Full-size fridge and Wi-Fi router
2,352 Wh
- Router only, 24 hours: 480 Wh.
- Fridge only, 24 hours: 1,872 Wh. Longest in stock, fridge only: Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 and BLUETTI AC200L, about 18 hours, $899.
Estimates use manufacturer specs; real runtime varies with your device and temperature.
Outlook and past outages
What El Niño means for your power
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| El Niño Advisory | CPC, 10 September 2026: “El Niño is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter 2026-27.” “During the October-December 2026 season, there is a 75% chance of a historic event that would exceed the strength of previous El Niño events dating back to 1950 (+2.5°C or more for a 3-month RONI value).” | NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center |
| California emergency | September 21, 2026. | Governor Newsom |
| Very strong winters since 1950 | Six since 1950. Southern California: five wet. Northern California: two wet, two normal, two dry. | NWS Sacramento |
| A stronger event | Above-average precipitation over California and the Southwest is more reliable October–March. | NOAA Climate.gov |
| October–December | CPC, September 17, 2026: above-normal precipitation across the southern half of California. | CPC |
| December–February through February–April | 50–60% near the coast, drawn as far north as central Oregon. Northern California leans above normal. Not guaranteed. | NWS Sacramento |
- Not itself a storm (California NWS offices). Longer rain, flash flooding, mudslides, burn scars.
- Trees and power lines: saturated soil, wind failures. Most vegetation outages are trees in a line. A storm outage, not a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
What happened last time
| Date | Outage |
|---|---|
| February 3, 1998 | New York Times: about 187,000 out in the Bay Area. Los Angeles Times: at least 114,000 in Southern California. Gusts 78 mph, Santa Barbara. |
| January 31, 2016 | KPCC: more than 70,000 SCE out at 9 p.m. Next afternoon: about 28,500 SCE and 32,885 LADWP. NWS San Diego: 2015–16 finished drier than normal in Southern California. |
When to get ready
- October 8, 2026. The next NOAA CPC ENSO Diagnostic Discussion is scheduled for October 8, 2026.
- October 15, 2026. The next CPC long-lead seasonal outlook replaces the September 17 set.
- Rainy season. About half the Northern California 8-station index falls December–February. 90% falls October 1 through April 30 (Dettinger, California Water Commission). Stronger El Niño winters: larger wet departure February through March than November–January. Only late winter has been wet statewide (NOAA Drought Task Force).
- December 31, 2026. PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E rebate deadlines. Pacific Power: buy before January 1, 2027. Apply by January 31, 2027.
- Before a forecast storm or a PSPS watch. Charge from a wall outlet. Storm details show up one to two weeks ahead (California NWS offices). Forecasts: Los Angeles/Oxnard, San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, Eureka.
Which station to buy
| Job | Station | Runtime | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 hours, fridge and router | Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Check price on Amazon | about 14 hours | $899 |
| Longer run, same price | We earn a commission on BLUETTI links. Doesn’t change the pick.BLUETTI AC200L Code Truewatt: 5% off at BLUETTI (not accessories or flash sales) |
about 15 hours | $899 |
| Fridge about 9 hours, or a day of Wi-Fi | BLUETTI AC180 Code Truewatt: 5% off at BLUETTI (not accessories or flash sales) Check price on Amazon |
about 9 hours fridge · about 25 hours router | $449 |
| Wi-Fi only | EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Check price on Amazon | Router only | $349 |
Prices: September 25, 2026 store prices. AC180 $449, checked Sep 29, 2026, BLUETTI.
How we calculate
Fridge: 150 W, running 52% of the time, so 78 W. Router and modem: 20 W. Together: 98 W. Hours = rated Wh × 0.9 × 0.85 ÷ (that average + station self-use). Self-use is 10 W, or 15 W on the BLUETTI AC180. Rounded to the nearest hour, same as the roundups.
A 10 W station needs 2,592 Wh usable to cover both for 24 hours. The largest station we list does not.
The fridge still has to start
A full-size fridge can take 600–1,200 W to start. Check the surge rating. Power Lifting or X-Boost is not that rating.
California rebates
Fire-risk area or a PSPS circuit. A storm outage alone does not qualify anyone. PG&E also counts an EPSS circuit. Pacific Power and Anaheim do not.
- PG&E: Up to $300, plus up to $200 on CARE or FERA. 290–1,000 Wh. 1,024 Wh is over. Apply by December 31, 2026, or 12 months after purchase.
- SCE: $200 per station, up to five per address. No watt-hour cap. Apply by December 31, 2026. Proof of purchase within 180 days.
- SDG&E: $150, $200 on CARE or FERA, or $525 on Medical Baseline or AFN. Listed models, 293 Wh to 768 Wh. Coupons expire December 31, 2026.
- Pacific Power: $300, plus $500 on CARE or Medical Baseline. One listed model. A tenant can apply. Buy before January 1, 2027. Apply by January 31, 2027.
- Anaheim Public Utilities: $50, or $200 on the Medical Lifeline Rate. Up to two per address. At least 100 W AC. Apartments count. Apply within one year of purchase.
SCE’s $200 could make the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 or the BLUETTI AC200L ($899) $699. PG&E’s 1,000 Wh cap and SDG&E’s list do not cover those stations. Pacific Power’s list does not name the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 or the BLUETTI AC200L.
City of LA (LADWP), Sacramento (SMUD), Pasadena, and other city utilities are not covered. Anaheim Public Utilities is the exception. Rebate tracker.
Before the storm
- Charge from a wall outlet before a forecast storm or a PSPS watch. No permit. No lease change.
- Fridge first, then the router. Leave a space heater unplugged. Keep the fridge door closed.
- Alerts: PG&E, SCE (tenants without an SCE account can use the PSPS address alerts), SDG&E (no account required for PSPS notices).
Also: Rebate tracker · Fridge · Wi-Fi router · Fridge and Wi-Fi · Guides.