Photo by Fahim Junaid on Unsplash
Arkansas businesses face a unique challenge when it comes to reliable electricity. Between severe weather events and an aging electrical infrastructure, power outages are more than just an inconvenience – they’re a real threat to business operations and revenue.
Arkansas and the Reality of Power Outages
If you’ve lived or worked in Arkansas for any length of time, you’ve likely experienced your share of power outages. The state’s location puts it directly in the path of severe weather systems that regularly sweep across the region. From thunderstorms and tornadoes in spring and summer to ice storms in winter, Arkansas sees it all.
Extreme weather accounted for about 80% of all major U.S. power outages from 2000 to 2023, and Arkansas certainly gets its share of these weather-related disruptions. Just this past year, various storm systems have left thousands of Arkansas customers without power, sometimes for days at a time.
The numbers tell the story clearly. During major storm events, power companies in Arkansas routinely deal with outages affecting tens of thousands of customers simultaneously. For example, recent storm systems have resulted in over 100,000 outages at peak impact periods across the state.
The Aging Infrastructure Challenge
Beyond weather-related outages, Arkansas faces another challenge that many people don’t think about: aging electrical infrastructure. Much of the electrical grid that serves Arkansas businesses was built decades ago, and like any aging system, it requires constant maintenance and eventual replacement.
Older transformers, power lines, and switching equipment are more prone to failures, especially during times of high demand or stress. This means that even on calm weather days, businesses can experience unexpected outages due to equipment failures that could have been prevented with newer, more reliable infrastructure.
The Business Impact of Lost Power
For Arkansas businesses, a power outage isn’t just about waiting for the lights to come back on. The real impact hits where it hurts most: productivity and revenue.
Consider what happens when a manufacturing facility loses power. Production lines stop immediately, but the impact extends far beyond the duration of the outage. There’s lost product, wasted materials, the time needed to restart equipment safely, and potential missed delivery deadlines that can affect customer relationships.
Retail businesses face their own challenges during outages. Point-of-sale systems go down, cash registers stop working, and in many cases, businesses have to turn customers away entirely. Even a few hours of lost sales during peak business periods can result in significant revenue loss.
Office-based businesses aren’t immune either. In today’s digital world, everything from phones to computers to internet connections relies on electricity. When the power goes out, work essentially stops, and employees become unproductive until service is restored.
How Backup Generators Provide Peace of Mind
A properly installed backup generator system can be the difference between weathering a storm and suffering significant business disruption. When the main power goes out, a backup generator automatically kicks in within seconds, keeping critical systems running.
For many businesses, this means the difference between staying open and having to close. Manufacturing operations can continue running, retail stores can keep serving customers, and offices can maintain their normal workflow even when the neighborhood around them is dark.
The key is having a system that’s properly sized for your business needs and professionally installed. A generator that’s too small won’t handle your full electrical load, while one that’s too large represents an unnecessary expense. Professional assessment ensures you get the right size and type of system for your specific situation.
Making the Investment Decision
Installing a backup generator represents a significant investment, but for many Arkansas businesses, it’s one that pays for itself over time. When you consider the cost of lost productivity, missed sales opportunities, spoiled inventory, and potential damage to customer relationships, the price of a backup power system often makes good financial sense.
The investment becomes even more attractive when you consider that power outages in Arkansas aren’t rare occurrences – they’re regular events that businesses should plan for. Having backup power isn’t just about being prepared for the next big storm; it’s about ensuring business continuity in a state where weather-related outages are simply part of doing business.
Beyond Just Weather Preparedness
While severe weather gets most of the attention when it comes to power outages, backup generators provide protection against all types of electrical disruptions. Equipment failures, accidents affecting power lines, and even planned maintenance by utility companies can all result in temporary power loss.
A backup generator system provides comprehensive protection, ensuring that your business can continue operating regardless of why the main power goes out. This level of reliability can be especially important for businesses that serve essential functions in their communities or have critical operations that can’t afford any downtime.
The Professional Installation Difference
Like any significant electrical system, backup generators require professional installation to ensure safe and reliable operation. This includes proper sizing calculations, electrical connections that meet code requirements, and integration with existing electrical systems.
Professional installation also ensures that the system will work when needed most. A generator that fails to start during an outage provides no benefit, which is why proper installation and regular maintenance are so important.
The complexity of modern backup power systems means this definitely isn’t a DIY project. From gas line connections to automatic transfer switches to proper grounding, there are many technical requirements that require professional expertise to handle safely and correctly.
For Arkansas businesses looking to protect themselves from the inevitable next power outage, a backup generator system represents more than just an equipment purchase – it’s an investment in business continuity and peace of mind.
This blog post was generated by Ag Electric Services, LLC, an Arkansas based electrical and general contractor serving the following areas of Central and Eastern Arkansas: McCrory, Augusta, Newport, Wynne, Brinkley, Des Arc, Forrest City, Hickory Ridge, Cherry Valley, Tuckerman, Searcy, Pangburn, Heber Springs, Greers Ferry, Rosebud, Quitman, Romance, Kensett, Georgetown, Cabot, Beebe, El Paso, Hickory Plains, Carlisle, Lonoke, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Jacksonville, Maumelle, Conway, Mayflower, Vilonia. If you would like more information about the services we provide, please click “Services” in the main menu, or contact us through the online information request form on the “Contact Us” page.
SOURCE: https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/05/03/major-power-outages-arkansas-extreme-weather