Business Survival in Texas: 5 Key Facts About Power Outages and the Impact of Generators

In the face of Texas’s unpredictable weather, businesses confront the constant threat of power outages that can disrupt operations, compromise safety, and lead to significant financial losses. Industrial generators emerge as a crucial asset in these scenarios, ensuring continuity and stability. Let’s break down the top five reasons why generator power is essential to your business success story.

1. Unpredictable Weather Patterns

Texas experiences over 100 days of thunderstorms annually, along with frequent hurricanes and severe winter storms. The February 2021 winter storm alone left 4.5 million Texans without power for days. In May 2024, over 1 million services in the Houston metropolitan area were without power due to the severe derecho wind storms.  Just two months later, Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda, Texas. It brought sustained winds of up to 80 mph and caused widespread damage due to strong winds and heavy rainfall. Beryl caused over 2.7 million households and businesses near the Gulf Coast, primarily in the Houston metropolitan area, to suffer from prolonged power outages during high temperatures and high humidity. 

Between 2000 and 2023, the United States witnessed 2,194 major power outages, affecting 50,000+ customers or interrupting 300 megawatts of service or more. Texas is currently the most affected state, suffering 130 incidents since 2020, which amounted to an outage duration of over 4,186 hours. With such extreme and unpredictable weather, businesses cannot risk being unprepared. A generator is not just a backup plan; it’s a lifeline.

Mapping the U.S. Power Outages by State

2. Aging Infrastructure 

The Texas power grid, managed by ERCOT, was designed decades ago and is struggling to keep pace with the state’s booming population, which has grown by over 15% in the last decade. With an aging infrastructure, power outages are becoming more common, affecting thousands of businesses. Investing in a generator is essential to avoid costly disruptions.

3. Economic Impact of Outages

Power outages can be financially devastating. The 2021 winter storm cost Texas businesses an estimated $130 billion in damages and lost productivity.  Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda, Texas, on July 8, 2024. It brought sustained winds of up to 80 mph and caused widespread damage due to strong winds and heavy rainfall. The overall economic loss for Texas was estimated to be between $1.5 billion and $4.6 billion.

Texas is home to numerous data centers, which are crucial for tech companies and financial institutions. A single hour of power outage can result in losses of over $1 million per data center due to system shutdowns, damaged servers, and recovery efforts, making outages a critical threat to the state’s digital economy.

4. Small Business Closures

Over 40% of small businesses in Texas reported experiencing permanent or temporary closures due to weather-related power outages in the last three years. The lack of backup power options and limited access to fuel during outages forces many small businesses to shut down, leading to long-term financial hardships.

For small to medium-sized businesses, a single day without power can mean thousands of dollars in lost revenue and spoiled inventory.

5. Essential for Customer Satisfaction

In an era where customers expect immediate and reliable service, power outages can severely damage your reputation. Studies show that 70% of customers are less likely to return to a business after a poor experience, including service disruptions due to power outages. A generator guarantees continuous service, maintaining your business’s reputation and customer satisfaction.

Conclusion: Generators Are No Longer a Luxury

The increasing frequency and impact of power outages in Texas make it clear: generators are a necessity for businesses. Protect your operations, revenue, and customer satisfaction by investing in a reliable generator today. Don’t wait for the next storm or blackout—ensure your business is always powered up and ready to serve. The cost of being unprepared is far too high. Act now to safeguard your business against the unpredictable nature of Texas power outages.

Need technical assistance with your emergency power needs?

WPP boasts the largest inventory of industrial generators in Texas and an experienced technical team ready to assist and guide your business through sizing, design, installation, and start-up within weeks. If you need power even sooner, we can provide a rental solution within 24 hours! At WPP, we supply power generation equipment for a wide range of industries, leveraging years of experience to power busy construction sites and beyond.