
When the power goes out, life doesn’t pause — but your comfort, safety, and routine can take a serious hit. Power outages are unpredictable and often come with added stress, lost time, and unexpected expenses. Whether it’s due to severe weather, grid failure, or rolling blackouts, being left without electricity can impact your household in big ways.
That’s why having a reliable backup power solution, like a generator, is a smart move for homeowners, and even small business owners. In this blog, we’ll break down the top reasons why you need a generator — from protecting your food & electronics, to enjoying freedom and versatile benefits you might not expect.
Get Prepared With A Generator ->
When the power goes out, a generator keeps your lights on and your essential appliances running. You won’t have to fumble in the dark, wait for utility crews, or rearrange your schedule. With a reliable backup power source, you can maintain a sense of normalcy even when the grid goes down.
According to the EIA, the average home in the U.S. experiences 6 hours of power interruptions per year. Outage length can depend on many factors like the location and severity of a storms, time to repair, and total damage in the area. But when outages stretch beyond a few hours, families may be forced to seek temporary solutions—like staying in a hotel or eating out—which can quickly add up. A single night in a hotel can cost $100 to $200 or more, and dining out for every meal can easily exceed $75 per day for a family of four, making extended outages not just inconvenient, but expensive.

Extended outages can lead to spoiled food, which adds up to wasted money. Polling has indicated the average American household has an average of $250 to $500 worth of food in the refrigerator and freezer at any given time.
A generator keeps your cold storage running, preserving your groceries and giving you one less thing to worry about during a power interruption.
Whether it’s freezing cold or blistering hot outside, losing power can quickly make your home uncomfortable or even unsafe. A generator can power your HVAC system, space heaters, or fans so you can maintain a safe and livable temperature indoors, no matter what’s happening outside.
For households with someone who relies on electrically powered medical equipment, a power outage isn’t just an inconvenience—it can be dangerous or even life-threatening. Without power, essential devices like oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, or refrigerated medications may stop functioning, potentially leading to medical emergencies.
In such cases, emergency services may be required, and the costs can add up fast—the average ambulance ride runs $1,481 for basic life support (BLS) and $1,613 for advanced life support (ALS), with additional charges depending on mileage, level of care, and location.
And that’s just the beginning—if the situation leads to hospitalization, patients can expect to pay an average of $3,132 per day for a hospital stay.
A generator offers peace of mind by providing critical backup power, helping ensure that vital medical equipment continues running when it matters most.
More people than ever rely on a stable internet connection and charged devices to work from home. A power outage during the workday can disrupt meetings, deadlines, and productivity. With a generator, you can keep your router, computer, and other office essentials powered — and your workflow uninterrupted, saving you from taking paid time off.
Stay Powered With A Generator ->
From smartphones to tablets and laptops, we rely on devices to communicate, get updates, and stay in touch. A generator lets you keep those devices charged and online, even if the outage stretches into days. It’s not just about convenience — it’s about staying informed and connected when it matters most.
Severe weather can hit without warning, bringing down power lines or flooding substations. Knowing you have a generator gives you peace of mind. You’ll be prepared, protected, and ready to ride out whatever nature throws your way without scrambling for last-minute solutions.
Your home security system is only effective when it has power. During outages, a generator can keep your cameras, alarms, and monitoring systems active — protecting your home from more than just the elements. It’s an extra layer of safety and reassurance when the unexpected happens.
After extreme weather there is often the need to clean up and repair your home, property, or neighborhood. From running electric saws to charging tools, a generator brings versatility and convenience, allowing you to tackle tasks wherever they arise without being tied to the grid.
Having a generator for your home means you’ll be up and running when the power goes out. This allows you to be the gathering place for family, friends, and loved ones during times of uncertainty. Nothing is better than knowing that you can help provide and care for those in need. A generator not only allows you certainty of power, cost savings, and peace of mind – it also allows you to extend these benefits to those you care about.
A generator does more than restore power — it restores control. Whether you’re facing an emergency or simply want the freedom of knowing your home is off-grid ready, having a generator gives you the flexibility, safety, and peace of mind to handle whatever comes your way.
Want to be prepared? Contact Shipley Energy to learn more about which generator is right for your home or business needs.