In January of 2024, a dangerous snowstorm in Buffalo, New York, led the NFL to postpone a much-anticipated playoff matchup between the Steelers and the Bills. Some events have caused much more severe consequences, including the loss of life and property that occurred during 2021’s Winter Storm Uri in Texas. 

Clearly, climate change is in full swing. Extreme weather events are happening more frequently and becoming more intense. Unfortunately, power disruptions during these weather events are also becoming increasingly common. 

As a result, there is a greater need for backup power sources than ever before. Not only can backup power save lives, but it can also keep businesses from experiencing the negative consequences of extended shutdowns.

What Happens When Businesses Lose Power

One significant consequence of power loss for businesses across sectors is the interruption of operations. Power outages lead to costly downtime and disruptions in productivity. Sudden shutdowns can damage products and equipment, too, with business owners losing even more money to expensive repairs.

Businesses can also suffer reputational losses. If customers can’t contact a company to purchase products or get their questions answered, they may come to see the brand as unreliable. Additionally, interruptions in the supply chain can cause delivery delays, further frustrating customers and clients. 

In addition to costing companies in the short term, these interruptions can negatively impact customer loyalty and revenue well into the future. In fact, companies often don’t know how much revenue they’ve lost to power outages until far down the line when they can see the cumulative effects of the downtime.

Finally, extreme weather conditions and power outages can cause more severe consequences than just revenue losses. It can also put the health and safety of all stakeholders in danger. 

When air conditioners and heaters don’t work, employees can experience health emergencies like heat stroke and hypothermia. Power outages can even affect the water supply, making it dangerous to use or drink due to filtration system failures.

Backup Power: A Growing Necessity for Business Continuity

Traditionally, many businesses have relied on diesel generators as their backup power source. Unfortunately, diesel fuel is often in short supply right before and during extreme weather events. 

Additionally, precipitation and downed trees can make it impossible for business owners to get more fuel even if it was available. And if outages last for days — or even weeks — on end, fuel often runs out, rendering these generators useless.

Some have turned to solar and wind power to solve this dilemma, but these are also unreliable when the weather becomes unpredictable. The good news is that there are resources to help businesses maintain power during extreme weather events.

Microgrids, like the ones from Enchanted Rock that are powered by natural gas, operate independently of the grid. They supply reliable backup power when other solutions fail. Even better, microgrid owners can sell energy to the grid to keep electricity flowing during peak periods, opening another potential revenue source. They use cleaner energy than diesel generators, too, which can help businesses meet decarbonization and sustainability goals.

Microgrids Can Be the Answer to Growing Grid Demands

Undoubtedly, today’s extreme weather is putting more stress on the grid than ever. The current infrastructure is struggling to keep up, making microgrids a worthy investment consideration for businesses. 

Using this solution to ensure power reliability and resiliency in the face of uncertainty can protect revenue, life, and peace of mind over the long term. Read the original article by Allan Schurr to learn more.