There are a variety of different reasons that companies will want to keep their power running in the event of a power outage. At the most basic level, ensuring that you have electrical power during an outage will prevent you from losing work time. There are very few businesses which can function without power, and this will allow your employees to continue to work during the outage. This can also engender goodwill from customers, who may appreciate the fact that you are one of the few businesses who remain open when others are closed. In this situation, the outage can be a blessing for you, where you gain exposure and goodwill from a huge pool of customers with nowhere else to turn.
Sometimes though, electrical power absolutely must be kept running for more important reasons. For example, imagine if the power were to go out at a hospital or healthcare provider, or a server room for an important website. Not only will you not be able to work, but the outage could cause devastating outcomes for your customers. In these situations, losing power due to an outage is unacceptable. There are a few things you can do to make sure that you keep the power running.
One option for keeping power running is an uninterruptable power supply. These are incredibly versatile devices which come in a huge range of sizes and specifications. They are basically a large battery pack which also comes with a good bit of software. They can nearly instantly sense a power outage (or power drop) and can compensate for the drop in power by using the energy stored inside. This can help when you have inconsistent power supply, or a bad electrical system. Similar to a surge protector, they can protect your devices from damage when an electrical surge comes through. However, they can also serve to supply extra power when the power supply drops or cuts out completely. Depending on how large a UPS you purchase, you could have just enough time to save your work and turn off the computer, or potentially keep working the rest of the day. A larger battery will obviously be more expensive, but it will be up to you how you want to spend your money. These are ideal when you are in a situation where you want to protect expensive equipment, or when it is absolutely essential that power is not cut without warning, as would be the case for things such as surgery or life support equipment.
The second option you have to keep power running during an outage is a generator. These are small power plants, which can turn fuel into electrical energy. These can be installed in a variety of sizes depending on your needs. You might want a small generator to just keep the lights on, or you may need a massive one to power a server room. Either way, consulting an experienced electrician will be the fastest way for you to find out how to install one, and what it will cost you. It often is incredibly worth your money to have something like this, as a power failure at a bad time could destroy your business. Generators have the benefit that they can keep supplying power for the duration of the blackout, whether it lasts seconds, minutes, or weeks. As long as you keep them fueled, they will keep the power you need coming.
Finally, in some cases, you should use a hybrid system. I mentioned life support above, and this is a great example of a piece of equipment which needs the benefits of both systems. An unexpected shutdown due to a power loss could be devastating, and only a UPS can help prevent this. No matter the situation, the UPS will keep the power flowing and everything running smoothly. However, batteries only last so long. You can use the time you gain from the UPS to fire up the generator and make sure that power is being distributed effectively. If you need to, you can make sure that you get a supply of fuel. These two systems will be more expensive to install as a pair than either would be individually, but there are absolutely situations where you will need a system which uses both.
So, assess the needs of your company, and make a call to an expert. They will be happy to give you advice on which systems may best fulfill these needs and can give you a good estimate on cost. Don’t simply take the quote given by the company selling the devices at face value. Sometimes they drastically overcharge for installation, and you can save money by using a local electrician. However, you need to be confident that the chosen electrician is experienced with this type of electrical work.
