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Backup Electricity Generators: What You Need to Know
In 2019, California passed the Wildfire Legislation bill (AB1054) making electric utilities responsible for any wildfire damage caused by their equipment. Included in this law was a provision allowing the utilities to de-energize any power lines they believed could be at risk of sparking a fire. Not wanting to be stuck with the liability of rebuilding the dozens, hundreds or thousands of homes that could be consumed in a fire, our electric utilities have significantly increased the number of “Public Safety Planned Shutoffs.” As many of us have seen these PSPS can result in widespread blackouts, possibly lasting days.
Most of us have never lived in a home without electricity. We take it as a natural right that we can stride into a room, flip a switch and be blessed with artificial illumination. We get ice from the freezer, turn on the TV, and microwave some popcorn without a thought – until that day comes when the lights don’t come on and we feel surprised and a bit betrayed. As PSPS shutoffs become longer and more frequent, we get that feeling more often. We still don’t like it.
There are facilities that keep the lights on even when the power grid is shut down. Hospitals, police stations and grocery stores all have backup generators they tap when needed. There’s no reason why you can’t do the same. Home backup generators are common in other parts of the country that have exposure to hurricanes, ice storms or other weather events that cripple the power grid. These same generators are available in California for your home or business.
Portable vs. Permanent
Many Californians own portable generators they take to the desert or the river when they go camping. These small models can be bought at hardware stores, and can be used to power lights or other plug-in appliances if needed. But they can’t be safely connected to the main electrical panel of a home, leaving most lighting fixtures and larger appliances such as washers and dryers unpowered. Installing a permanent backup generator can power nearly all of your home, and larger models can also run small businesses. Portable generators also require setup, startup, and lots of extension cords snaking through the home. Permanent generators come with failover switches that cut in automatically when the grid goes out and then shutting down when the grid is restored. Permanent generators using natural gas don’t need you to fill a gas tank or hook up a propane tank. They can run indefinitely without needing to be refueled.
Power When You Need It
Some people literally can’t live without power. They depend on medical devices to help breathe or maintain blood sugar levels and find their lives at risk when the electricity goes out. Other people work from home, and put their career in jeopardy if they can’t fire up their laptop or desktop computer. Most businesses can’t operate safely or effectively without electricity, so having a backup can make the difference between staying open or having to close for a day or more. And even if it’s not a life-or-death problem, loss of power can be such a personal inconvenience that it makes sense to own your own generator on-site to tap for electricity as needed.
Getting your own generator installed can be done in a couple days, and can be surprisingly affordable. For more information about installing a generator for your home, please contact our technicians at Air-Tro, Inc. We serve Monrovia, Pasadena and the Greater Los Angeles area.
Don’t wait to restore your peace of mind.