During a power outage, an electric water heater will not function, meaning you won’t have access to hot water until the power is restored. This can be a significant drawback in areas prone to frequent outages, especially during winter months when hot water is essential. Some homeowners choose to install backup generators to power their electric water heater during outages, though this adds to the overall cost. Gas water heaters, by contrast, can continue to operate during power outages, giving them an advantage in this scenario.