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Politico
17-06-2025
- Business
- Politico
What to do when an AI lies about you
As AI chatbots spread throughout American life — from personal assistants to romantic partners — one of the biggest puzzles is what to do when they misbehave. They're famous for making things up, or 'hallucinating,' to use the industry term. And when those hallucinations hurt people, it's not clear how they can fight back. One tool, of course, is existing defamation law — and a new federal lawsuit in Minnesota could start to answer the question of whether a company can be held liable for what an AI does. The suit was filed by a 200-employee solar panel company called Wolf River Electric, which alleges Google's AI Overview hurt its business by offering made-up, defamatory facts about the company. Assuming that Wolf River Electric can back up its complaint, this may be a telling test for whether existing law can rein in AI that harms people's reputations — or whether it falls short, and lawmakers need to step in. 'This might be one of the first cases where we actually get to see how the courts are going to really dig down and apply the basic principles of defamation law to AI,' said Ari Cohn, lead counsel for tech policy at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). So, what did the AI get wrong? According to Wolf River Electric's complaint, employees were Googling the company when they discovered problems with the search engine's AI Overview, which summarizes the results for a particular query. A screenshot in the exhibits appears to show an AI Overview inaccurately stating that the company was being sued by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for deceptive sales practices, among other legal violations. The screenshotted overview cites multiple sources, but if you go back and read through them, none of webpages actually say Wolf River Electric is being sued. Some other solar companies are being sued, and Wolf River Electric is named in an article — but the connection appears to have been made up entirely by the AI. The screenshotted AI Overview warns at the end of its summary: 'Generative AI is experimental. For legal advice, consult a professional.' Wolf River Electric did, indeed, consult a professional — and sued Google. Google generally denied the defamation allegations in a filing last week, though it's yet to fully elaborate on its defense. In a statement to DFD, Google said, 'The vast majority of our AI Overviews are accurate and helpful but like with any new technology, mistakes can happen. As soon as we found out about the problem, we acted quickly to fix it.' In its own statement, Wolf River said: 'We've earned our reputation one customer and one project at a time. Now, that decade of hard work is at risk.' Wolf River's lawsuit adds to a small but growing roster of cases trying to pin some responsibility on companies when AI makes up defamatory information. Nationally syndicated radio host Mark Walters filed a lawsuit in 2023 against OpenAI, accusing ChatGPT of falsely claiming that he was being sued for embezzlement. A Georgia court dismissed Walters' suit in May, though the ruling isn't a binding precedent for the Minnesota case. Robby Starbuck, an anti-DEI activist with more than 800,000 X followers, sued Meta in April alleging that its chatbot inaccurately identified him as a participant in the January 6, 2021 insurrection. The case is ongoing. Wolf River's case is different for a couple of important reasons, say legal experts. One is that it purports to show actual harm from the defamation — lost business from particular clients. 'Wolf River Electric claims they've got the receipts,' UCLA Law professor Eugene Volokh told DFD. 'They've got what a lot of people who've been libeled have a hard time proving.' More importantly, the company doesn't have as much name recognition as Walters or Starbuck, which gives it a different status under First Amendment law. Well-known people have to meet a higher 'actual malice' standard to prove they've been defamed — whereas if the judge agrees that Wolf River Electric is a private figure, which the company asserted in a statement to DFD, then it would only have to show that Google was negligent. Assuming the company's argument holds up, the case will steer into uncharted and important territory: What counts as 'reasonable' or 'negligent' in AI design? Yale Law professor Robert Post, who specializes in the First Amendment, said product liability laws are a helpful analogy for navigating these murky issues. 'If you're marketing a toaster, you're responsible that it doesn't burst into flames,' he told DFD. 'What precautions did you take?' Because tools like ChatGPT have only become more popular over the past few years, it's hard to tell what the industry's standard is for preventing defamatory hallucinations — if AI companies have widely adopted one at all. Without these standards, courts and juries may be left to decide whether an AI developer acted reasonably, making judgments on a whole new kind of product without many helpful signposts to guide them. AI software is arguably the most complex in the world, so some regulation may be merited to help juries make sense of negligent design, regardless of how these cases turn out. 