Developing an Emergency Electrical Plan with a Power Services Company

A power failure can range from a small residential brown out to a regional blackout due to a massive transformer failure. For example, the entire northeast region of the United States as well as Ontario, Canada suffered a massive blackout in August of 2003 due to a major 3,500 MW power surge that affect the region’s transmission grid.

Power Services Company Emergency Electrical Plan

An emergency electrical plan for a business should include ensuring the proper UPS (uninterrupted power supply) is in place for network systems as well as other critical functions. This helps to ensure that critical systems and infrastructure can be shut down in an appropriate manner. If the business is unsure what backup power is appropriate, it might be worthwhile to consult a power services company for guidance on what would make the most sense.

It is a good idea for a facility to have a proactive meeting with the local utility provider or power services company to properly assess a facility’s potential vulnerabilities when developing an emergency electrical plan. This can help those charged with the electrical care of the facility have a better understanding as to how electricity is delivered to the location. Based on this information, appropriate contingency plans, coupled with assistance from the local power services company, an appropriate plan can be developed. Whenever possible, it makes sense to have a “dry run” of the electrical plan in order to identify any potential gaps in the plan. Additionally, if a test is possible, it is a good idea to have qualified electricians and maintenance technicians from the power services company on-hand to monitor the status of the test, as well as analyze the results.

On occasion, the local power services company will schedule specific brown-outs during high-peak times, such as in the heat of summer when the constant use of air conditioners can stress a power grid. It makes sense to develop a communication plan with the local power services company incase this type of issue develops. This will give the facility lead time to ensure systems are shut down properly ahead of the power shut down or brown-out.

If a facility will be located within new construction, it is a good idea to have an experienced electrical representative onsite as well as the local power services company to inspect the electrical equipment that will be part of the facility. These professionals will be able to provide specific insight into power requirements as well as equipment placement to avoid flooding or water damage.

By taking the time upfront to develop an emergency electrical plan, the chances of a catastrophic electrical failure will be greatly reduced. If an electrical failure does take plan, the tested plan will help avoid data loss from critical infrastructure.