Power Outage Solutions

May 2024

With a few warnings in the last few weeks regarding potential power outages and New Zealand’s major power distributor asking people to conserve energy at different times of the day, what can YOU do to survive this winter?

Since February we have been warned of the potential rolling power cuts as demand for power increases and power generation struggles to keep up.

So, what’s caused this?

With the majority of our power being generated by mother nature, we are dependent on her to produce the amount of power we need to carry on our daily lives.

With what our national grid operator is calling an ‘unseasonal cold snap’ coupled with ‘low wind generation’, power supply isn’t able to keep up with the demand and more and more heat pumps and heaters are getting turned on, as well as EV charging and everyone is boiling the jug at the same time to make their morning cuppa. Unfortunately, getting into the colder months there’s no guarantee that power generation will be up to the task and we could be having a case of Deja-vu.

What can be done?

It makes sense to reduce your power consumption, reducing your power lowers the monthly power bill. We all want to do it, especially as the cost of living increases. But sometimes it’s just not practical to switch off, so below are a few options that can help out in a power outage one of which can also help to lower your bills.

Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), are essentially a 230V (mains voltage) battery back up. Usually used to keep servers and vital computers running during shorter power cuts to allow sensitive equipment to either be powered down correctly or an alternative supply to be found. Depending on the size of the UPS and the draw of the appliances connected, a UPS can offer a few hours of back up. Usually long enough to ride out the shorter unexpected power cuts.

Don’t expect to run the oven off a UPS, if you’re hungry maybe break out the BBQ. However, a UPS can keep your security cameras going while the not so desirables are taking advantage of the outage. A UPS can also keep your internet going, nothing like a romantic night tucked up with your loved one binge watching your favourite show on your laptop by candle light right?

Generators, these can be handy in all sorts of emergencies. These were in high demand during cyclone Gabriel last year, they rely on access to either petrol or diesel. They can’t simply be plugged into the house and turned on, there are modifications to most houses required to use the generator to power the house, so if you’re looking into getting a generator for emergencies or power outages, give Roundhouse Electrical a call.

Generators come in a range of outputs, both in regards to how much power they create but also how ‘clean’ that power is. Some generators have large fluctuations when switching loads and sensitive equipment, like that little computer in your oven (everything has a computer these days) can get fried. For help selecting an appropriate generator, give Jamie a call and he will help sort you out.

If big enough, they can provide power for heating, cooking and TV. Generators can be noisy and could result in unwanted attention from your neighbours. They also produce fumes that are deadly if you’re running them inside (such as in an attached garage or alike) so consider how well ventilated the area you’re running the generator is.

Generators also have to be manually started and the power needs to be switched over to them. Running on petrol or diesel they rely on a resource that can be scarce and expensive in emergency situations and you could get caught out in the cold and wet having to re-fuel them.

Solar power, it’s all the rage at the moment and is the best way to uninterrupted power. There are many ways of connecting solar to the home, with different costs and outcomes. The three main systems are grid-tied systems, hybrid systems, and fully off-grid systems.

A grid-tied system powers your house while the panels are getting sunlight and any excess power generated is fed back to the grid and your power supplier will buy this power to offset your electricity costs. Unfortunately, with grid-tied, if the power goes out when the sun goes down; it’s bedtime bub. No sun=no power with a grid-tied system and with the grid supply down, you’ll be late for work. Your alarm clock won’t run (who uses those things these days anyway, use your phone. No excuse for being late now), and your EV won’t be charging either (heaps better excuse for being late, also you can laude over your boss that you have an EV).

A hybrid system is the next step up, as the name suggests it still grid-tied, but also has battery storage. So you can charge that EV and boil the jug even when the grid can’t supply to your neighbour.

With a completely off-grid system, you can say goodbye to monthly power bills. No mailbox needed for you now! All the excess power you generate during the day gets stored in a battery bank for use when the sun goes down.

Worried the power is going to go out next time you microwave your baked beans for breakie? Give Jamie at Roundhouse Electrical a call to discuss options so you don’t have to cook your beans over the fire in an oil drum.

Remember, for all electrical solutions ‘Round the House, call Roundhouse Electrical.