NORTH AURORA, Ill. (WBBM Newsradio) – Strong summer storms and power outages have more homeowners looking to install generators, keeping crews at Tully Electric busy as they work to meet demand.
“We had three tornadoes in our service area this year and so that really ramped up people's feeling of vulnerability and insecurity,” said owner Roger Tully. “That led to probably the best demand we’ve seen in years.”
For homeowners considering backup power, Tully said a starting point is deciding which appliances and household systems they need to keep running during an outage. Air conditioning can be a major factor in determining the size of a generator because of how much electricity it requires.
A whole-house generator is not the only option. Depending on a household’s needs, battery storage or a battery backup for a sump pump may be worth considering.
“They might just get some battery storage or a battery sump pump,” Tully said.
He also pointed to differences in local electrical infrastructure. In neighborhoods with overhead power lines, falling trees can pose a threat that buried lines do not face in the same way.
For people who already own generators, Tully said preparation includes checking that the equipment is ready to operate.
“Don’t just put it in there and assume everything’s fine,” he said. “They have little indicator lights on them.”
Monitoring systems that provide updates through a phone app can also help owners keep track of their generator’s status, he said.
