We aren’t ready for the lights to go out

This is a great article published in USAToday by Glenn Reynolds

Could it be lights out for America? That’s something that people are starting to worry about, and these worries aren’t coming solely from the usual crowd of survivalists and preppers. Shut down the computers that run the power plants and distribution systems and you shut down America. That’s looking more possible, lately.

One of those worrying is former ABC News anchor Ted Koppel, whose new book, Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath, looks at the danger of losing electrical power due to a cyberattack. The picture Koppel paints isn’t a pretty one: Cities, unpowered for weeks and months, could become largely uninhabitable.

But, says Koppel, nobody is thinking about this very clearly: “It would be comforting to report that those agencies charged with responding to disaster are adequately prepared to deal with the consequences of a cyberattack on the grid. They are not.”

In fact, he writes, they can’t even agree on what’s involved: “The deputy administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) believes that a major urban center would have to be evacuated. His boss, the administrator, does not. The administrator believes that a successful cyberattack on a power grid is possible, even likely. His deputy does not. The current secretary of homeland security is sure that a plan to deal with the aftermath of a cyberattack on the grid exists, but he doesn’t know any details of the plan. As of this writing, there is no specific plan.”

Well, that’s comforting, though not especially surprising: If the government flubs its response to natural disasters like Katrina or Sandy, when storms are a regular occurrence, how likely is it to deal well with something that hasn’t happened to the United States before?

Nor is a cyber-attack on the power grid just a fantasy. In fact, in Ukraine (which I fear is a laboratory for new warfare techniques the way Spain was in the 1930s), it’s already happened.

But will we take it as one? We should. Though the American power grid is reliable and well-designed, it wasn’t constructed with cyberattacks in mind.

We could protect against cyberattacks completely, of course, by simply taking computers out of the grid and controlling things manually. This is undoubtedly possible since we ran electrical networks before computers existed, but it would be costly and inefficient. And while that approach would protect against cyber attacks, it wouldn’t do much to insulate the grid from other threats, like electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks and solar flares that are also causes of concern.

Apparently, the White House is finally beginning to address the problem, but we’re years behind the curve. At the very least, we should have backup plans for restoring power if things go wrong. And beyond that, we should be designing networks that are more resistant to cyber sabotage. Because the world is unlikely to become a safer place anytime soon.

Glenn Harlan Reynolds, a University of Tennessee law professor, is the author of The New School: How the Information Age Will Save American Education from Itself, and a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors.

Colonial Generators – Customized Installation Trucks

This is a sneak peak at our customized mercedes installation trucks. The special trucks include a heavy duty hydraulic lift to allow us to quickly transport your generator from our warehouse to your home or office.  These trucks are capable of carrying up to 30kW sized generators so we can easily transport, deliver and install in one day.

Colonial Generators is the number 1 standby generator dealer of Cummins, Generac, Briggs & Stratton, and Kohler Generators.  We make the decision to purchase a generator easy – 0% financing, $0 down, and monthly payments starting at $125 or Buy it Now for $8999 installed.  No hidden fees or extras.  (844) 376-9374 for a free quote.

This is a simple tool to help figure out what size generator you should purchase. The image below is a standard PECO energy bill. The kW (kilowatt) section shows the general consumption. This bill shows a peak of approx. 1700 kWh. To power your entire home would require a 17-20 kW generator.

Of course you could get a smaller unit to power some but not all of your appliances. We can discuss that during a free evaluation at your home.

Schedule an appointment today at Colonial Generators – #colonialgenerators

Cummins Power Generation Liquid Cooled Gas Series

Just arrived in our warehouse – a brand new Cummins 50 kW.  This is going to be installed in a very large home in Villanova, PA.   This will power all lights, tv’s, heating and air conditioning, etc.  This is a whole house generator.  At this size it can be used for commercial properties as well.

• Extemely quiet operation
• Fully automatic operation
• Comes Cummins Power Generation automatic transfer panel
• Available for use with natural gas or LP
• Attractive and discreet sound attenuated housing
• Electronic governor for precise frequency control
• Includes 120 V coolant heater
• Aluminum enclosure available

Colonial Generators latest video about emergency power with standby generators.

