In a perfect world, electrical energy would be cheap, plentiful, clean, always available and uninterrupted. In reality, this is not a reasonable expectation but there are various technologies available to improve the quality and reliability of your power. A generator could also be installed to backup power in the event of a long term outage. However, a permanent generator and the annual maintenance expense may not fit your budget. In many cases, it is difficult to justify a permanent generator especially if the building is leased. It can also be difficult and costly to retrofit an existing building.

A common alternative would be to rent a temporary/portable generator in the middle of a crisis, usually at a time when things are disorganized and hectic. Common questions that need to be asked before ordering a portable generator are, voltage, KW size needed (or load size), length of cable to run from load to generator, etc. Once on site, a decision needs to be made to determine the critical loads to restore and an electrician is required to connect the temporary power to the buildings electrical service or distribution system. This can take several hours and is costly, particularly with after-hours labor at time and half or even double time. This may also present a potential hazard with cables running down hallways, as well as a loss of security as doors are left open allowing for the cables to connect the portable generator from the outside.

A more efficient and practical alternative is to make the facility "generator ready". With the installation of a transfer switch and the generator quick connect Tap Box, a facility can be up and running within 10 minutes of the arrival of the temporary generator. In addition, as part of the process of the installation of the Tap Box, all the key questions about sizing, voltage, critical loads, generator location, and cable length are all predetermined.

A Chicago based grocery store chain has several sites that are especially vulnerable to power outages due to their location and the aging electrical infrastructure. In June and July of this year, several stores suffered multiple power outages, some as long as three days. The store stood to lose not only the cold and freezer sections of the store, but also the revenue for the other non perishable items because without power, the store was closed. They were able to summon portable power which arrived within the 4 hour "critical window", but the cost of the emergency electrical work, plus the extra time it takes to tie in the generator was in excess of $4,000 not including the cost of the rental generator. One store in particular experienced three outages in 10 days, each time requiring an emergency response by their local electrical contractor.

The following example compares three (3) possilbe situations when a 100 KW diesel generator is required: (i) A permanent generator, (ii) An emergency response rental, and(iii) A preplanned generator Tap Box.

*   Does not include delivery time or cost of the rental generator

**   Installation will fluctuate based on the proximity of the tap box to electrical panel. Install estimates include transfer switch, labor and miscellaneous material. Copper wire, conduit, and labor rate may affect estimates.

Although the above estimates will vary by site and specific application, they illustrate the cost effectiveness and the significant savings in time to restore power quickly after an outage. Most likely, the installation of the Tap Box configuration will more than pay for itself the second time it is used to restore power. The building's integrity is not compromised and remains secure. In many cases, the facility owner's own trained maintenance person, or the technician delivering the generator, will be able to make the connections and restore the power. Everything is pre-planned, pre-wired and procedures are in place for just such an emergency.

• In the future, if a permanent generator is required, a large portion of the material and installation expense is already completed. Most likely the existing transfer switch will meet your needs.

All businesses should have a disaster recovery plan. In fact, publicly traded companies are required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to be able to secure their documents and records while maintaining internal control of data and processes. A power backup plan is an essential cornerstone to meet the intent of this requirement. It is important that even though a business may not have a permanent generator, it should have a contingency plan in place to resume operations despite the lack of electricity in order to save data, preserve perishable items and ensure security and communication capability.