Portable battery banks suited for basics, not large appliances

From portable battery banks and generators to whole-house systems, a variety of backup power options are available as extreme weather events become more common and power outages grow longer and more frequent, according to experts cited by the Associated Press.

Noah Kittner, associate professor at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, said the right backup power solution depends on the specific conditions a household faces.

“If you’re deciding between different backup power options for what you need, different conditions are going to require different elements, like a heat wave versus a hurricane,” Kittner said.

Portable battery banks — which are rechargeable by plugging into an electric outlet — are the most accessible entry point, experts said. Smaller units can be purchased for a few hundred dollars and typically include traditional sockets for plugging in multiple items. They are extremely portable, but experts said they work best only for basics: phones, computers, flashlights and small lights. They are not suitable for larger appliances such as dishwashers or air conditioning.

Generators offer more power at higher cost and lower portability. A two-outlet generator at the 2,000-watt level can simultaneously support small devices like phone chargers, fans, and lights but not much more, according to experts. A 4,000-watt generator can run larger appliances including chest freezers, mini fridges, and window air conditioning units. At that size or larger, owners may connect the generator to the home’s breaker panel, allowing backup power for prioritized circuits such as the refrigerator, garage-door opener, Wi-Fi, and television.

MSI previously reported that extreme weather events — including the January 2026 winter storm that killed at least 30 people and left more than 560,000 without power across a 1,300-mile stretch — are driving longer and more frequent grid disruptions, and that emergency management officials and groups including the American Red Cross and the Consumer Energy Alliance have urged residents to build emergency kits and establish plans before outages begin.