3 alternate power sources you can use in case of power outages

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Although April showers bring May flowers, the storm season, coupled with increased energy consumption, make June the most common month for power outages. June is followed by July and August for the most power outages by month in a given year.

More than 14 million people were affected by power outages in 2014. On top of that, the U.S. has more blackouts than any other developed nation, costing the U.S. economy $150 billion in damages annually. Mr. Electric explains why alternate power sources should be considered, especially during the summer months.

“It doesn’t matter where you live when it comes to storms,” said Dennis Teeuwsen, with Mr. Electric. “Whether it is snow storms up north, heavy rains down south or a strong windstorm, power outages happen in every region.”

There are many reasons for power outages. Storms, accidents, overloads and equipment failure all lead to power outages. Alternate power sources, like generators, allow homes and businesses to operate like normal until full power is restored by the original source.

“Generators are key to providing electricity when a disaster or accident happens,” said Teeuwsen. “They allow for little disruption in the home or office.”

Standby generators:

Allow critical appliances to continue to run when the power goes out

Though food can last for a while in an unplugged or non-running refrigerator, generators allow the appliance to run uninterrupted ensuring the food stays refrigerated. Other home electrical devices, like radios, will continue to run if power is lost.

Help avoid flood damage

With strong storms, heavy downpours can cause flooding in the home. Backup generators power sump-pump during the heavy rains, keeping homes from becoming flooded.

Have automatic transfer switches

Standby generators have a power management system and an automatic transfer switch. The transfer switch protects from back feed.

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