This summer alone, thousands of families at the Jersey Shore were left without electricity. Some were even affected by multiple power outages, leaving them without air conditioning or the ability to charge their devices for hours or even days.
The short answer to the question above is yes, power outages are becoming more frequent as time goes on. Shouldn’t we be moving in the opposite direction, though? Innovation and technology should be less commonplace and Jersey Shore homeowners shouldn’t be left without power as often.
Reasons Power Outages Are More Frequent
Unfortunately, things aren’t always as we’d expect them to be. There are quite a few reasons why electrical outages at the Jersey Shore are increasing in frequency. Check them out below:
INCREASE IN DEMAND:
Electricity has been standard in Jersey Shore homes starting in the 1920s and 1930s. Think of all the electronic devices that have been invented since then, from cell phones, laptops, to electric vehicles. When more electricity is required, utility companies are pressed to create more to keep everything working properly. When they’re unable to meet demand, it can result in power outages.
OUTDATED DELIVERY SYSTEM:
The average US annual electricity usage in the 1950s was 334 billion kilowatt-hours. In 2025, that number jumped to 4,195 billion kilowatt-hours. Sure, the processing plants and overhead wires have been upgraded since then, but let’s look at it a different way. If the number of cars on the road increased by the same amount, single-lane roads would become 12-lane super highways!
AGING INFRASTRUCTURE:
Lead pipes were officially banned in the United States in 1986, years after they were discovered to be dangerous, and are still being replaced across the country today. It’s easy to put a plan in place, but when everything begins to degrade at the same time, preventative repairs fall to the wayside and reactive fixes become the norm.
EXTREME WEATHER:
Whether or not you believe in global warming playing a part in large storms, there’s no denying that serious weather patterns like hurricanes and even tornadoes are more commonplace in New Jersey. We’ve become more accustomed to heavy rain, flooding, and high winds. All these factors combine to put pressure on electrical grids at the Jersey Shore, especially in the summer time.
DESTINATION TOWNS:
Even if you’re further inland than the beach, summer near the Jersey Shore is no joke. The Friday before Memorial Day kicks off a season and thousands of people, both tourists and beach homeowners, arrive overnight. Throughout the season, visits will be completely weather and temperature dependent, making it very difficult for utility companies to plan ahead for usage.
Is Your Home Prepared for Outages?
You may think the worst thing to come from a power outage is the lack of AC or the inability to watch television, but it’s important to make sure your home is ready to go for these anomalies that are becoming more frequent. Take a look at the following three steps:
PREPARE:
The worst time to find out your sump pump’s battery back up isn’t working is when water is rising in your basement. Rough weather often brings power outages, causing a perfect storm (no pun intended) of circumstances that can lead to serious damage in your home. Take the time to check on safeties your home has, including the sump pump and drainage system in your home.
PROTECT:
This season alone, we’ve replaced a number of control boards and other electrical components within AC units that were destroyed when power was restored through power surges. These parts don’t come cheap, and can affect devices like televisions and appliances as well as your HVAC system. Adding a whole-house surge protector is a great way to save you money in the long run.
PREVENT:
There are a number of reasons you might want to install a whole-house generator. If you value your comfort or have a health issue, it’s a great way to prevent electrical downtime in your home and protect devices from surges as well.
Whether you’re looking to be prepared for the next outage, or you’re experiences issues from the last one, Rostron Premium Home Services offers heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical services to Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey. Give us a call at 732-223-8221 or fill out a form right here on our website. We look forward to hearing from you!
