The threat of rolling blackouts has driven many Malibu citizens to consider buying a generator to provide emergency power.
Standby generators can be diesel, propane or natural gas, but because the marketplace for these units is not as predictable as say, purchasing a television, prices can vary greatly.
Hap Holmwood, emergency services coordinator for Malibu, said, “It’s kind of a funny market. They have exorbitant prices.”
However, after looking at various options, he found a generator at a local Costco wholesale store for $500.
But purchasing a generator alone is not the end. While it is possible to supply power directly to a refrigerator or similar unit with this type of generator, it is not the best thing to do, said Holmwood. It is better to use a buffer system, known as a power manager system. It takes the erratic electric supply of a generator and stabilizes it. These systems need to be installed by an electrician and Holmwood found that the price of the unit and its installation usually costs under $1,000.
Yet, even with the power management system, a generator generally does not provide for an entire home. “You only connect it to certain items in the homes that will need to be supplied by the generator,” said Holmwood. However, “Don’t let the electrician talk you into an expensive generator,” he said. The generator Holmwood bought for the city runs for 8 hours with 5 gallons of unleaded gas.
Most companies say diesel generators are best, but prices tend to be much higher and these units are usually hard to find in small sizes.
The typical air-cooled gasoline or propane/natural gas generator is available at local hardware or lumber centers, but it will not last as long as a diesel generator.
Overall, conservation is key to the efficient use of home power because, unlike the utility line, the power that is provided by a generator is limited.
For emergency backup power for just a few hours a day or weekend, it is probably better to buy an inexpensive gasoline or propane generator locally.
“Generally, generators are used in what we call mission-critical applications, where it is not feasible to go without power for any length of time,” said Sherry McLamb, director of media relations for Falcon Electric.
The problem with generator power is that the power generated to run equipment is very dirty. That means it may have surges, spikes, voltage deviations, etc. Without a buffer, this dirty power passes directly into the equipment. Dirty power can cause data loss or damage to data, unnecessary equipment failures, as well as wear and tear on equipment. This is where uninterrupted power supply units (UPSs) work well.
“If you work in a lab using sensitive laboratory testing equipment, this equipment requires clean power to operate correctly,” said McLamb. “Otherwise, the data reported by such equipment can be skewed if the tests can be completed at all.”
The cost of the UPS, which works with power grid or generator-powered electricity, varies according to the total power required by the equipment a person wishes to protect.
But McLamb said a typical computer with a 19-inch monitor usually requires a total of 300 watts of power. Falcon sells a 700-watt UPS unit for $750.
Lower priced units are also available for more basic uses, she said.
But for people concerned about loved ones who may be on life-saving devices, these machines usually have a two-hour battery back up. Additionally, Southern California Edison offers a reduced rate and advance notice in case of predictable outage for these customers.