New App Provides Real-Time Power Outage Updates for Americans

San Francisco, CA

A new app launched by Whisker Labs offers real-time updates on power outages across the United States. Starting today, the Ting app uses data from home sensors to show outages at both national and neighborhood levels.

Users of the Ting app, which is available on both Apple and Google Play stores, do not need to own a Whisker Labs sensor to benefit from the service. The app is designed to fill in information gaps for individuals uncertain about returning to homes affected by outages or disasters. Whisker Labs claims it is the only app providing immediate outage notifications at such a localized scale.

Whisker Labs has built its outage tracking feature on a network of 1.1 million homes equipped with its sensors, designed to prevent electrical fires. These sensors can detect micro-arcing, which occurs due to faulty wiring or malfunctioning devices. Bob Marshall, CEO of Whisker Labs, co-founded the company after a personal tragedy when his sister-in-law lost her home to an electrical fire.

Previously, the Ting app was accessible only to those using the sensors in their properties. Customers frequently reported that notification features were valuable to their communities, particularly after major weather events caused widespread outages. In response, Whisker Labs has extended the app’s capabilities, enabling anyone to access outage information.

The updated Ting app features an interactive national outage map that allows users to search for specific addresses to check for outages and the status of power restoration. Marshall stated that about 95 percent of homes in the U.S. are within a mile of an installed Ting sensor, which conducts 30 million electrical measurements per second to anticipate power loss.

Last year, during widespread outages in Texas, Ting customers became vital information sources for their communities. Marshall noted their customers provided accurate updates about neighborhood power restoration, which proved to be essential during crises.

As climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events, Americans have been experiencing longer power outages. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, residents faced an average of 5.5 hours of power interruptions in 2022, compared to 3.5 hours in 2013. The Ting app aims to mitigate some of this uncertainty by providing timely notifications and updates on power outages.