'It's not the kind of issue that you'd want different juries deciding on throughout the country,' said Post. 'You'd want national standards laid out by people who are technically well informed about what makes sense and what doesn't.' OpenAI builds out its Stargate vision Ambitions for Stargate are getting pretty lofty — and political. OpenAI released a policy paper titled 'Ideas to Power Democratic AI' on Tuesday, which puts its 'Stargate' data center initiative at the core of its aims to catalyze U.S. reindustrialization, ward off repressive governments abroad and build education-based communities across the country. Reading through this aspirational to-do list, you'd be forgiven for forgetting that Stargate was initially conceived as a data center construction project. President Donald Trump announced the initiative in January, as OpenAI entered into a $100 billion deal with SoftBank and Oracle to build the data centers that power AI systems like ChatGPT. The White House pledged to expedite permitting processes to aid the venture. OpenAI's policy paper brings Stargate to the forefront of the day's buzziest policy debates. The company promotes plans to develop infrastructure based on Stargate abroad, to ensure that global AI ecosystems are built on 'democratic rails' to counteract China's 'autocratic version of AI.' It pushes for data centers to be fixtures of their communities, with 'Stargate Academies' to train high-skilled workforces, and endowments for local governments. The company further trumpets Stargate as an important component in industrial policies like modernizing the energy grid. Stargate, it seems, is no longer just a construction deal – it's quickly becoming a political platform. Phone subsidies lead to mass privacy protections Roughly 1.4 million Californians rely on phones subsidized by the state's Lifeline program, and a leading proposal to expand its services now includes measures to shield all user data from the federal government. POLITICO's California Decoded team reported on Tuesday that Democratic Assemblymember Avelino Valencia is broadening privacy protections in AB 1303, a bill that would make undocumented immigrants without Social Security numbers eligible for state Lifeline subsidies. The bill's initial privacy measures restricted certain Lifeline data from being shared with the federal government, out of concern that undocumented users would unintentionally disclose their immigration statuses to the Trump administration. The amendment expands those protections to all customers, prohibiting telecom companies from sharing such data with federal officials without a warrant or subpoena. These privacy-oriented modifications to the bill come as Democrats and immigration advocates raise concerns about the administration wielding government databases to further its deportation efforts. An Associated Press investigation last weekend found that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shared data on Medicaid enrollees, including immigrants, with the Department of Homeland Security. The Internal Revenue Service and Department Housing and Urban Development have also entered data-sharing agreements with Homeland Security for immigration enforcement. post of the day THE FUTURE IN 5 LINKS Stay in touch with the whole team: Aaron Mak (amak@ Mohar Chatterjee (mchatterjee@ Steve Heuser (sheuser@ Nate Robson (nrobson@ and Daniella Cheslow (dcheslow@
Scotsman
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Data reveals: Driving electric pays off most in Scotland
In 2025, owning an EV can lead to major cost savings, but only if you live in the right area and charge the smart way. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As of 2025, the UK has surpassed 1.5 million electric vehicles on the road, driven by rising petrol prices, falling EV costs, and government policies like the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate. But a big question remains for would-be buyers: Is an EV actually cheaper to run than a petrol car? The answer depends heavily on where you live, and how you charge. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Wolf River Electric analysed the five-year cost of owning an EV versus a petrol car across the UK, accounting for average regional electricity and fuel prices, servicing costs, and available incentives like the EV chargepoint grant and lower vehicle excise duty. The results show that EVs can save drivers thousands, especially in areas with lower electricity rates and high public fuel costs. Tell us your news Top UK Regions Where Driving Electric Saves the Most (5-Year Ownership) Scotland 5-Year Fuel Savings: £3,862 Average Electricity Rate: 27.1p/kWh Petrol Price: £1.57/litre South West England 5-Year Fuel Savings: £3,774 Electricity Rate: 28.3p/kWh Petrol Price: £1.59/litre Yorkshire and the Humber 5-Year Fuel Savings: £3,679 Electricity Rate: 25.9p/kWh Petrol Price: £1.54/litre East of England 5-Year Fuel