Disaster Recovery Journal- Volume 19, Issue 4 - Fall 2006 Issue - Business Owners Are Reminded of the Perils of Power Loss

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Fall 2006 Issue

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Business Owners Are Reminded of the Perils of Power Loss

By ERIC JOHNSTON

Mother Nature has made it very clear of her ability to unleash devastating weather at will on almost every part of the globe. Hurricanes, snowstorms, earthquakes and even tsunamis have all ravaged parts of the earth and disrupted the way of life for entire cities – sometimes even countries. The heightened awareness of potential terrorist attacks on power plants has also increased the realities of an extended and widespread power outage. And if anything, businesses, organizations and even government agencies now understand the importance of being prepared.
For any business or organization, being prepared means ensuring a constant and uninterruptible source of power to remain up and running. Although we will always have to “batten down the hatches” and evacuate until threatening weather passes, businesses must be able to withstand a loss of electricity for an extended period of time to ensure everything from continued operations to inventory controls.

The Weakened Power Grid
The power grid has been a large concern over the years since demand has placed much stress on the system. An increase in the number of users and aging transmission lines has caused frequent “brownouts” in areas throughout North America. Weather-related outages can strike anywhere and at any time. From sizzling temperatures in the summer, hurricanes that pummel coastal regions and icy conditions in the winter, weather can cripple the power grid in every geographic location.
Business facility managers and owners must plan accordingly and include a backup power resource into their business continuity strategy. And now that so much of a facility’s infrastructure is tied to large computer networks, it is even more important to ensure a constant flow of supplemental power throughout the facility, no matter how long the grid is down.
Business managers should understand that a successful backup power system is more than just a generator itself. A high quality transfer switch and enough fuel are just as critical as the generator. Transfer switches are the components that transfer the distribution of power from the traditional source to the generator when the power is interrupted or knocked out entirely. A quality transfer switch can eliminate down time from power grid loss to generator start-up. Also, higher quality transfer switches let owners operate the generator remotely, which can prove beneficial if the location cannot be accessed because of damaged roads, bridges, downed power lines, etc. Since today’s facilities are dependent on large computer systems, having a reliable transfer switch that immediately links over to the backup generator is one of the most critical elements to the entire system.
There are different kinds of fuel available to power a variety of generators. Most run on either propane, natural gas or diesel. Propane and natural gas consume more than diesel, but with propane, facility managers will have to bury a tank. Natural gas and propane generators usually cost about twice as much as diesel. However, most diesel generators carry a fuel capacity of between 24 and 72 hours, so owners will need to make accommodations for additional fuel delivery during extended power outages.
Despite all the attention surrounding hurricanes and other power outages, many facilities are still without a reliable source of backup power. This can be very dangerous since most generator suppliers do not have inventory available for immediate delivery. In fact, for many suppliers, order fulfillment can take up to 36 weeks. Therefore, operations managers will want to pay special attention to the supplier they engage with. Owners can research more about generators through the industry association, the Electrical Generating Systems Association (EGSA).
In every part of North America, executives of businesses in every industry now face the frequent possibility of power loss. Although the first priority will always be to ensure structural stability and security, those facilities that can provide continuous, high quality service and operations will experience the highest customer satisfaction marks. For this reason alone, managers must consider an uninterruptible power system centered around a backup power generator that has the capability of providing an adequate level of power for extended operating hours.

Eric Johnston is vice president of Americas Generators, a leading supplier of commercial-grade backup power generators, transfer switches and fuel.