A new, no-cost tool has been introduced to assist Americans in tracking power outages in real time. Whisker Labs, a technology startup, has unveiled this feature in its Ting app, which aggregates data from a large network of residential sensors.
Users do not need to possess these sensors in their homes to leverage the Ting app for outage updates. According to Whisker Labs, which shared news of the launch with Technology News, it is the sole app capable of providing immediate outage alerts at a hyperlocal level throughout the United States.
This tool can be invaluable for those unsure if their homes have regained power following an outage or disaster. With outages triggered by severe weather becoming increasingly common, utility companies often face challenges in restoring service while keeping customers informed.
This tool can be invaluable for those unsure if their homes have regained power following an outage or disaster
The service operates on a network comprising 1.1 million households that have installed Whisker Labs’ Ting sensor, which is designed to detect potential electrical fire hazards. The sensors can pick up signals of micro-arcing, often linked to faulty wiring or malfunctioning devices. Whisker Labs CEO Bob Marshall created the company after his sister-in-law experienced a devastating loss due to an electrical fire. The primary function of the sensor is to alert residents to potential dangers before they escalate into a major incident.
Previously, the Ting app was accessible only to those using the sensor for monitoring specific properties and provided users with notifications about outages at those locations. Feedback from users highlighted the utility of these outage alerts, prompting Whisker Labs to redesign the app for broader access, making it available to anyone regardless of sensor ownership.
The updated Ting App can be downloaded from both Apple’s App Store and Google Play. It features an interactive outage map that allows users to search and bookmark specific addresses to monitor outage conditions in those areas, as well as check on the restoration of power.
Marshall noted that approximately 95 percent of American homes are located within a mile of a Ting sensor. Each device monitors electrical activity at a rate of 30 million measurements per second, enabling the early detection of drops in voltage and providing alerts before an outage occurs. Multiple simultaneous data losses from various sensors can indicate a widespread power outage affecting the community.
Last year, after Hurricane Beryl caused significant outages in Texas, many users reported leveraging the app as their primary resource for information about neighborhood power restorations. Beryl incidentally prompted users to resort to alternatives like the Whataburger app, which provided updates on restaurant openings following the storm.
Feedback from individuals who sheltered at home during outages has indicated that they often became the key source of information for neighbors seeking to ascertain when they could safely return. Following Hurricane Ida in 2021, residents of New Orleans similarly expressed frustrations over utility outage maps that misrepresented restored power conditions in their neighborhoods. Some have turned to PowerOutage.us for tracking nationwide outages, though it does not provide the detailed insights that the Ting app offers.
The growing frequency of severe weather events is presenting challenges for aging electrical grids. According to a report from last year, the US has faced a 60 percent increase in weather-related outages during the summer months over the past decade compared to the 2000s. Significant occurrences involving hurricanes and winter storms have been responsible for more extended and frequent blackouts, with the US Energy Information Administration noting an average of 5.5 hours of power interruptions in 2022, up from approximately 3.5 hours in 2013.
