Depending on where you live in the United States, there are seasons beyond summer, fall, winter and spring of which you’re aware- we now have seasons for extreme weather events. While one region may seem unaffected by these weather events – tornadoes, fires, hurricanes – our globalized economy can create supply chain issues that affect consumers everywhere.
On the west coast, fire season has been getting longer and longer each year, starting as early as June and now continuing through October. In the central states in what is known as “tornado alley,” increased tornado outbreaks typically occur in the March through June tornado season. And on the east coast, hurricane season lasts from June through November. As the severity and frequency of these natural disasters increase, so, too, does demand for emergency power supplies and backup generators.
The overlap in these seasons can contribute to generator supply chain issues that ripple across the entire market. While California residents begin to worry about a lengthy fire season in the late summer, East Coast residents are already installing and servicing their home generators for protection from hurricanes.
Chip Shortages and Port Backlogs
Not only does increased demand affect supply, but a global chip shortage from pandemic manufacturing slowdowns and a massive backlog at global ports are wreaking havoc on the availability of parts needed to manufacture generators.
As Shana Duthie, Head of Sales and Marketing at Duthie Power Services explains, “The pandemic has created a perfect storm for demand to skyrocket while supply is bottlenecked all around the world.”
Even with vaccines available and economies reopening, the emergence of stronger COVID variants has once again upended supply chains from international port closures. Delays of up to just two weeks to unload cargo in Chinese ports will affect retailers of all sizes who are preparing to restock for the holidays.
Increased demand for Emergency Power Supply Systems
For businesses and residents on the west coast, the need for a standby generator hasn’t always been urgent, but increased power outages during fire season are spurring a greater investment in emergency power supply systems (EPSS). A business may need backup power to keep their servers, security systems and lights on, and a homeowner needs backup power to stay cool, stay online, and keep their food from spoiling.
Particularly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, homeowners are growing more and more reliant on electricity in their homes. Work from home and electric vehicles, not to mention myriad household “smart” technology, are motivating homeowners to install a residential standby generator so their homes are protected.
Don’t Wait to Secure a Backup Power Source
How can you find peace of mind knowing there might be a delay in getting your generator installed? Don’t wait to make a purchase or book service. Karen Cooper, Duthie Power Residential Sales Specialist, puts it this way- “A core value at Duthie Power is our belief that everyone should have access to an affordable power source, so we’ve been stocking up and managing expectations with all of our customers to ensure they get what they need to stay powered up. But at the end of the day, the sooner you call us, the sooner you get the services you need.”
Natural disasters have unfortunately become stronger and more frequent, but Duthie Power is here to reassure businesses and homeowners that they can take steps to protect their livelihoods and homes from unnecessary damage. Whether a backup generator saves your company from losing valuable data or saves your family from losing a fridge full of food, knowing your power stays on will give you peace of mind.
