New survey data from Prepaid Electricity shows that as Americans grow increasingly digitally dependent, outages are triggering real stress and anxiety.
Key Takeaways
- 1 in 2 Americans don’t feel prepared for a 3-day power outage.
- 49% of Americans have felt genuine panic when their phone drops below 10% battery.
- 53% say losing Wi-Fi is the most stressful part of a power outage.
- 22% of Americans feel anxious about their phone battery dying at least once a day.
- 69% would pay for guaranteed backup power, but nearly half cap out at $25/month.
Digital Disconnection Is Driving Real Stress
- 42% of Americans are highly or completely dependent on constant digital connectivity.
- Millennials (43%) and Gen Z (43%) are the most likely to feel this way, as are remote workers (45%) compared to in-office workers (40%).
- 41% of Americans feel at least moderate stress or panic when a power outage cuts their digital access, rising to 43% among remote workers but dropping to 36% for in-office workers.
- 1 in 6 Americans say they would seriously consider relocating if power outages became significantly more frequent in their area; 25% say it would be one factor in their decision to relocate.
Smartphone Low-Battery Anxiety and Panic
- 22% of Americans feel anxious about their phone battery dying at least once a day. iPhone users experience more daily battery anxiety: 25% feel anxious about battery at least once a day vs. 19% of Android users.
- Americans who feel anxiety within 1 hour of not charging their phone:
- Overall: 29%
- Gen Z: 30%
- Millennials: 30%
- Gen X: 25%
- Baby boomers: 31%
- Remote workers (29%) are more likely than in-office workers (26%) to feel anxiety within 1 hour of not charging their phone.
- 49% of Americans have felt genuine panic when their phone dropped below 10% battery. In-office workers (50%) are more likely than remote workers (44%) to panic at a low battery, as are iPhone users (53%) compared to Android users (46%).
- If their smartphone stopped working for 24 hours, Americans say the hardest things to lose would be messaging and calls with friends and family (51%), work access and email (24%), and social media (16%). Gen Z (22%) is the most likely to say losing social media would be the hardest.
Preparedness Gaps in an Energy-Dependent Era
- Americans most commonly attribute rising power outages to extreme weather and climate change (23%), followed by aging infrastructure (17%) and increased electricity demand from technology (16%).
- Only 1 in 2 Americans feels confident that their local power infrastructure can reliably support growing digital demands (smart homes, EVs, remote work, etc.). Half also say they don’t feel prepared for a 3-day power outage.
- Americans who have done the following because of a power outage or low battery:
- Driven to a cafe, restaurant, or public space to charge devices or access Wi-Fi: 32%
- Stayed somewhere longer than planned just to keep their devices charged: 30%
- Worked from their car to use the charger or hotspot: 29%
- Chosen a hotel, cafe, or restaurant primarily for its reliable Wi-Fi or charging: 20%
- In-office workers stay places longer to keep devices charged: 34% vs. 28% for remote workers.
- Americans’ top priorities during a 24-hour power outage:
- Keeping food cold: 47%
- Climate control: 23%
- Keeping devices charged: 16%
- Staying in communication: 11%
- Home security: 3%
- 69% would pay for guaranteed backup power, but nearly half cap out at $25/month, with iPhone users more willing than Android users to pay for backup power (72% vs. 66%).
Methodology
Prepaid Electricity surveyed 1,002 adults in the United States to understand how Americans experience and respond to power outages, and the role digital dependency plays in their preparedness and emotional reactions. The survey was conducted in February 2026 and employed a nationally representative sample. Respondents included 51% women and 47% men. Generational breakdown: millennials (49%), Gen Z (25%), Gen X (18%), and baby boomers (8%).
About Prepaid Electricity
Prepaid Electricity makes it easy to get power on your terms. With no credit checks, no deposits, and same-day connections, you’re in control from the start. We work with trusted providers to give you simple, affordable prepaid electricity plans plus daily balance alerts so there are never any surprises. Getting started is fast, easy, and stress-free.
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