If you’re one of the thousands of people who’ve had their power cut off with little or no warning this year, you’ve learned—sometimes the hard way—how important it is to have a backup plan. It’s a growing trend and only promises to get worse as weather, demand, and an aging infrastructure lead to more frequent outages and brownouts.Even birds are getting into the actlately.So here’s a reminder that it’s increasingly important to have a backup power plan ready year-round.
Outages Range from Annoying to Disastrous
How long can you afford to be without power? A day? A week? Longer?
Food will keep for 24-48 hours in a well-packed refrigerator or freezer, but can you consume it before it goes bad?Candles and oil- or battery-powered lamps will last as long as the supply holds out as will cell phones and computer networks with backup batteries. So a short interruption may be only an annoyance.
But what about heat and essential medical equipment? Warm weather outages may be tolerable without air conditioning but even a short loss of life-supporting devices can be tragic. And even gas-fired furnaces and water heaters often rely on electricity for their thermostats and ignition.
It’s Not Just a Rural Problem
Residents in the foothills and high country know that power outages are a fact of life and most plan accordingly. But outages, especially planned ones, are creeping into the urban corridor.
Xcel Energy cut off power to 56,000 homes and businessesin northwest Denver and suburbs last April in anticipation of dry conditions and high winds, the lethal combination that led to the disastrous Marchal Fire in 2021. While Xcel restored power to most locations within 24 hours, some customers were without electricity for several days. The overall economic impact has been estimated in the many millions due to food spoilage and lost business revenue.
While some of the losses can be attributed to the short notice given by Xcel, more time wouldn’t have helped those without adequate backup power.
Brownouts and rolling blackouts have been part of life in California for years, but as the Front Range population grows and energy demands increase, Coloradans can anticipate more of them here. Will you be ready?
When the Power Goes Out Do You Have a Backup Plan?
It’s important to know what’s causing the power outage and how long it will last so you know how to react. Xcel is encouraging customers to prepare for an outage. These steps include putting together an outage kit. Include things like flashlights, batteries, portable chargers, a phone that does not require electricity, a non-electric clock, bottled water, non-perishable food, a manual can opener and a first aid kit.
Keep cell phones and laptops charged and make sure your plug-in computers, audio/visual, and other sensitive equipment are protected from surges. Cell phones are great as long as they have power and a working cell tower nearby. If you have a land line phone, it should still work, presuming the system is up. But cordless phones need electricity to transmit signals to the base station.
Other things to consider may include lighting options for when the power goes out and using a cooler to avoid opening the fridge.
Choosing the Right Backup Power Supply
Your choice of backup power will depend on your individual needs and your budget.
Outages are usually dealt with in a relatively short (or at least shorter) time in the cities and towns, but even a few hours of downtime can be a big problem. And when heavy winter snow and ice hit, even urban dwellers can be without power for a day or more.
Backup Batteries—A short-term answer
Backup batteries, both integrated and standalone, can be a temporary option for your computer or Wi-Fi network, but when you have a big project to finish, a dark house full of bored kids, appliances that don’t work, or someone relying on electrical devices for home health care, a backup generator is a better solution. And if you rely on a heat pump or other electric heating or cooling systems, you can get very uncomfortable in a hurry when the weather turns nasty. Backup batteries are best for short outages with limited needs since even “heavy duty” batteries have low storage capacity.
Backup Generators
Generators fall into two basic categories: portable and permanent. Choosing the best one for you is a balance between your needs and your budget. Here are some considerations:
Portable Generators
Portable gasoline-powered generators are the least expensive backup power options and come in a variety of outputs to meet different needs. Properly sized, operated, and maintained, they’re a good choice for occasional outages, are budget-friendly, and can be used (carefully) by homeowners.
They also require the most work to set up, maintain, and operate and can be dangerous to use. If you’re considering a portable generator, read our article Backup Generator Benefits before buying. It has safety tips as well.
Any generator that ties into the household electrical supply should be set up by a licensed electrical contractor. Improper connections can result in severe damage to your home’s circuitry, injury, and devastating house fires.
Permanent Whole-House Generators
Long the choice forhospitals and commercial locations, a permanently installed generator has several advantages for homeowners too. Resembling an air conditioning unit, they’re as close to a “set it and forget it system” as you can get. They’re normally connected to a natural gas or propane supply, so you don’t have to worry about storing potentially dangerous gasoline—or running out at the worst time. They have sophisticated controls and switches that automatically turn the unit on when an outage is detected. They also cycle the generator periodically to keep it in good working condition and notify you when it isn’t.
But natural gas hookups are an endangered species in some areas and propane tanks may be prohibited by zoning or HOA restrictions. If you’re in an area that has or is planning to restrict natural gas hookups, act now while you still can.
Whole-house gas generators are also the most expensive to buy and install but are a very reliable source of power for places where minimizing downtime is important and natural gas or propane fuel is available.
Stay Safe with Professional Help
Choosing the right backup system and using it safely requires a knowledge of electrical circuitry and codes. Don’t risk injury, shock, fire hazards, or expensive repairs by getting in over your head.
If you’re thinking about adding safe, reliable backup power or have any problems or concerns about your electrical service, the pros at Allstar Electrical Services are ready to help. We offer homeowners, builders, and businesses reliable, professional electrical work that is safe and up to code.
Call Allstar Electricalat 303.399.7420 or visit our website. We’ve served Colorado’s Front Range for over 20 years, are top-rated by the BBB and are an Angi’s® Home Advisor certified contractor.