Businesses Ill-Equipped to Handle Power Outages

According to new research by the Propane Education & Research Council, there is a significant gap for how prepared commercial buildings are for potential grid disruptions. 

The report, “Propane and the Future of Power: Achieving Reliability Beyond the Grid,” found that only 13 percent of businesses protect their entire operation. Grid instability is becoming an increasing issue for commercial building owners as power outages are becoming more frequent and lasting even longer. 

Despite these escalating disruptions, building owners still remain unprepared. According to the report, a majority of respondents claim to feel prepared for a power loss. The false sense of security leaves communities vulnerable, a threat that will only compound as the U.S. Department of Energy predicts a 100-fold increase in outage risk by 2030.  

This carries devastating financial and operational cost implications for business owners. With all organizations suddenly exposed to partial shutdowns, consequences can lead to the following: 

• Financial loss: A single power outage can cost up to $78,000 in lose revenue, labor disruptions and equipment damage 
• Lack of redundancy: 87 percent of businesses lack the backup power necessary to protect their entire operation 
• Employee well-being: 22 percent of business owners reported that employee safety and well-being as the consequence with the greatest emotional toll 
• Hidden expenses: Outages can increase insurance premiums, relocation expenses for personnel and penalties incurred during downtime 

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