Savings: £3,434 Electricity Rate: 30.1p/kWh Petrol Price: £1.56/litre Northern Ireland 5-Year Fuel Savings: £3,230 Electricity Rate: 33.5p/kWh Petrol Price: £1.51/litre Where Petrol Still Has an Edge Regions where electricity is expensive and fuel is relatively affordable can lessen the financial benefits of EVs, especially when relying on costly public chargers. London Electricity Rate: ~34.8p/kWh (can spike higher) Petrol Price: £1.58/litre High congestion charges help EVs, but public charging is often expensive unless home charging is available. Wales (Rural Areas) Lower petrol prices (£1.52/litre) Patchy public charging network Higher reliance on slower rural grid infrastructure Key Data: EV vs. Petrol Ownership in the UK (2025 Averages) Annual petrol use (avg petrol car): 492 litres 492 litres Annual EV electricity use: ~3,500 kWh ~3,500 kWh Average petrol price (2025): £1.56/litre £1.56/litre Average residential electricity price: 29.4p/kWh 29.4p/kWh 5-Year fuel cost (petrol): £3,837 £3,837 5-Year EV electricity cost (home charging): £1,764 £1,764 5-Year maintenance cost: Petrol cars: £2,885 EVs: £1,923 Total 5-year EV savings (fuel + maintenance): ~£2,935 – £4,500 depending on location depending on location Home charging cost per 100 miles: ~£4.90 ~£4.90 Public charging cost per 100 miles: ~£11.50–£16.00 Why Home Charging Is the Real Game-Changer How you charge your vehicle is now as important as the type of vehicle you drive. In 2025, UK public charging costs have risen, with fast chargers in urban areas sometimes exceeding £1 per kWh, nearly four times the cost of home charging during off-peak hours. Example: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A UK EV driver doing 8,000 miles annually can save over £600 a year by charging at home vs. relying on public networks. That's over £3,000 saved in five years, even before factoring in maintenance or solar panel savings. 'In both the UK and US, the home has become the most strategic place to charge your EV: both financially and environmentally. We're seeing a growing interest from UK homeowners looking to install dedicated EV chargepoints, particularly when paired with rooftop solar. When you factor in off-peak time-of-use tariffs from energy providers, the average cost per mile can be slashed to mere pennies. More importantly, home charging provides cost stability. With public charging prices now fluctuating week to week, having control over your energy source ensures long-term savings. And if you add solar to the mix, you're effectively future-proofing your transport costs while reducing emissions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The government's EV chargepoint grant and VAT relief on home installations are helpful, but what's really driving this trend is practicality. People want the assurance of waking up to a fully charged vehicle, without unpredictable queues or prices. If you're planning to switch to an EV in 2025 or beyond, make sure you're also thinking about your charging setup to optimise how and when you 'refuel' your car,' says Clean Energy Expert, Justin Nielsenfrom Wolf River Electric. Electric vehicles are a smart financial move for many UK households, with a great positive environmental impact. However, to make the most of the EV economy, home charging is essential. Take action: Review your local fuel vs. electricity costs Use off-peak tariffs from providers like Octopus or Ovo Look into solar + battery bundles Apply for the government's EV chargepoint grant
Miami Herald
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
More EVs will support homes during power outages, add energy grid capacity
Some homeowners are looking to electric vehicles to solve their power outage problems this summer. Automakers increasingly are launching EVs equipped with the ability to support bidirectional charging. The technology can allow energy from the vehicle's battery to be directed to power a plugged-in device, to restore power to a home or to return power to the electrical grid. In addition to being a benefit of EV ownership, it could be a revenue generator for customers and help support a robust electrical grid, particularly at times of peak energy demand and as data centers and artificial intelligence increase electrical needs. Leveraging the capabilities of these virtual power plants, however, could set up a battle with the U.S. energy sector. A recent report from solar company Wolf River Electric studying the Event-correlated Outage Dataset in America found Michigan had the most major power outages of U.S. states during the summer months from 2019 to 2023. Tim Addison, 41, of Northville Township, Michigan, is evaluating EV options with bidirectional charging after recently losing his power. It'd been nearly a year since he lost power, but before that, he'd experienced multiple stretches of a couple days without electricity. It's especially a problem because Addison's mother-in-law who lives with his family relies on an oxygen machine. When the house loses power, the family has to go to his mother's house or a hotel. He evaluated a $15,000 to $20,000 home generator as