As a business owner, you know that a power outage can cost you a lot. One estimate is that power outages cost businesses over $27 billion annually.[1] When the power goes out, production lines grind to a halt. Financial corporations can’t carry out essential transactions. Power failures can cause an irrecoverable loss of thousands of stored records. Medical facilities are crucial, and the effects of a power outage would be catastrophic. And anything requiring temperature control such as grocers, restaurants, or food packaging would be hit very hard. Thankfully, most businesses have a commercial generator on standby.
What’s a commercial generator?
A standby commercial generator keeps your power on, and your business open during an outage. It’s often installed outside your business (like an AC unit) and comes on automatically — whether you’re open or closed. All within seconds of a power outage.
How does a commercial generator work?
An automatic standby generator system is working 24/7 to protect your business. It continuously monitors the incoming voltage from the utility line. When the generator detects an interruption of power, the automatic transfer switch (ATS) disconnects the utility line and connects a new power line from the generator. Within seconds, power is restored to your business! When utility power returns, the process is reversed. The generator returns to standby mode, and the ATS reconnects the utility line, allowing it to power your business once again.
This automated system is ideal for backing up your business. It ensures that power is continuously available to meet its electrical needs, including critical hard-wired systems like A/C, heat, computers, security systems, refrigerators, freezers, and more—whether you’re open or closed.
What fuels a commercial generator?
Some standby generators are diesel-fueled, providing business owners with an efficient fueling option intended for large backup power applications. Other’s run on your small business’s propane or natural gas, so there’s no refueling. The third option, a bi-fuel generator, gives you the best of both worlds. It combines the power of diesel fuel with the longevity of natural gas. These generators meet the NEC and NFPA code requirements for on-site fuel storage while providing the reliability of natural gas flow during a crisis or extreme weather event. Should natural gas not be available, bi-fuel generators can run on diesel fuel alone.
The experts at Landmark Electric can help you decide if a commercial generator could benefit your business. Contact us today!
[1] Wootton, Kym. “E Source Market Research Reveals That Power Outages Cost Businesses Over $27 Billion Annually; Winter Storm Jonas Makes It Worse.” E Source, 27 Jan. 2016, www.esource.com/ES-PR-Outages-2016-01/Press-Release/Outages.