I recently spoke with a customer who owns a duplex. She wanted to upgrade both electrical panels, which were over 40 years old and showing their age. Since the electricity is coming from a transformer mounted on a utility pole in the backyard, we had to check with the power company about the steps involved.
Anytime the wiring is disconnected from the transformer—whether it is planned (such as an upgrade) or unplanned (after a storm)—her power company requires everything to be brought up to their current guidelines and that also means the rest of the equipment will need to be changed to meet the current electrical standards.
After that visit, I started thinking: what happens if power goes out unexpectedly? You are stuck waiting a couple of days for everything to be replaced and reconnected. No lights, no fridge, no Wi-Fi—possibly for days.
During a major outage, utility companies will prioritize where they send their crews. If 5,000 people are out in one area and 500 in another, guess who gets fixed first? Smaller outages often take longer, and the online outage maps don’t always help much in the moment.
We all remember the winter storm of 2021. Some people never lost power, others had rolling blackouts, and then there were those that lost all power. We did not know at that time how close we came to a catastrophic failure of our electrical grid.
Then there was the ice storm of 2023. Tree limbs succumbed to the weight of the ice that had formed and eventually snapped. When they did, power lines were damaged causing a loss of power.
Outages can happen at any time, not just during the winter months: a lightning strike to a transformer, a vehicle accident involving a utility pole, extreme heat during the summer, the possibility of a cyber-attack, excavation/digging, or equipment failure.
Here a few examples of why you would need a constant source of power:
Appliances such as a tankless water heaters and swimming pools need constant power during a freeze. Without it, you would be looking at the cost to have them replaced as well as the additional costs of plumbing repairs. Not only are you keeping your lights on and your food refrigerated but you are also protecting the investments you made in your home and shielding yourself from unnecessary repairs.
That is where backup power comes in. There are several options: portable generators, standby generators, battery backups, and even systems that let your electric vehicle power your home. Some are simple and affordable while others offer more features but need a more-involved installation and investment. It comes down to what kind of coverage and convenience you are looking for.
At Titanium Electrical Solutions, we offer complimentary in-person consultations (or video calls if you prefer). We will look at your current setup and talk through your options. Our goal is to help you find a backup solution that fits your needs and your budget so you are not left in the dark when the unexpected happens.