well as energy storage systems, but bidirectional charging looks like the best option for him: "It seems like it makes more sense than having a battery or a Generac you use 10 days out of a year." He's disappointed in how few EV models are capable of bidirectional charging now, but he also feels some pressure potentially to make a decision on a vehicle soon with the "One Big Beautiful" reconciliation budget bill in Washington expected to remove a tax credit of up to $7,500 for EV purchases. "The moment I know the tax legislation is going through, that's when I have to pull the trigger," the tax attorney said. "It just becomes a little bit more expensive." He knows his family also will have to figure out transportation needs if the EV is powering his home. Ryan O'Gorman, 51, of Beverly Hills, Michigan, who owns a 2025 F-150 Lightning, says he'll typically use another one of his family's vehicles if he needs to leave while using the bidirectional charging capability of his truck. "Typically the concern is the refrigerator or freezer, and that it'll thaw," said the energy services manager at Ford. "But that takes hours. So long as you're not going out of town, you're probably fine." About a year ago, O'Gorman used his truck for a three-day power outage at his 1845-built, 3,700-square-foot home, where he loses power a few times a year. It was cool enough where the house didn't need air conditioning, he said, but still, there was power left over in the vehicle. "It took a minute to turn on, but after a couple of hours, you forget it's running off the truck," he said. "The kids were on their phones. We were cooking and doing everything we normally do." Vehicle-to-home Ford Motor Co. in 2022 announced a partnership with solar company Sunrun and claimed to be the first to allow Americans to power their home with their truck. The extended-range model of the F-150 Lightning is capable of powering the average house for three days and up to 10 days with rationing or solar power. The pickups start at $63,345. By 2026, all of General Motors Co.'s EVs will be able to send energy to a residential home (called vehicle-to-home, or V2H) when paired with a GM Energy Home System. "Our commitment to an all-electric future," GM spokesperson Sanaz Marbley said in an email, "is focused not only on delivering a world-class portfolio of electric vehicles, but investing in the EV ecosystem that will enable mass adoption." Chrysler parent Stellantis NV's delayed electric trucks - the Ram 1500 REV and Ramcharger - also have bidirectional charging capability. And the Ramcharger has a 130 kilowatt generator on board, which the company says is close to the power of 10 home generators. Supporting the ability to power a home requires an integration system that converts energy from the truck into power that can be used by the home and connects into the main electrical panel where the grid feeds electricity to the house. The integration system Ford developed with Sunrun costs $3,895 at retail, and installation can be at least another $1,000 more, said Dave McCreadie, a Ford leader in EV-to-grid integration strategy and business development. Programs like Ford's Power Promise that covers the cost of the standard installation of a Level 2 home charger for buyers of a new EV doesn't include the integration system. McCreadie said Ford's system is built to be competitive with Generacs, but unlike a natural gas-powered generator, the EV solution is silent. Generac spokesperson Jonathan Stern in a statement said bidirectional charging remains in its infancy, and some homeowners will prefer a traditional generator to keep their EV charged and ready to get to safety, if needed. "We firmly believe that homeowners won't trade mobility for resiliency," he said. "If they are experiencing a power outage due to a severe weather event such as a hurricane, storm or wildfire, depleting your vehicle's battery to power your home could potentially put evacuation plans at severe risk." Customers of bidirectional chargers can also consider full interconnection. This technology feeds energy back into the grid (vehicle-to-grid, or V2G). McCreadie said it would require a software update and an interconnection agreement with a customer's utility. Not all vehicles with V2H capabilities also support V2G. "These batteries (in EVs) are so large, and the typical driver is only using a fraction of it every day," McCreadie said. "That leaves a lot left over to potentially put to good use for grid needs." That includes days when the power from the grid is flowing, but an EV owner could opt to power their home from their charged-up EV from overnight. They might do this to lower their bill, since electricity prices often are cheaper at night than during the day when there is more energy demand. Ford did a demonstration of this last year in Maryland. "A customer," McCreadie said, "can end up saving tens or dozens of dollars, even maybe as much as $100 per month in an extreme case on their electricity bill." V2G Interconnection also could allow electricity from plugged-in EVs to be sent back to the grid, similar to when residential