Most of us who still have landline phone service are probably using that service on a cordless phone. Cordless phones rely on a base station that is connected to the electrical power supply in your home. When there is a power outage, the base station loses power, and as a result, the cordless phones won’t function. This is true for every type of landline phone service, whether provided over copper, fiber, satellite or other types of VoIP.  Here’s more on why, and what you can do about it:

  1. Power Dependency: Cordless phones consist of two main components – the handset and the base station. The base station is the main unit that connects to the telephone line and requires electrical power to operate. Without power, the base station cannot function, rendering the cordless phones useless.
  2. Handset Limitations: Even if the cordless phone handset has its own rechargeable batteries, these batteries are primarily for powering the handset itself, not the base station. The base station needs power to communicate with the telephone network and enable the cordless phone to make and receive calls.
  3. Alternative Communication Options: During a power outage, it’s advisable for customers to have alternative means of communication, such as a traditional corded landline phone plugged directly into (and powered by) the wall phone outlet. Corded phones don’t rely on electrical power for their basic operation, as they draw power directly from the phone line. This ensures that you can still make and receive calls even when the power is out.
  4. Emergency Preparedness: It’s essential to be aware of the limitations of cordless phones during power outages and to include alternative communication methods in your emergency preparedness plans. This could include having a charged mobile phone (with cellular signal) and/or a corded landline phone. While not as readily available as they used to be, corded landline phones are still available for purchase from local and online retailers.

All types of landline voice services currently provided by Mid-Rivers should function for at least a few hours on emergency standby during a power outage, as long as you have a corded landline phone plugged directly into our line-powered or battery backup-powered wall jack. If you still have questions, please contact us.  We can help make informed decisions about your communication options during power outages and ensure you have reliable alternatives in place.