Learning from the Fallout of the Heathrow Fire
When Heathrow Airport suffered a major power outage recently, the effects were huge. Caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation, the disruption resulted in hundreds of cancelled flights and thousands of stranded passengers. While backup systems did allow for the safe landing of planes and evacuation of passengers, it wasn’t enough to keep things running as normal.
While your operations are probably not as complex as Heathrow’s, it does show that generator downtime can have a big, and costly, impact. So, what’s the solution? Working with a provider of generator hire services London businesses recommend!
Why Reliability Matters
Power outages can happen at any time, and most often they develop without warning. Whatever the cause, the result is always the same: an instant decision to business as usual. Having a reliable generator hire team that you can call at any time of day means that you can restore your power supply quickly. They’ll also be able to ensure that you have the right generator for your power demands. So, unlike Heathrow, where the backup power supply was only able to do the bare minimum, your needs will be met.
The Cost of Downtime
Even a short disruption to your normal operations can have a really damaging effect. When flights did resume, Heathrow had only been closed for 18 hours. The estimated cost of that downtime? £4.8 million in lost tourism revenue, with airlines and supplies losing £20 million. Now, we’re not saying that you can expect those kinds of costs – nowhere near in fact! But it does show that even a day of disruption can make a real dent in your finances.
Plus, a power outage can affect your reputation too, causing customers to take their business elsewhere. So, you could see some losses in the long term as well.
Regular Servicing
A generator requires professional care to keep it running at peak performance, and when you hire yours from a trusted company, you can be sure that it has been well looked after. A great generator company will invest in regular servicing for every model that they stock, so that they can be sure that they are ready to be dispatched to those who need them and will work perfectly as soon as they are set up.
Remote Monitoring
It’s not just a matter of setting up a generator and hoping for the best. Modern technology now allows for monitoring around the clock, so generator hire companies can track the performance of their stock in real-time. As a result, problems can be addressed before they start to develop into major issues that could see the generator stop working completely. Taking a proactive approach like this is always the best option.
Moving Forward
Heathrow’s recent issues are a great reminder that even the biggest organisations are at the mercy of their power supply. So, make sure that you don’t get caught out too, and familiarise yourself with a trusted local generator hire company.