Electric Utility Customers Turn to Generators During Blackouts—Outages

  United States - 10/24/2019 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

Poor Infrastructure Maintenance and Land Management Practices Blamed for Blackouts

Widespread extended power outages affect millions of utility customers across the United States every year. No power for days or weeks allows food to spoil in refrigerators and freezers, homes become unlivable in sweltering humid heat or freezing cold temperatures. Pipes can burst. Mold grows. Basements flood. Damages run into the tens of thousands of dollars. The problem is so pervasive that FEMA recommends a backup power source for every household. 

Weather events cause most widespread power outages, but the Recent Blackouts in California point to a new issue—caution in the wake of lawsuits after utility equipment sparked raging wildfires. 

In 2018, hurricanes Michael and Florence left up to 4 million people without power—some for weeks. Winter storms, hailstorms, and other severe weather events left people in the dark. In July of this year, the New York City Outage affected over 77,000 customers during a heat wave. 

At Norwall, (www.norwall.com) generator sales spike as people prepare for an outage before it hits, during the outage, and after the utility restores power. PG&E blackouts or hurricane landfall are just two events that prompt utility customers to buy generators. 

The NOAA (www.climate.gov) points to climate change as part of the disaster problem. A recent 2018 Billion Dollar Disaster blog post that counted 45 different disasters from 2016 through 2018. 

For many, preparedness includes a standby or portable generator. Standby generators are automatic backup power systems. When the power goes out, they isolate the home’s electrical system from the utility and switch the house to generator power. 

Portable Generators can supply backup power, but they are not automatic and require refueling with up to 15 gallons of gasoline per day. They also have shorter maintenance periods—some require an oil change every two days. Users must adhere to strict portable generator safety rules for placement and use of extension cords, and require shelter from bad weather, but never must never run indoors.

Despite arguments and claims from many sides, there are no quick and easy solutions. Upgrading the electrical grid in California and across the United States would cost billions of dollars. Meanwhile, a fuel-efficient automatic generator provides a safe solution for businesses and homeowners. 

About Norwall PowerSystems

Norwall PowerSystems specializes in the sale of emergency backup power generators and outdoor power equipment. 

Norwall stocks 1000s of standby generators, portable generators, automatic transfer switches, and replacement parts in multiple warehouses for immediate shipment. Sales staff with over 75 years of experience in electrical and power plant arenas provide courteous and knowledgeable service to customers and stay up to date with factory-sponsored training. In business over 20 years, Norwall has shipped a quarter-million generators.