The 2 A.M. Generator Problem

It’s 2 A.M. The power goes out, the building switches to emergency power—and something isn’t right.

Maybe the generator doesn’t start. Maybe it starts but shuts down a few minutes later. Maybe an alarm appears, or the fuel level is dropping faster than expected. Whatever the issue, there’s one major complication: nobody from management is onsite.

This is exactly why emergency power planning needs to cover more than simply having a generator.

What Should Happen When the Power Goes Out?

When utility power is lost, an automatic transfer switch (ATS) is designed to detect the outage and transfer designated electrical loads to generator power. In a properly functioning system, much of this happens automatically.

But automatic doesn’t mean problem-proof.

Low fuel, battery problems, coolant issues, equipment faults or other conditions can prevent a generator from starting or cause it to shut down. If that happens overnight, the response depends on whether the right people know about the problem—and know what to do next.

Have an After-Hours Plan Before You Need One

Facility and property managers should be able to answer a few basic questions before an outage occurs:

– Who receives generator alarms after hours? Remote monitoring or building management systems may provide alerts, but someone needs to be responsible for responding to them.

– Who has access to the generator? Make sure designated personnel can access generator rooms, gates, rooftops or other secured equipment areas after hours.

– Who is the first call? Keep generator service, electrician, fuel supplier and other emergency contact information readily available rather than buried in an office computer.

– How much fuel is available? Fuel consumption changes based on generator size and electrical load, so facilities should understand their approximate runtime and have a refueling plan.

– What happens if the generator cannot be repaired quickly? For critical facilities, knowing how a temporary rental generator could be delivered and connected can save valuable time during an extended outage.

Regular generator exercising and preventive maintenance are also important. Testing the system periodically can uncover weak batteries, starting problems, leaks, alarms and other issues before an actual outage puts the equipment to the test.

Preparation Matters More at 2 A.M.

During normal business hours, finding a key, calling a vendor or getting approval may only take a few minutes. Overnight, those same steps can turn into hours of unnecessary downtime.

A simple after-hours response plan—including updated contacts, access instructions, fuel information, alarm procedures and emergency service numbers—can make a major difference.

Generator emergencies don’t follow a business schedule. At 2 A.M., the best emergency plan is the one that’s already in place.