Natural Gas Keeps the Power on When the Electricity Fails March 11, 2002
Gas Generators Provide Safe Alternative Source of Electricity for Homes and Small Businesses When the Power Goes Out
Natural gas-powered generators can serve as an alternative source of electricity to keep homes and small businesses up and running during a power outage.
While the majority of customers are not usually without power form more than four hours, depending on the severity of the damage, it can take days to have power completely restored. During the blizzard of 1993, thousands of Chattanooga customers were without power for several days. Hurricane Opal also left thousands of customers without electricity with its high winds that downed power lines and damaged electric infrastructure.
In addition to posing serious inconveniences, power outages can be very costly and even life threatening. Tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, lightning, ice storms, blizzards and traffic accidents can all contribute to power outages. Any of these events can sever power lines, disable transformers or short-circuit breakers causing all customers on a damaged circuit to lose power. High winds and lightning are the most common causes of outages.
What is a standby natural gas generator and how can it help?
A natural gas generator is a backup electricity system which detects a drop in line voltage or a power loss, thus protecting you against a brown-out or immediately restoring power to the home. Backup generators can be especially beneficial for people who work from home, have electrical-powered medical equipment or live in areas where weather events are frequent.
Generally located in the homeowner's yard, a generator can restore power to several appliances at once, or to the entire home. Homeowners should decide which appliances are considered necessities in the event of an outage and can consult with a generator professional to decide on the needs of their backup system. Heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) units are typically the largest electrical loads and require a larger generator to operate them.
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David Cornell, vice president and director of generator sales for Reliable Heating and Air Conditioning Co. in Chattanooga, said, "Emergency power systems have been available for years, but inherently too large and expensive for residential applications. The growing popularity of in-home power has enabled manufacturers to make residential and light commercial generators more attractive from a cost perspective, as more and more architects and general contractors are specifying stand-by generators in their new homes. These power systems can now be integrated into construction of a new building or retro-fitted for older structures, both at an affordable price."
Natural gas generators versus gasoline-powered models
Gasoline-powered generators are less expensive than natural gas generators but are typically smaller in size, manually started and have less capacity to power as many appliances/systems as a natural gas standby generator. Appliances are connected with extension cords directly to portable gasoline-powered generators. This can pose an electrical safety hazard and put homeowners and their families at serious risk of injury if the generator's maximum wattage allowance is exceeded. Because it is powered by gasoline, the generator must be operated in a well-ventilated area and must be turned off while residents are sleeping or away from home.
Advantages of natural gas generators
- Natural gas generators are safer because they do not require fuel to be stored on the property; they are supplied from the same line that delivers natural gas to other appliances.
- They cost 40-50 percent less per hour to run than gasoline-powered models.
- Compared to gasoline-powered generators, natural gas generators can operate safely while people are asleep or away from home because they are connected directly to the property's gas line.
- Natural gas generators are clean burning and environmentally friendly.
- Natural gas generators are equipped with an automatic transfer switch that instantaneously turns on and operates only for the duration of the power outage.
- They have a weatherproof sound-attenuated enclosure that provides added sound reduction and safety
- Natural gas generators are very durable and can last for over 20 years if properly maintained.
Availability and cost Depending on the size, a turnkey installed standby natural gas generator can cost between $5,000-$9,000. The average size is 11 kilowatts and is capable of running a gas furnace/air unit, stove, refrigerator and a few other small appliances. Once a generator is purchased, a qualified professional is recommended for installation.
Natural gas generators can be purchased through home improvement retailers or natural gas appliance dealers. For a list of natural gas advantage dealers, please visit www.ChattanoogaGas.com and click on the "natural advantage dealers" to view a listing of local retailers.