Welcome to Colonial Generators.  We are a part of the Colonial Family of home services. As the region’s only Generator company that is authorized to sell, install, service and monitor Generac, Cummins, Briggs & Stratton and Kohler we pride ourselves on providing the best in class products and service.   The Colonial Family has installed products and services to over 1 million homes.  Each project is unique and each customer is special.

Over the years  we only focus on one thing – Quality. We carry only the best generators from Cummins, Generac, Briggs & Stratton and Kohler. Every Colonial Generator is meticulously quality-tested from start to finish. Our quality standards continue to our installation, service and monitoring departments. Excellence in training and customer service are a part of our core competence. Thank you for considering a Colonial home standby generator for your home or business.

Whole House Generators: Should You Buy One To Weather Future Storms?
Re-Printed from the Huffington Post, By Shelley Emling

The brutal force of Hurricane Sandy killed more than 100 people in 10 states, canceled nearly 20,000 flights, caused an estimated $50 billion in damage — and knocked out power to more than 8.5 million homes and businesses. The Nor’easter that just passed through added insult to injury.

“We’ve had to stay in a hotel because it’s just been too cold in our house,” said Lorraine Brundle, a retired teacher from New Jersey. “I had no idea we’d still be without power a week after this storm hit us.”

A lot of people in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania feel the same way. Seven days after the hurricane-turned-cyclone bore down on the East Coast, followed by the Nor’easter’s blanket of snow, many people are just getting electricity back. What’s worse? As the climate changes, many are wondering if power outages of the magnitude the country saw during Sandy — outages particularly dangerous for older people — will become more commonplace.

One solution, some experts say, is the whole house generator. Yes, they’re expensive — often costing as much as $15,000 — but they will kick in automatically in the event your house goes off the grid. As a result, they allow you to keep living normally until electricity is restored. With 3.5 million Americans left without power in any given week, these generators may be worth considering.

A loss of electricity can be particularly hard on older adults, who are susceptible to hypothermia — below normal body temperature — as well as hyperthermia — exceptionally high fever — during temperature extremes. A loss of power also can prevent older people from using relied-upon medical supplies such as nebulizers. In addition, a power outage can result in spoiled food and busted pipes — as well as no TV, phone and computer service — for all people.

So what should you know before looking into the purchase of a generator?

First, a standby generator looks akin to a capped central air-conditioning compressor, only a lot louder. A smaller 3,250-watt portable model might set you back about $300 to $400, while a 10,000-watt model might go for about $1,200. If you want the whole shebang — the whole house generator — a 20,000-watt model will cost you about $5,000 at Home Depot. Still other generators go for as much as $15,000 installed.

If you do want a generator with enough wattage to power your whole house, experts say a 3,000-square-foot home with an electric range might require as much as 25 to 30 kilowatts. If you want a generator that can power everything in your house, just not all at the same time, you might just need 20 kilowatts.

What else do you need to know?  Before you go shopping for a generator, decide what critical elements in your home you are trying to back up — things like refrigerators, freezers, and furnaces — because that will determine what you wind up buying. Don’t forget that most portable generators under 5,000 watts use a pull cord to start the engine. If this will be hard for you physically, you might want to consider a model with an electrical start.

Whole house generators operate with the use of fuels such as natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas. Permanent standby generators can be connected to your natural gas service or propane tanks can be put in to provide the fuel. Most people prefer generators with a built-in transfer switch so that you don’t have to turn the unit on by hand when and if your power goes out. Remember that installation will require a large space to place the unit, near the electrical service into the house.

Beyond the cost of the generator itself, you’ll need to hire a plumber to connect the unit to its fuel source, and an electrician to hook it into your house’s power supply. Both should be licensed and certified for the brand of equipment you are installing and familiar with local codes that govern such issues as how close the generator can be located to the house, and whether or not you need a permit. Also be sure to check with your utility company — some require approval before installation.