Power Outages Cost Homeowners More Than Just Spoiled Food

Extended power outages pose a significant, often underestimated, financial risk to homeowners, primarily through the spoilage of refrigerated and frozen food. This hidden cost can escalate rapidly, especially for households that purchase groceries in bulk, utilize second refrigerators, or maintain large freezers. Tropical Storm Lala's impact on Hawaii, which caused widespread power outages, highlighted this issue for many residents. The rising cost of groceries further exacerbates the financial burden; grocery prices saw a 2.7% year-over-year increase in July 2026, and staple foods like beef and veal are projected to increase by over 9.8% this year alone. Consequently, a prolonged outage can threaten not just a few hundred dollars worth of food, but potentially thousands, as explained by Ken Goodrich, founder, chairman, and CEO of Generator Partners in Dallas. Goodrich notes that families often stock up at warehouse clubs or keep a second refrigerator in the garage, increasing the volume of food at risk. Proactive measures before an outage can mitigate these losses. Mike Naughton, founder and CEO of Price to Compare and Integrity Energy in Cleveland, advises placing an appliance thermometer in both the refrigerator and freezer to monitor internal temperatures accurately. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends maintaining refrigerator temperatures at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and freezer temperatures at or below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Naughton also emphasizes the importance of keeping freezers as full as possible. A full freezer can maintain safe food temperatures for up to 48 hours, whereas a half-full freezer offers only about 24 hours of protection. Utilizing frozen water jugs, gel packs, and other frozen items can help fill empty freezer space and improve its ability to retain cold temperatures, thereby extending the safe storage period for food during a power interruption. The experience of Hurricane Ian last year also demonstrated how homeowners attempted to use grills to cook food from their stockpiles before it spoiled, indicating a common, albeit reactive, strategy to salvage food during extended outages. By understanding these risks and implementing preventative strategies, homeowners can better protect their food supply and their finances from the impact of power disruptions.