SACE Research Director Maggie Shober’s family faced a gas leak and rolling blackouts during Winter Storm Elliott, prompting their switch to a safer, more reliable heat pump for future winters.

Two years ago, just before Christmas, SACE Research Director Maggie Shober and her family received terrifying news: their gas furnace had been leaking fumes into their home, polluting the air they breathed daily.

Contractors recommended that the Shobers shut off their gas furnace and rely on the electric resistance backup until after the holidays. One problem: a severe cold front was rolling in. Over the next two days, leading up to Christmas Eve, that cold front would turn into Winter Storm Elliott. 

If you aren’t thinking about extreme winter weather, electrification, and its impacts on the grid already this week, here’s a fabulous study that lays it all out: why it’s important, and what to do about it (hint: it isn’t just “build more gas”) https://t.co/yajvNJXhMI

— Maggie Shober (@maggie_shober) December 22, 2022

Most people in the Tennessee Valley region didn’t know to expect rolling blackouts due to the cold, but Maggie is an energy expert. She spent the entire day of Dec. 23 monitoring the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s grid monitoring system, which tracks local forecasts and power generation by balancing authority hourly.

Got to spend some time cuddled on the couch with my 7-year old this morning exploring and explaining Grid Monitor and other real-time dashboards. https://t.co/cH2b8zThOi

— Maggie Shober (@maggie_shober) December 23, 2022

She noticed the load was significantly higher than the forecasts, and certain types of generation, such as gas and coal, were falling instead of increasing. Maggie warned friends and family to expect blackouts while dealing with her family’s own scary situation — trying to stay warm inside with little to no heat.

The Shobers woke up on Christmas Eve to a house that was 50 degrees. Early that morning, the Tennessee Valley Authority had announced more blackouts. Knowing their gas furnace was unsafe to use, they resorted to bundling up and sealing off rooms in their home, even considering pitching a tent in their living room to conserve heat. 

After the holidays, the family realized they needed a safer, more reliable system. By early January, they had installed a heat pump. New heat pumps are more reliable in cold weather than older heat pumps. The Shober’s heat pump works efficiently down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Currently, tax credits are available for 30% of the installation of a new heat pump, up to $2,000. The Shobers caught the energy efficiency bug and added insulation, also available for tax credits.

By switching to a heat pump, the Shobers found a safer, more reliable way to stay warm and embraced a better solution for their home and the environment. And as a bonus, since a heat pump is also an air conditioner, they’re also saving money in the summer!