I am in the ERCOT region and the power is extremely reliable. The only time it is not reliable is after a category 3+ storm blows through and rips out the last mile infrastructure.
In the gulf coast area, you do not get a standby generator because a random thunderstorm takes your power out for 2 hours at a time. You get a standby because a hurricane might deprive you of basic comfort for 7+ days at at a time. There is absolutely no living in this region after a tropical storm blows through unless you have functioning HVAC. 100% humidity at 90F+ for days and days. Even for natives it is too much to bear. If you got any water in your home during one of those storms, having functioning AC is the best way to make sure your house doesnt turn into a mold factory.
> There is absolutely no living in this region after a tropical storm blows through unless you have functioning HVAC.
I think that's a little extreme of a claim. It definitely sucks, but I've been without A/C for several days after hurricanes in New Orleans and Orlando. I wouldn't care to repeat the experience, but it's not the end of the world. Humans lived in those regions for thousands of years before A/C was invented.
The hard part is that modern homes in the South aren't designed to be livable without A/C. If you've got an older home like a shotgun house, you're in a better state because it's designed for natural airflow.
> The hard part is that modern homes in the South aren't designed to be livable without A/C. If you've got an older home like a shotgun house, you're in a better state because it's designed for natural airflow.
In the gulf coast area, you do not get a standby generator because a random thunderstorm takes your power out for 2 hours at a time. You get a standby because a hurricane might deprive you of basic comfort for 7+ days at at a time. There is absolutely no living in this region after a tropical storm blows through unless you have functioning HVAC. 100% humidity at 90F+ for days and days. Even for natives it is too much to bear. If you got any water in your home during one of those storms, having functioning AC is the best way to make sure your house doesnt turn into a mold factory.