Prepare the utility contact before an event
Keep the current utility’s outage-reporting method and service information in an accessible internal plan. Confirm which utility serves each location, especially in a portfolio. Do not rely on a supplier’s sales contact for emergency restoration. For immediate danger, use emergency services and the utility’s safety instructions. Stay away from damaged electrical infrastructure.
Prioritize safe shutdown and critical loads
Identify operations that cannot safely continue without power, including refrigeration, ventilation, communications or process controls as applicable. Assign responsibilities and maintain a safe shutdown plan. Backup equipment needs qualified design, installation and operation. Do not connect a generator or modify wiring based on a generic article. Follow manufacturer, utility and emergency guidance.
Document the business interruption
Record the event period, affected equipment and operational consequences. Keep internal records needed for insurance or continuity review, without assuming that the utility or supplier will reimburse a loss. Restoration estimates can change. Communicate realistic information to staff and customers and avoid promising a return time that the utility has not confirmed.
Review after service returns
Follow a safe restart sequence and inspect equipment where qualified personnel advise it. Consider what the event revealed about critical loads and communication gaps. Compare the cost and suitability of resilience improvements separately from energy-price shopping. If a bill or meter issue follows the event, document it and ask the utility for an explanation.
A practical example
Illustrative explanation, not a customer outcome.
A fixed electricity supply price does not compensate for an interrupted production shift. Evaluate the supply agreement, insurance and continuity arrangements as separate documents rather than assume one solves all three risks.
Put the review into practice
| Review step | What to record |
|---|---|
| Define the objective | Separate procurement, consumption, resilience and capital needs. |
| Collect the baseline | Document quantities, operations and the relevant agreements. |
| Test practical cases | Include costs, constraints and a less favorable outcome. |
| Assign responsibility | Record who approves, monitors and maintains the plan. |
Questions worth asking
Will a supplier switch prevent outages?
No. A normal supplier switch does not replace local delivery infrastructure.
Can a solar installation operate during an outage?
Only if the installed design and approved controls support that function. Do not assume ordinary grid-connected generation provides backup.
Continue the comparison
Sources and scope
Reviewed October 15, 2026. Follow the source’s own data period, effective dates and current terms. Examples are hypothetical unless expressly identified as a dated published result. A source is context, not a guarantee of eligibility or a product endorsement.