Wildfires, hurricanes and other extreme weather events driven by climate change are causing more frequent and longer power outages.

This is endangering disabled, sick and elderly residents in the U.S., according to analysis of government data.

Power outages from severe weather have doubled over the past two decades across the U.S., as a warming climate stirs more destructive storms. These extreme events are crippling broad segments of the nation's aging electrical grid. The blackouts can be harmful and even deadly for the elderly, disabled and other vulnerable communities.

Power grid maintenance expenses are skyrocketing as utility companies upgrade decades-old transmission lines and equipment. And that means customers who are hit with more frequent and longer weather outages are also paying more for electricity.

The frequency and length of power failures are at their highest levels since reliability tracking began in 2013 — with U.S. customers on average experiencing more than eight hours of outages in 2020.