Electricity emergencies have the greatest potential for causing loss of life and affecting health and safety. Unlike oil and gas emergencies, where electricity can be used to provide heat, the loss of electricity shuts off all heating systems that require ignition or fans. Electricity emergencies also affect lighting, water and sewer processing and pumping services, food processing, refrigeration, communications, life support systems, security systems, banking and bankcard services, and gasoline pumping. Prevention provides the first line of defense. Energy distribution companies design strong and redundant systems to guard against failures.
Energy suppliers handle most emergencies, with the state providing assistance as needed.
In more severe emergencies, the state plays a larger role. All energy delivery systems are vulnerable to accidents and disasters. However, petroleum and natural gas disruptions are quite rare and tend to have economic rather than life-threatening consequences. Electricity system failures are more common and more serious. During very cold weather there could be strong demand for natural gas for both heating and electricity generation.