What does 'Outage' mean in a power system context?

In the context of a power system, the term 'Outage' refers to the unavailability of a component to perform its function. This could mean that a circuit breaker, transformer, or any other essential piece of equipment is offline and unable to contribute as expected to the power circuit. This unavailability might be due to various factors including maintenance, failures, or other issues that prevent normal operations.

While maintenance-related interruptions can indeed lead to an outage, and while there can be complete system failures or reduced service quality, the core definition of an 'Outage' focuses more directly on the state of equipment or components rather than the circumstances surrounding that state. Therefore, understanding 'Outage' in this way allows for precise communication and management within the complexities of power systems.