solar panels produce more energy than is required by a homeowner. In return, a utility might offer an incentive or pay a rate to the EV owner for the electricity that could show up on their bill. Few utilities, however, currently offer these kinds of programs. The state of California is incentivizing bidirectional export compensation, and PG&E Corp., one of the country's largest electrical companies, is offering programs to support that. Detroit-based DTE Energy Co. says it's working with major automakers on bidirectional charging and is testing V2G technology with electric school buses since they typically are available when utilities need energy the most: during peak summer afternoons when demand is greatest. "This is an exciting, emerging technology that is still quite early in the development stage," spokesperson Ryan Lowry said in a statement. "As V2G technology matures, DTE will continue testing applications on the grid while expanding integration efforts, including evaluating export compensation, rate design, and tariffs to support customer participation and grid reliability." Michigan's largest electrical utility, CMS Corp.'s Consumers Energy, says since bidirectional charging technology isn't yet affordable or widely available for most customers, it doesn't offer any customer incentives. "Consumers Energy is committed making EV ownership convenient and affordable," spokesperson Brian Wheeler said in statement, "and we can see a point in a few years where we might play a role to support bidirectional charging as a benefit to customers and the grid." McCreadie said Ford is involved in efforts to lobby for these kinds of programs to residential customers. "There's a whole long story that has to do with net energy metering, and some of the battles that have been waged on what that export rate should be," McCreadie said. "And I think some similar things are happening or going to be happening right now with EVs." He added that power companies are motivated to offer these kinds of programs because peaker power plants that only operate during times of high energy demand are expensive and capital-intensive. Virtual power plant remedies like bidirectional charging eliminate some of the need to invest in more of those forms of generation. Collaboration for expansion A couple recently announced collaborations seek further development in this area. One is ChargeScape LLC, a joint venture among Ford, BMW AG, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. whose software platform connects EV customers with utilities and automakers, and Leapfrog Power Inc. that does business as Leap. Working together is expected to help automakers obtain information on grid demand and rates to leverage EVs as revenue-generating grid assets efficiently and at scale starting in California and expanding nationwide. The key to that is improving utilities' comfort with interconnection, which could unlock revenue earnings for EV owners of five to 10 times on an annual basis of V2H applications, Leap CEO Jason Michaels said. "There's incredible demand for this, especially if you look at the data centers that are expected to be interconnected," Michaels said. "You're talking about adding something that's equivalent to the entire state of California during the hottest heat wave in terms of load onto our grid. There's just not enough new generation that's available. Gas power plants can't be stood up in time to do it. Even solar and wind can't be deployed fast enough to meet that need. "There's a real need," he continued, "for this capacity to be participating in the grid, providing support and enabling load growth. And we need that load growth to help drive our economy, win the AI battle, have data centers and other things." Also last month,EV charger supplier ChargePoint Holdings Inc. and power management company Eaton Corp. plc announced a partnership toward creating a one-stop solution for EV charging equipment that supports bidirectional charging. "To make charging more accessible, you need access to charging infrastructure," Paul Ryan, Eaton's general manager of energy transition, said about addressing a major challenge to EV adoption. "You need more charges, whether that's on public corridor highways or in the homes. So, we need to be able to streamline this so it shouldn't be complicated. This partnership is focusing on innovation, streamlining installation and improving reliability." Hossein Kazemi, ChargePoint's chief technology officer for hardware, noted helping the country turn to EVs could double grid capacity in North America. "As the EV adoption continues," Kazemi said, "the need for the power from the utility is going to go up, and at some point, definitely the grid interactive features are going to be very important to have on the chargers." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Record
Common coffee mistake that's costing you £40 a year - and it's not trips to Starbucks
