The Power to Stay Open: Standby Generators for Small Businesses

10 April 2024
 Categories: , Blog


Electricity is the unseen, unsung hero of modern business. It powers your computers, keeps your rooms lit, and fuels everything from internet connections to manufacturing equipment. Yet, like all good things, it occasionally falters. Power outages, whether from storms or simple human error, are an inevitable part of life. For small businesses, they can mean the difference between staying afloat and sinking. You may have never considered it, but a standby generator could be the guardian angel your business needs during power outages. 

The Anatomy of a Standby Generator

Unlike portable generators that require manual operation and can only supply power for a limited time, standby generators are a permanent fixture of your business's electrical grid. When the power goes out, they automatically kick in, often within seconds, and keep your business running smoothly. Standby generators are typically powered by natural gas or propane, which eliminates the need for refueling and ensures that power can be maintained for as long as necessary. They are connected directly to your electrical panel and can be sized to power everything from critical systems like lights and security to maintaining full operational capacity.

The Business Boost of Backup Power

What might seem like a luxury is actually a critical component of your business's emergency preparedness plan. An uninterrupted power supply can do the following.

  • Protect your business from data loss or corruption by keeping servers and computers online and operational.
  • Prevent downtime in customer service, ensuring your clients can still reach you and you can continue operations.
  • Keep security systems functioning, which is especially important for 24/7 businesses or those dealing with sensitive information.
  • Enable you to keep sensitive equipment running, such as refrigeration units in a restaurant or medical supplies in a clinic.

Selecting the Right Generator

When choosing the right standby generator for your business, there are a few factors to consider, including the following.

  • Power Needs: Identify the crucial systems you want to keep running in an outage and calculate their power requirements to determine the generator size needed.
  • Fuel Type: Decide between natural gas, propane, or diesel, considering availability and cost.
  • Installation: Professionals need to install generators to meet code requirements and ensure safety.
  • Budget: Standby generators can be a significant investment, but the cost of downtime can be even greater.

By investing in a standby generator, small business owners can ensure they are prepared for the unexpected and maintain a competitive edge, regardless of weather or circumstances.

Learn more about generators from a company near you, such as P and L Generators.


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