Guides
In-depth resources on electric utility reliability, outage metrics, and what they mean for your U.S. home and finances. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration EIA Form 861 dataset (released annually each June), more than 3,000 licensed electric distribution utilities report SAIDI and SAIFI metrics standardized under IEEE Standard 1366. These guides cover the federal definitions, how to read the numbers, and what they miss; see our methodology for refresh cadence.
Understanding SAIDI and SAIFI: What Power Outage Metrics Mean for You
Learn what SAIDI and SAIFI measure, how to interpret outage data, and why these metrics matter for homeowners and renters.
The Most (and Least) Reliable Electric Utilities in America
A data-driven look at which utilities lead in reliability and which consistently underperform — and why geography and utility type matter.
How Your Utility's Reliability Affects Home Insurance and Property Value
Frequent outages mean more sump pump failures, pipe freezes, and food spoilage. Here's how outage history can affect your insurance costs and home value.
Moving to a New Area? How to Check Your Future Utility's Outage History
Before you sign a lease or close on a house, find out how reliable your electric utility is — and what questions to ask.
Rural vs Urban Power Reliability: What the Data Shows
How power outage duration and frequency differ between rural and urban utilities, and what drives the reliability gap.
How Weather Affects the Power Grid
What EIA reliability data reveals about storms, extreme heat, ice events, and the growing gap between headline SAIDI and baseline performance.
IOU, Co-op, or Municipal: How Utility Type Affects Reliability
Different ownership structures serve different territories with different incentives. What the data shows about reliability across utility types.
Methodology
Our guides are based on publicly available data from authoritative government sources. All statistics, ratings, and figures cited in these guides are drawn directly from official datasets and publications, with sources clearly referenced throughout.
We aim to present complex government data in plain language that is accessible to general audiences. When methodologies differ between data sources or change over time, we note these variations inline. Our editorial process includes regular reviews to ensure accuracy and timeliness of the information presented.