Networks of distributed energy resources can act as back-up power, resilient and secure power, when these types of events occur or electrical grid level transmission and distribution failure events occur.

Proper resiliency planning ought to provide for rapid damage assessment, prompt crew deployment to damaged assets and readily available replacement components. In recent 2017 storms, such as hurricanes Harvey, Irma & Maria, pinpointing affected areas was problematic as was routing transmission recovery crews. As a result, it took longer for electricity networks without distributed energy resources to recover.

The key elements of survivability include using resilient technologies to supply critical infrastructures and equipping and enabling consumers and commercial buildings to use distributed generation assets.

A broad network of distributed energy assets with omni-directional energy delivery improves resiliency prevention, recovery, and survivability as these assets have the ability to maintain levels of electricity delivery to individual customers, commercial buildings, and communities in the event of a complete loss of electrical service from the distribution system.