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MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 6, 2014--It seems as if Old Man Winter has the entire country in its icy grip this year with no letup in sight. Wave after wave of ice storms, blizzards and freezing cold have battered the East Coast from Washington, D.C., to New England, creating a record year of power outages, stranded commuters, closed businesses and overall gridlock in places that typically don’t experience this kind of severe winter weather. As a result, being without power in dangerously low temps and with impassable roads for any amount of time can be dangerous and costly, especially to a small-business owner.
New PowerConnect(TM) generator sets from Cummins Power Generation make backup power easy for residential and light commercial applications (Photo: Business Wire).
According to the Economic Benefits of Increasing Electric Grid Resilience to Weather Outages report from the Office of the President 2013, “Severe weather is the leading cause of power outages in the United States. Between 2003 and 2012, an estimated 679 widespread power outages occurred due to severe weather. Power outages cost the economy billions of dollars.”
“Our region is enduring winter weather and power outages and closures unlike anything most of us have ever experienced. In extended power outages businesses face potential financial losses and safety concerns,” said Vivek S. Malapati, Segment Leader- Residential and Light Commercial for Cummins Power Generation, “Being prepared is the key to solving power supply issues during severe weather. A proactive business owner who wants the peace of mind and assured business continuity that comes with a reliable source of electricity should consider installing a permanent standby generator.”
Why install a permanent standby power system?
First and foremost, a permanently installed system is automatic. Once the utility power goes out a backup system is already in place and begins working within 10 seconds. No waiting in lines for equipment, fuel and other potentially limited resources, or worrying about loss of inventory due to refrigeration issues.
A typical small-business standby power system consists of a fuel supply, a generator set and an automatic transfer switch (ATS) that connects to the location’s electric service panel. The fuel supply for the generator is usually a natural gas or LP/propane line. When the ATS detects a loss of utility power, it commands the generator to start. Then, the ATS switches the business from the utility to the generator, and the generator begins delivering power to the shop’s distribution panel – usually in about 10 seconds.
A good example of an advanced small-business backup power system is the new Connect™ Series from Cummins Power Generation. It periodically checks itself to make sure it is ready to produce power, and it can also communicate with the owner by text or email to provide alerts when units are operating or need service.
Consult an authorized dealer
A qualified and licensed professional should handle the installation, which includes fuel and electrical connections (permits are needed) in addition to these other steps:
Determining the right size and model of generator for the business Installing the generator in a location that complies with applicable codes Taking care of regular preventive maintenance and service calls Answering questions and guiding the business owner through the operation of the generator To find out more about permanently installed backup power systems, consult a local dealer. Visit the Web site for more information. http://power.cummins.com.
For more information on emergency weather preparedness, visit the website for more information: http://powertoprepare.com/
About Cummins Power Generation
Cummins Power Generation, a subsidiary of Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), is a global leader dedicated to increasing the availability and reliability of electric power around the world. With more than 90 years of experience, the company’s global network of distributors in more than 190 countries delivers innovative solutions for any power need – commercial, industrial, recreational, emergency and residential.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140306006004/en/
CONTACT: Cummins Power Generation
Madeline Foss, 651-787-6129
Marketing Communications Manager - Power Products
madeline.foss@cummins.com
or
Agency Contact:
Creative Communications Consultants, Inc.
Susan McPherson, 612-338-5098
President
smcpherson@cccinc.com
KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA MINNESOTA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BUILDING SYSTEMS ENERGY UTILITIES OTHER ENERGY CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE OTHER CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY
SOURCE: Cummins Power Generation
Copyright Business Wire 2014
PUB: 03/06/2014 12:20 PM/DISC: 03/06/2014 12:20 PM
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