Choosing a dedicated temporary power provider can definitely have its benefits – whether you require a power supply for ongoing housing developments, or you simply need a name to trust in case of an emergency. It’s important you find the right partner, so what should you look for?
Where are they based?
When looking for a temporary power provider, it’s important to take into consideration where they’re located. This means where they store their generators, as well as where their engineers are based.
If the majority of your work is carried out locally, or in more remote parts of your area, you may want to think about choosing a local company, as they may be more likely to know the area, and know the best routes to reach your site.
However, if you tend to carry out work across a variety of areas, working with a national company, with numerous depots across the country, will make sourcing a generator (or whatever kit you may need) significantly easier.
Ensuring ahead of time that your provider has kit and engineers nearby will also give you the peace of mind that if you were ever to lose power, you won’t have to wait in the dark whilst they drive halfway across the country.
Are they open 24/7?
If you do ever experience a power outage, and need a temporary solution urgently, you need to have the assurance that your power provider is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Not only do they need to be open, but you should also check that they offer 24/7 call out for emergencies. Working with a provider that only operates during regular working hours may seem enough at first, but you won’t want to risk your power going out on a Friday night and having to wait until Monday or Tuesday to get back up and running.
What are their emergency response times like?
Whether you work in an office, a hospital, or a construction site, you rely on electricity and, at the very least, without a power supply, your business will lose money.
Understandably, an exact response time may not always be guaranteed, but you need to know that if you’re without power, you can have an electrician onsite to install a generator in as little time as possible.
What size generators do they carry?
Another important factor to consider when choosing your power provider is the size of generators they offer. Depending on the equipment you have, and how much you have to power, certain providers may not have the appropriate size.
For example, if you need to power a busy high street and require two 1250kVA generators, not all providers will have generators of this size on hand. This means that they may have to hire the kit from another company, which can sometimes result in a higher price and a slower response time.
Who is your main contact?
Whether you need to hire generators for a range of sites, add something to an ongoing hire, or simply ask a question, it’s important that you know who to go to.
If every time you call, you end up speaking to a different person, it’s common to feel like you’re never going to get the information you need. Choosing a temporary power provider that gives you a dedicated point of contact will take away this concern.
What services do they offer?
Arguably the most important thing to consider when looking for a new temporary power provider is the services they offer.
While, at first you may just think, “I need a power supply,” in reality, you might need a bit more than that.
Fuel Management
Do you have an easy way to keep the fuel in your generator topped up? If not, you may need to consider fuel management.
Having your power provider keep an eye on how long it’s been since your fuel tank was refilled will mean that they can send out their refueling team so you won’t need to worry about your generator running out of diesel.
Telemetry
If you need to power a phone mast in a remote location, odds are, you won’t want to make the journey to site every time you want to check on your generator.
Using telemetry allows you to check on the status of your generator remotely, so whether it needs to be refueled, or if there is a problem with the generator, this can be flagged up to both you and your provider without needing to visit in person.
Choosing a new provider
Ensuring you choose the right company as your go-to for temporary power is vital. You need the reassurance that, whether you’re powering a festival or an office, you can have the equipment you need in as little time as possible.
If you’re looking for a new temporary power provider, give us a call, and a member of our team will be happy to discuss how we can help you.
