The Weather Channel released its first 2013 Atlantic hurricane season outlook on April 8, 2012, calling for another active season.

The forecast calls for a total of 16 named storms, 9 of which are expected to become hurricanes, including 5 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale). 

These forecast numbers are above the long-term average from 1950-2012 (12 named storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 major hurricanes) and slightly above the averages for the current active era from 1995-2012 (15 named storms, 8 hurricanes, 4 major hurricanes).

Three straight Atlantic hurricane seasons have had 19 storms.  Only seven Atlantic seasons have had more hurricanes than last season's 10 hurricanes.  Among the four U.S. landfalls were the most intense tropical cyclone to make a U.S. landfall prior to June 1 (Tropical Storm Beryl), a soaking Tropical Storm Debby, a painfully slow Hurricane Isaac, and one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history, Superstorm Sandy. (Sandy became a "post-tropical" system shortly before landfall.)

UPDATE: Colorado State University (CSU) released it's forecast for the 2013 hurricane season on April 10, 2012. Similar to The Weather Channel forecast, CSU expects an above-average hurricane season. The team is predicting a total of 18 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher).

Don't be caught in the dark again... Call Standby Energy Solutions and get your standby home generator installed today.

There are two main considerations when determining the value of a standby generator

1.     Estimate the cost savings you incur during an extended power outage
 a.     The cost of replacing the contents of the refrigerator and freezer
Estimated food value in a standard refrigerator and freezer: $650

 b.     The cost of staying in a hotel
5 nights at $199 per night: $995

 c.      The cost of being out of business for a few days (for people who work out of the home.)
Depends on the individuals business

 d.     The cost of frozen pipes (plumbing repairs plus water damage cleanup) 
  e.     The cost of damage due to failed sump pumps
Per floodsmart.gov, the damage cost for getting 6 inches of water in a 2,000 square foot home is over $39,000
(Note: These costs can vary from state to state and from home to home.)

2.     What is the value added to your home for resale?
 Per the Remodeling Cost vs Value Report 2011-12 (www.costvsvalue.com), the home owner in the New York Metro area can expect to add $9,700 to the value of their home with the installation of a whole house standby generator.

In most cases the cost of a standby generator will pale in comparison to the cost savings for the untold number of outages you will experience over the life of the generator and the added value to your home.

Extended power outages have become a normal occurrence in the New Jersey area. In a 14 month period, New Jersey had 3 major storms that left millions without power.

Hurricane Irene; August 2011 - Left over 1.4 million homes without power
Halloween Snow Storm: October 2011 - Left over 600 thousand homes without power
Hurricane Sandy: October 2012 - Left over 2.7 million homes without power

Many people were left without power for weeks.  The real costs of displacement, damage to you home, food loss along with the cost your inconvenience and peace of mind make the purchase of a Standby Generator a smart investment for the inevitable next big storm.

The American Society of Civil Engineers just released their 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. The electrical grid received a D+. (www.infrastructurereportcard.org) 
“America relies on an aging electrical grid and pipeline distribution systems, some of which originated in the 1800s.  Investment in power transmission has increased since 2005, but ongoing permitting issues, weather events, and limited maintenance have contributed to an increasing number of failures and power interruptions.”

The aging electrical grid along with the increased number of severe storms that we continue to have are making the next power outage inevitable.  Standby generators are becoming a necessity for everyone versus an insurance luxury for the wealthy. A standby generator provides 24/7 automatic power protection.  Power outages don’t always occur at the most convenient times.  An outage in the middle of the night can lead to confusion and a scramble to find flashlights and candles.  If it happens while you are away, it can leave your home vulnerable to flooding with no sump pumps or frozen pipes, a down alarm system that can attract burglars and a refrigerator full of spoiled food. Regardless if you are asleep in bed or away on a trip, you know that your home and family are always protected and safe with a standby generator from Standby Energy Solutions.