If you're a big fan of a cuppa then you might want to rethink your habits as one simple change could save you nearly £40 a year Many of us enjoy a cuppa several times a day as a great way to relax. However, there's a way to trim the cost of your brew - and it doesn't involve switching brands or drinking less. Justin Nielsen, an energy consultant at Wolf River Electric, an electrical and solar installations firm, suggests that overfilling your kettle, a habit many of us are guilty of, is unnecessarily inflating your energy bill. But a simple adjustment in how much water you boil could save you nearly £40 every year. Making a cup of tea or coffee is a daily ritual for millions of Brits. The Tea Census estimates that around 10 million cups of the beverage are made across the UK each day. And for those who fancy a change, coffee is the order of the day adding to the massive total of brews consumed. But with so many of the hot beverages being enjoyed, it's hardly surprising that many people don't think twice about how much water they pour into the kettle, reports Yorkshire Live. Yet overfilling when boiling water for a cuppa can lead to significant energy waste. For those who drink five to six cups a day, the extra water quickly adds up. If you're overfilling the kettle by just half a cup each time, it could add £39.62 to the typical £84 a year spent on boiling the kettle. That's a £40 increase on an annual energy bill for a habit that's easy to change. Taking a moment to assess how much water you truly need could make a world of difference, and not just for your energy bills. It can help the planet too. But it's not just the quantity of water you're boiling that impacts energy usage, as proper kettle maintenance can also lead to savings. Justin points out, "even small appliances like kettles contribute to overall energy use," emphasising the importance of keeping them in good condition for efficient operation. He continues, "Using kettles with low minimum-fill lines and promptly descaling them can result in noticeable energy savings." Kettles tend to accumulate limescale, necessitating extra effort to boil water. Descaling regularly is essential to maintain them at optimal performance, ensuring they consume less power for the same amount of water boiled. The issue of wasting electricity extends beyond kettles. Habits such as overloading the washing machine, operating a half-empty tumble dryer, and leaving lights on unnecessarily can increase your energy bills by hundreds of pounds each year. Luckily, altering these energy-intensive habits is relatively straightforward. Making minor tweaks, from boiling just the needed amount of water to utilising eco settings on devices, can significantly cut costs. Justin adds: "We've all been guilty at times of leaving the lights on or overfilling the kettle, but it's important to remember that these habits can all add hundreds of pounds a year to our bills."
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report ranks Florida as top state for long summer power outages
TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM) — As hurricane season kicks into gear across Florida, a new report sheds light on just how vulnerable the state is to long summer power outages, even when storms aren't in play. A national study conducted by Wolf River Electric analyzed five years of data from the Event Correlated Outage Dataset to determine where Americans are most likely to lose electricity during the hottest months of the year. Florida ranks fourth in the country for major summer outages, with an average of more than 18,000 hours without power each year from May through August. While Florida didn't log as many large-scale outages as states like Michigan or Texas, the duration of its blackouts paints a troubling picture. Each recorded event affected at least 5,000 utility customers, including homes, schools, and businesses, and often stretched for hours or even days. 'These aren't just flickers,' the study's authors noted. 'In Florida, when the power goes out in summer, it tends to stay out.' National leaders in summer outages The state with the most frequent and prolonged outages is Michigan, which topped the list with over 12,000 major events and more than 34,000 annual outage hours. Texas ranked second, reporting fewer outages but a higher average duration — 35,440 hours without electricity each year — making the Lone Star State's blackouts especially punishing during triple-digit heatwaves. California came in third, with more than 6,000 major outages, but significantly faster recovery times, averaging 9,500 hours per year. That's roughly half the duration of Florida's. Comparing states: Short vs. long outages Florida's outage profile differs sharply from other East Coast states like Maryland, which reported nearly 1,900 outages but just 335 hours without power annually — suggesting short, manageable disruptions. By contrast, Alabama and Louisiana, southern neighbors to Florida, had fewer outages than the Sunshine State but still saw long-lasting ones: Alabama averaged 8,159 hours per year without power, while Louisiana logged 3,610 hours. Other notable figures include: New York: 873 outages; ~4,000 annual hours North Carolina: 554 outages; ~2,985 annual hours Georgia: 242 outages; ~1,362 annual hours Even West