Although more customers are investing in their own equipment for electric supply, like solar panels or even microgrids — a network of electricity users with a local source of supply and the capability to operate as an island during
outages — the report says most U.S. customers will continue to depend on obtaining their power from the large -
scale, interconnected
electrical grid at least for the next two decades.
The pair of papers, «Assessing the cost of large -
scale power
outages to residential customers» and «Providing limited local electric service during a major grid
outage — A first assessment based on customer willingness to pay,» examined residential power users» willingness to pay (WTP) for full or partial backup services during a theoretical 24 - hour blackout and then determined the investments required by the
electrical provider to implement these services.