COVID-19 is disrupting every business and every industry. While lockdowns mean that demand for power is down, that doesn't mean the country's power grid is safe from outages. Massachusetts and other states have already experienced severe weather systems in the past few weeks that have threatened to send power grids down for days. Moreover, sudden changes in demand patterns can negatively impact grid frequency that can result in grid collapse. When you have backup power systems in place, you have insurance against these and many other threats to your power supply.

Identify Your Needs

One of the first things you need to do when selecting backup power generators is to determine how much power you need. To do this, identify the critical systems your business relies on. Make sure to include the HVAC and ventilation systems, appliances, lights, computers, and any equipment your business uses for daily operations. Check and double-check the power requirements of each item to reach an accurate estimate.

Choose Your Fuel Based on the Long-Term

Gasoline, diesel, and natural gas are cheap right now, but these prices will go up in the future. When that is is anyone's guess right now. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of each fuel type don't change based on current circumstances. Thus, you should choose a fuel that works best for your long-term needs rather than near-term price and availability.

Establish a Maintenance Plan

Backup power generators require regular maintenance to ensure they will perform in an emergency. If you are not using your generator regularly, it's easy to let maintenance lag and fall behind. This is a costly mistake that can cost your business dearly and leave you vulnerable to sudden power loss. At Gen-Tech, our certified generator technicians will help you develop and execute a maintenance plan that aligns with your operational needs as well as the manufacturer's requirements.

Test Your System Before You Need to Depend on It

The best way to determine whether your emergency backup power systems will perform as required is to put them through their paces before an emergency strikes. Our EGSA certified backup power technicians can help you plan emergency drills based on real-world scenarios you may encounter. We will help you analyze the effectiveness of your emergency power plan and recommend adjustments that will improve the responsiveness and efficiency of your emergency plans if the power grid goes down.

We encourage you to contact Gen-Tech Power Generation Specialists at 800-625-8324 for more information about the backup power systems we offer. It is our pleasure to help you navigate these challenging times and select a power generator that is suitable for weathering this storm and any storms that may gather over the horizon.