Coast states like Washington (609 outages; 1,969 hours) and Oregon (206 outages; 1,201 hours) saw less disruption overall. Midwest and South hit hardest The report concluded that the Midwest and Southern U.S. face the greatest risk, both in terms of outage frequency and duration. The Northeast and much of the West Coast fare better, with fewer and shorter disruptions. Florida's high-stakes summer For Floridians, the timing of this data is especially relevant. Hurricane season began June 1 and continues through November. Although not all outages in the report were storm-related, the trend of long-duration outages raises serious concerns for public health, food safety, and disaster readiness. In a state where summer temperatures regularly push into the 90s with high humidity, the absence of air conditioning, refrigeration, or even working traffic lights can quickly become more than just inconvenient — it can be dangerous. Top 5 states with the longest summer outages (by duration): Texas – 35,440 hours/year Michigan – 34,068 hours/year Florida – 18,038 hours/year California – 9,553 hours/year Alabama – 8,159 hours/year Experts recommend that residents in high-risk states like Florida keep emergency kits, backup power options, and evacuation plans ready, especially as the season heats up. TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM) — As hurricane season kicks into gear across Florida, a new report sheds light on just how vulnerable the state is to long summer power outages, even when storms aren't in play. A national study conducted by Wolf River Electric analyzed five years of data from the Event Correlated Outage Dataset to determine where Americans are most likely to lose electricity during the hottest months of the year. Florida ranks fourth in the country for major summer outages, with an average of more than 18,000 hours without power each year from May through August. While Florida didn't log as many large-scale outages as states like Michigan or Texas, the duration of its blackouts paints a troubling picture. Each recorded event affected at least 5,000 utility customers, including homes, schools, and businesses, and often stretched for hours or even days. 'These aren't just flickers,' the study's authors noted. 'In Florida, when the power goes out in summer, it tends to stay out.' National leaders in summer outages The state with the most frequent and prolonged outages is Michigan, which topped the list with over 12,000 major events and more than 34,000 annual outage hours. Texas ranked second, reporting fewer outages but a higher average duration — 35,440 hours without electricity each year — making the Lone Star State's blackouts especially punishing during triple-digit heatwaves. California came in third, with more than 6,000 major outages, but significantly faster recovery times, averaging 9,500 hours per year. That's roughly half the duration of Florida's. Comparing states: Short vs. long outages Florida's outage profile differs sharply from other East Coast states like Maryland, which reported nearly 1,900 outages but just 335 hours without power annually — suggesting short, manageable disruptions. By contrast, Alabama and Louisiana, southern neighbors to Florida, had fewer outages than the Sunshine State but still saw long-lasting ones: Alabama averaged 8,159 hours per year without power, while Louisiana logged 3,610 hours. Other notable figures include: New York: 873 outages; ~4,000 annual hours North Carolina: 554 outages; ~2,985 annual hours Georgia: 242 outages; ~1,362 annual hours Even West Coast states like Washington (609 outages; 1,969 hours) and Oregon (206 outages; 1,201 hours) saw less disruption overall. Midwest and South hit hardest The report concluded that the Midwest and Southern U.S. face the greatest risk, both in terms of outage frequency and duration. The Northeast and much of the West Coast fare better, with fewer and shorter disruptions. Florida's high-stakes summer For Floridians, the timing of this data is especially relevant. Hurricane season began June 1 and continues through November. Although not all outages in the report were storm-related, the trend of long-duration outages raises serious concerns for public health, food safety, and disaster readiness. In a state where summer temperatures regularly push into the 90s with high humidity, the absence of air conditioning, refrigeration, or even working traffic lights can quickly become more than just inconvenient — it can be dangerous. Top 5 states with the longest summer outages (by duration): Texas – 35,440 hours/year Michigan – 34,068 hours/year Florida – 18,038 hours/year California – 9,553 hours/year Alabama – 8,159 hours/year Experts recommend that residents in high-risk states like Florida keep emergency kits, backup power options, and evacuation plans ready — especially as the season heats up. Source: Wolf River Electric; U.S. Event Correlated Outage Dataset (2019–2023) Source: Wolf River Electric; U.S. Event Correlated Outage Dataset (2019–2023)For more on hurricane prep and local safety resources, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
