The State of Home Backup Power

In an era when an aging electrical grid and climate change are reducing the dependability of conventional utilities, Americans are increasingly looking for power security in electric generators and battery storage systems. 

According to an analysis by Reuters, nationwide power outages have doubled over the past six years. A rise in extreme weather events attributed to climate change is further taxing the electrical grid. This all comes at a time when the demand for consumer power is perhaps greater than ever before with an estimated 25 to 35 percent of Americans working from home.  

Since the power companies are struggling to meet this growing demand, or are doing so unreliably, electric generator manufacturers and distributers are stepping in to fill the void and give Americans a feeling of security.  

“More consumers are working, and schooling, from home, and they have a higher reliance on power needs and constant connectivity, explains Brandon Hepner, VP-Sales Kohler Generators. “To address the shifting consumer mindset, Kohler Co. is investing in design, engineering and technology to support our growing portfolio of whole home connected products.” 

This portfolio includes not only Kohler's traditional line of home standby and portable generator products but also the new Kohler Power Reserve battery storage system, which stores home power generated by solar batteries.  

“Consumers today want control of their power resiliency, and backup power plays an ever-increasing role in providing constant, reliable power for a home’s connected products when the main grid does not", says Hepner. 

This consumer self-reliance for electrical power fosters peace of mind and security for remote workers, at-home learners, and those living in areas prone to severe weather like hurricanes and tornados. Backup power acts as a safety net in case the utility cannot keep up.  

Waiting for Backup Power 

Although Americans want backup power, they cannot always get it in time with the ongoing supply chain crisis. Industry-wide parts and labor shortages that began during the Covid-19 pandemic have persisted, causing lead times on generators to sometimes surpass a year or more. 

“Keeping products in stock has been a challenge faced by everyone in the power equipment industry these past two years,” says Kristopher Schrader, senior category manager for generators at Power Equipment Direct. “Fortunately, Power Equipment Direct has managed to keep generators and battery storage systems in stock by building close relationships with our vendors, like Kohler, Generac, Honda, and more, and proactively stocking up on inventory.” 

Although generators and portable power stations are currently in stock, consumers are advised not to wait to acquire one for a couple of reasons. For one, what is in stock today may not be tomorrow. Low supply has caused high demand, so there are many people chasing the same goods.  

A second reason pertains to those living in hurricane zones and areas prone to other types of severe weather and power outages. “With peak hurricane season arriving in August and September, the time to protect yourself with backup power is now,” advises Schrader. “This is particularly true for standby generators, which require a permit and professional installation. This process can take weeks or even months to complete.”  

Demand for backup power solutions is only expected to grow moving forward. As it does, consumers can expect the technology and capabilities of backup power to grow with it.