Are you thinking about purchasing a home generator?
If you’re researching selecting a generator and its installation, you’re probably wondering about the cost associated. Getting a generator to power your home can be an expensive investment but having one in place can save you a lot of money when you need it.
In case you didn’t know, a standby home generator is a device that keeps your power on during an outage. It will power your entire home, including the fridge and freezer, electronics, heat and AC, lighting, water system, and anything else that runs on electrical power. So, when you’re weighing the cost of buying a generator for your home, you should consider the cost of a power outage.
What Is the Cost of A Power Outage?
Sources show that there are 500,000 people on average that are affected daily by power outages in the US, and those power outages cost American households $150 billion annually. Where do these costs come from? For just one household, there are the potential costs you’re looking at in a major power outage:
- Burst or frozen pipe repair – $10,000
- Flooded home or basement – $21,000
- Mold Removal – $500-$30,000
- Food Loss – $250-$500
- Alternative Shelter – $100/night
What Causes Power Outages?
Data shows the main cause of power outages is severe weather. 87% of the outages in the U.S. are weather-related and of the $150 billion in damages, power related outages account for $25-$70 billion.
Also, weather-related outages have doubled since 2003. Severe weather can include wind and rain, lightning, cold weather, fire, and ice storms. Here’s a full breakdown of the causes of power outages (note – some outages are caused by multiple categories):
- Equipment Failure –7%
- Wind & Rain – 14.8%
- Lightning – 11.3%
- Operator Error – 10.1%
- Voltage Reduction – 7.7%
- Voluntary Reduction – 5.9%
- Cold Weather – 5.5%
- Supply Shortage – 5.3%
- Fire – 5.2%
- Ice Storm – 5%
Power Outages in Southwest Florida
As residents of Southwest Florida, we are especially susceptible to extreme weather because we are in a region that is prone to hurricanes and severe thunderstorms.
Florida is ranked highly in states with the number of power outages, which can range from small outages in a thunderstorm to more extreme ones during a hurricane.
In 2017 when Hurricane Irma hit, it knocked out power to 6.7 million electricity customers – nearly a third of the state. Many of these were in the Southwest Florida region and people didn’t have power for up to 2 weeks.
Get a Home Generator Installed in Southwest Florida
If you are ready to take the next step, protect your investments in your home, and stay connected in the event of extreme weather, it’s time to get your home generator installed.
Empowered Global is a certified Platinum Kohler generator dealer in Southwest Florida that can help you select, install, and maintain a home generator in Bonita Springs, Naples, or Estero.
To learn more about our generator installation services and get a free quote, contact us online today or call (239) 330-4520.