LED lights
  • Small fan
  • CPAP machine
Duration: 8–24 hours per charge
Best for: Renters + apartment dwellers
Products
  • Goal Zero Yeti 200X — $199
  • EcoFlow RIVER 3 — $249
  • BLUETTI EB3A — $269
Shop essentials →
Level 2 — Apartment
$499–999
Powers
  • All Level 1 items
  • Mini fridge
  • Window fan
  • Multiple devices simultaneously
Duration: 24–48 hours per charge
Best for: Apartments + renters
Products
  • BLUETTI AC180 — $499
  • EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus — $549
  • Anker SOLIX C800 — $799
Shop apartment backup →
Level 3 — Whole home
$2,499+
Powers
  • Full refrigerator
  • Window AC unit
  • All essential circuits
  • Multi-day backup
Duration: 2–5+ days with solar
Best for: Homeowners
Up to $5,500 Xcel rebate ✓
Products
  • EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 — $2,499
Shop whole home →
Level 4 — Full protection
$8,000+
Powers
  • Entire home automatic switchover
  • Whole home AC
  • All appliances
  • Indefinite with solar
Duration: Days–indefinite with rooftop
Best for: Homeowners + medical needs
Up to $10,000 medical Xcel rebate ✓
Products
  • Tesla Powerwall 3 — From $8,000
Get Powerwall quote →
Quick reference

Choose your budget.
We'll show your options.

Sol Country ranks every backup option by upfront cost so you can find the right level for your home and budget.

BudgetProductPowersDurationBuy now
$199Goal Zero Yeti 200XPhone / laptop / lights8–12 hrsBuy on Amazon →
$269Sol Country pick for rentersBLUETTI EB3APhone / laptop / CPAP / fan12 hrsBuy on Amazon →
$499BLUETTI AC180Mini fridge / multiple devices24 hrsBuy on Amazon →
$799Anker SOLIX C800Apartment essentials36 hrsBuy on Amazon →
$999BLUETTI AC200LFull apartment backup48+ hrsBuy on Amazon →
$2,499EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3Whole home3–5 days with solarBuy at EcoFlow →
$8,000+Tesla Powerwall 3Full home auto switchoverDays–indefiniteGet quote →
Xcel pays you to prepare

Xcel Energy pays up to
$10,000 when you add
battery storage.

Colorado Xcel customers who install qualifying home batteries receive significant rebates from Xcel's battery incentive programs.

Renewable Battery Connect
Up to $5,500
Upfront payment$250/kW installed
Annual payments$100/yr × 5 years
Tesla Powerwall (13.5kW)~$3,375 + $500 = $3,875 total
RequirementGrid-connected, dispatchable battery
StatusApplications open
Safe for Colorado
For medical equipment users in wildfire-risk zones
Up to $10,000
Who qualifiesTier 2-3 wildfire zone + life-sustaining equipment
Equipment examplesCPAP, oxygen, dialysis, refrigerated medication
AmountUp to $10,000 for qualified battery systems
Program availability changes. Verify current status directly with Xcel before purchasing.
Full Xcel rebate guide →
Planning your backup

How long will your
battery last?

Every device draws a different amount of power. Use this table to estimate how long your battery will run your essential items.

ApplianceWattsEB3A (268Wh)AC180 (1,152Wh)DELTA Pro (4,096Wh)
Phone charge18W14 hrs64 hrs227 hrs
Laptop65W4 hrs17 hrs63 hrs
LED lights (×4)40W6.7 hrs28 hrs102 hrs
CPAP30W8.9 hrs38 hrs136 hrs
Mini fridge80W3.3 hrs14 hrs51 hrs
Full fridge150W1.8 hrs7.7 hrs27 hrs
Window fan75W3.6 hrs15 hrs54 hrs
Window AC900W0.3 hrs1.3 hrs4.5 hrs

Runtime assumes full charge with no solar recharging. Pair with a solar panel to extend runtime indefinitely on sunny days.

Find the right backup power
for your address.

Sol Country checks your wildfire risk zone, available Xcel rebates, and recommends the right backup power level for your home.

Find my power →
Free · No signupXcel rebates includedColorado specific