RELIABLE ELECTRICITY MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER: HERE'S WHY

Nothing shows you how much you truly rely on electricity like a power outage. Especially in the later hours of the evening, candlelight never seems to be bright enough. You think of turning on the TV to pass the time, only to remember that you can't. You start to scroll your phone, then quickly set it down to conserve battery, for use as another source of light.

Not only does our day-to-day life depend on electricity, but many of our jobs do as well. And as the population and technology grow, so does the stress on our power grid. Yet even with a power grid that's being spread increasingly more thin, it's possible to ensure reliable electricity to your home or business, and a local electrician can help.

The solution is not solely renewable energy, like wind and solar, as those rely on specific weather conditions. Renewable does not always equal reliable - and you have to consider all angles for a sustainable and efficient energy supply.

The most effective way to safeguard your home from power outages or reliance on the grid is to have an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) - such as a battery storage system. With such a system in your home, power outages are a non-issue: you can continue to work, your food won't be spoiled, you'll have hot water, and the list goes on.

A licensed electrician should be the one to install any hardwired battery storage system. Some systems are "plug-and-play," enabling a homeowner to DIY the installation. But even in these cases, it's best to have an electrician review the work and placement of the unit. The systems also require maintenance and support, best completed by a licensed professional.

One company that's addressing the need for backup battery power is a startup based in Texas, called Base Power Inc. According to a Bloomberg article, "Base is a home electricity provider designed for a distressed grid." The article continues, "Base will install a battery storage system at customers' homes for $2000 and serve as their energy provider. The battery is meant to help people through power outages and comes at a very large discount (basically just the installation price) compared with similar systems."

While there are currently several options on the market for home battery backup, Base's business model stands to benefit homeowners by capitalizing on energy price fluctuations for timing using vs. filling the batteries. It does come with its challenges, including having a large enough space to house the system, and the cumbersome process of switching power companies.

As the demand for home and business battery backup grows, so will the available options. If a UPS is something you're considering, your best first step will be to find a local electrician who can support you through the process and help you decide on the best system for your home. (If you're in Northern Colorado, that could be Fiske Electric - contact us here!)

The growing demand for this kind of independence from the grid will also contribute to the demand for knowledgable electricians. It requires a unique skillset to integrate these systems into an existing electrical setup - and each setup is going to present its own challenges.

Now is the time to think about future-proofing your home: prepare for the power grid challenges that are already right in front of us. Get a local electrician on your favorites list, to help ensure that reliable and efficient electricity source for your home - and start now, because waiting lists for this new technology are coming.