What to Expect During a Grid Outage

What to Expect During a Grid Outage

Audience: External (Public)

Purpose: To provide a clear, step-by-step guide for what a homeowner will experience during a utility power outage, explaining how the MeterHome™ system responds automatically and how they can best manage their energy.

Your System is Built for This Moment

A power outage is the moment your MeterHome™ system is designed for. When the utility grid goes down, your system ensures that your essential appliances keep running, providing you with peace of mind and energy security. The entire process is automatic, seamless, and designed to be as simple as possible for you.

The Switch to Backup Power: What Happens First

The moment the grid fails, your MeterHome system will detect it instantly.

1. Automatic Disconnection: For safety, your inverter will immediately and automatically disconnect from the utility grid. This is a critical safety feature called "anti-islanding," which protects utility workers from accidentally being shocked by the power from your system.

2. Near-Instantaneous Switchover: In less than a second, your inverter will switch from being grid-tied to "Off-Grid" mode. It will begin drawing power from your battery to run the appliances connected to your dedicated backup load panel. The switch is so fast you likely won't even notice it happened, aside from the lights staying on.

What Will Have Power?

It's important to remember that during an outage, your system powers the circuits your installer connected to your backup load panel. This typically includes essential appliances like:

  • Your refrigerator and freezer
  • Key lights in areas like the kitchen and living room
  • Your Wi-Fi router and modem
  • A few outlets for charging phones and other small devices

Appliances that are not on the backup panel, such as a central air conditioner, electric dryer, or oven, will not have power. This is done intentionally to ensure your stored battery energy is reserved for what matters most.

How to Manage Your Energy During an Outage

Your app is your fuel gauge during an outage.

1. Monitor Your Battery: Open the app to see your battery's State of Charge (SOC). This percentage tells you exactly how much energy you have left. Your solar panels will continue to recharge the battery during the day, even when the grid is down.

2. Conserve Your Power: To make your stored energy last as long as possible, especially during a prolonged outage, it's a good idea to conserve power:

  • Turn off any non-essential lights.
  • Avoid using high-power appliances on the backup circuit if not necessary (like a microwave or coffee maker).
  • Limit opening your refrigerator and freezer.

When the Grid Returns: Automatic Reconnection

Once the utility company restores power, your MeterHome system will handle everything automatically.

  • It will detect the stable grid voltage.
  • It will safely and automatically reconnect to the grid.
  • The "Grid Absent" alarm will clear on its own.
  • Your system will switch back to its normal operating mode (e.g., Self-Consumption) and will use any available solar or grid power to recharge your battery back to its target level.

You don't need to do anything. Your system is designed to seamlessly transition back and forth, giving you uninterrupted power when you need it most.