Last updated on August 31st, 2023 at 01:03 pm
Power outages can cost your business thousands of dollars an hour in lost revenue and productivity. Unfortunately, many businesses have zero margin for power loss. This can threaten your business’s long-term financial security if you can’t handle them. Random outages do the most damage as they can occur out of the blue, leaving your business ill-prepared and costing downtime. A robust power backup plan can save you from such expensive interruptions and ensure a continuous business process. If you want a solid power backup, the following tips can help.
Access your risks and needs
The first step is determining the cost of the risks associated with each power interruption, downtime, and productivity loss. Calculate how much each risk costs your business. Then, assess how much power you need to keep every critical operation running, including your lighting needs, communication systems, IT infrastructure, and essential equipment.
Next, find out the causes of the power disruptions. For example, is a problem in your local area or just in your business? Does it have to do with the weather, or are there issues with your power provider? If there are issues, what are they, and are there too many cases of equipment malfunction or grid failure? Asking these questions will help you make informed business choices.
Buy and install a standby generator
One of the easiest ways to work around frequent power outages is to have a reliable standby generator. Remember that frequent power interruptions (even those lasting only a few seconds) have massive cost implications. You can eliminate such costs by installing a diesel-powered backup generator. This way, you can easily switch to your alternative power source without losing time and money. Standby generators automatically start when the main power source goes off, so you don’t have to worry about wasting time to manually connect. But always go for professional generator installation to ensure you don’t deal with time-wasting complications.
Install a renewable source of energy
There are many reasons to consider opting for renewable energy, and regular power outages are just one of those reasons. The two main options here are solar and wind sources. Solar comes in two options – solar thermal energy and solar PV panels. The former uses sunlight to heat water in an installed hot water tank, and the latter uses direct sunlight to generate electricity for your business. You can also consider using wind power through turbines to generate electricity. Of course, what to choose will depend on your power needs, location, access, and budget.
Contact a rental power company
If you can’t install a standby generator or a renewable energy source, your next best move is to contract a rental power company. As the name suggests, these companies provide temporary power solutions for emergencies. They’re more effective if you’re experiencing planned outages and need a short-term solution. Such companies or power firms usually have temporary or short-term power facilities they can quickly deploy. The downside is that it’s not the best idea for a long-term power backup and is only available in some locations.Â
