How To · October 2026 · 7 min read

How to Keep Your Internet Working When the Power Goes Out

Storm season in the Columbia River Gorge: keep your modem and router running in an outage, set up a phone hotspot, and protect your electronics.

Short answer: Your Wi-Fi dies in an outage because your modem and router lose power, even when your internet provider's network is still running. Plugging them into a small battery backup (a UPS) can keep you online for a while, and a phone hotspot is a good second plan. Neither is guaranteed, because a big storm can also knock out your provider's equipment or nearby cell sites. Set both up now, before winter.

In the Columbia River Gorge this isn't a hypothetical. Klickitat PUD, for example, says most outages in its area come from weather (snow, ice, wind and lightning) plus trees, equipment problems and animals. Local utilities across the Gorge list the same kinds of causes.

Why your internet stops when the lights go out

Most home internet setups have one or two boxes that need wall power:

A modem or gateway that connects to the outside line. Depending on your service, this might be a cable modem, a DSL modem, a fiber terminal (often called an ONT), or a combined modem and router from your provider.
A Wi-Fi router, or the main unit of a mesh system, if it's separate from the modem.
For fixed wireless or satellite service, the antenna or dish usually gets power from a small adapter or power supply inside the house. If that adapter loses power, the antenna goes down too.

If any of these lose power, your connection is gone, even if your provider's lines down the road are fine. Keeping these few boxes powered is the whole goal.

One important limit: if the outage is widespread, your provider's own equipment in the neighborhood may run on limited backup power or none at all. Your battery backup only keeps *your* end alive. It can't fix an outage farther up the line.

Option 1: Put your modem and router on a battery backup (UPS)

A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is a box with a battery inside that plugs into the wall. When the power drops, it switches your equipment to battery so the modem and router keep running.

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How to pick one without guessing

1. List what needs power. Usually that's just the modem, the router, and (for fixed wireless or satellite) the antenna's power supply. Leave out TVs, printers and computers. They drain the battery fast.
2. Read each power adapter's label. Look for the watts (W). If you only see output volts (V) and amps (A), multiply them for a rough wattage. Add up the total.
3. Check the manufacturer's runtime chart. Every UPS maker publishes how long a model runs at a given load. Runtime depends heavily on load, so use the chart for your total, not the big number on the box. Gorge Computers hasn't tested specific models, so we aren't recommending one. Compare runtime charts for your own load.
4. Count the battery-backed outlets. Many UPS units have some outlets on battery and others that are surge protection only. Make sure you have enough battery outlets for your equipment.

If you want to browse, here's a search for UPS battery backups on Amazon. Check the runtime chart and outlet layout before you buy.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Set it up

1. Charge the UPS as its manual directs (many need several hours before first use).
2. Plug the UPS directly into a wall outlet. Manufacturers generally say not to plug it into a power strip or surge protector.
3. Plug the modem, router and any antenna power supply into the battery-backed outlets.
4. Keep the UPS somewhere ventilated and dry, not in a closed cabinet or a damp garage.

Test it (and how to undo)

With everything running, unplug the UPS from the wall. The UPS should beep or show it's on battery, and your Wi-Fi should stay up. Load a web page on your phone with cellular data off to confirm.
Plug it back into the wall. That's the undo. Nothing about your internet settings changes.
Repeat this test every few months. UPS batteries wear out over time, and the manual will tell you how to check and replace them.

Safety stop points

Don't plug space heaters, hair dryers or other heating appliances into a UPS. Many manufacturers also warn against laser printers on battery outlets. Check your manual.
If a UPS battery is swollen, leaking, very hot, or smells, stop using it, unplug it, and contact the manufacturer for replacement and recycling instructions. Don't try to open the battery or force it out.
A UPS isn't a generator substitute for the whole house. It's for small, low-power electronics.

Option 2: Use your phone as a hotspot

If your cell service is working, your phone can share its data connection with a laptop or tablet. Check your plan first. Some plans limit hotspot data.

iPhone: Open Settings, tap Personal Hotspot (or Cellular > Personal Hotspot), and turn on Allow Others to Join. Tap Wi-Fi Password to see or change the password.

Android (names vary a little by phone): swipe down from the top of the screen, touch and hold Hotspot, and turn on Wi-Fi hotspot. Tap the hotspot name to see or change its password. If you don't see Hotspot in Quick Settings, tap Edit and drag it in.

Then join the phone's network from your laptop like any other Wi-Fi. When the power's back, turn the hotspot off to save battery and data.

Cell sites can also lose power in large outages, so treat this as a backup, not a sure thing. A charged power bank helps keep the phone going. Ready.gov specifically recommends planning for portable chargers.

If your home phone runs through your internet box

Many home phone services now run over the internet connection: cable or fiber phone, VoIP, or "digital voice." The FCC warns these may not work during a power outage or when the internet connection fails. It suggests a backup power supply or a mobile phone as a backup. If you depend on a home phone for emergencies, ask your provider exactly what happens to it when the power is out and how long any battery backup lasts.

Protect your electronics when the power comes back

Ready.gov advises turning off or unplugging appliances and electronics during an outage, because power can return with surges or spikes that cause damage. A practical routine:

Unplug computers, TVs and other sensitive electronics that aren't on a UPS.
Leave one lamp switched on so you know when power returns.
Wait a bit after power comes back before plugging things back in.

Generator safety: run generators only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, per Ready.gov, and have battery-backed carbon monoxide detectors. Never run one in a garage, even with the door open. Don't connect a generator to your home's wiring yourself. That needs a licensed electrician and an approved transfer setup.

Report outages and check status (Gorge utilities)

Report outages to your own utility, and bookmark its outage page now while your internet works:

Pacific Power: outage map and reporting, text OUT to 722797, or call 1-877-508-5088
Northern Wasco County PUD (The Dalles area): Outage Center, 541-296-2226
Hood River Electric & Internet Co-op: 24/7 outages line 541-354-1233 (contact page)
Wasco Electric Cooperative: report an outage at 800-341-8580 (website)
Klickitat PUD (Klickitat County): live outage map, Goldendale office 509-773-5891 or 800-548-8357, White Salmon office 509-493-2255 or 800-548-8358
Skamania County PUD: Outage Center, 509-427-5126 or 800-922-5329

Not sure which utility serves you? Check your power bill. Save the outage phone number in your phone's contacts, since you may not be able to look it up once the power's out.

The bottom line

Your Wi-Fi goes down in an outage mostly because the modem and router lose power.
A UPS sized from the manufacturer's runtime chart, with only the modem, router and any antenna power supply plugged in, can keep you online through many short outages. Test it by unplugging it from the wall.
Set up your phone hotspot and charge a power bank as a second plan.
Unplug sensitive electronics during an outage, keep generators outside, and bookmark your utility's outage page today.

Sources and Further Reading

National sources: Ready.gov (FEMA): Power Outages: surge advice, generator distance, portable chargers · FCC: VoIP and 911 Service: internet-based phone service in outages · Apple Support: Connect to the Personal Hotspot of an iPhone or iPad · Android Help: Share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android

Local utility outage pages for Pacific Power, Northern Wasco County PUD, Hood River Electric & Internet Co-op, Wasco Electric Cooperative, Klickitat PUD, and Skamania County PUD are linked in the utility list above.

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