JPSCo power outages spur generator sales

By Donna Ortega, News Editor

SALES of stand-by generators have risen in the past several months as homeowners and business persons alike have opted to make the investment to prepare themselves for emergencies.

And at least one consultant is having talks with larger companies to develop co-generation facilities.

Against the background of the intensive power outages that have plagued the island since February this year, suppliers told the Financial Gleaner that they had observed "a lot of demand for generators" over the past several months.

"We saw an increase in enquiries for generators in the early part of the year," confirmed Mrs. Roni Miller-Brown, marketing assistance at Appliance Traders.

Sales have not been restricted to commercial clients as homeowners have also been buying generators, she said, though she declined to give further details.

One salesman noted that factories and large business operations who, faced with the need to keep production going, could not afford to be out of power and were turning to generators to offset power outages. Generators that can run upwards of eight hours and those with the capacity to run continuously in the absence of regular power supply, often proved to be good investments. "There is much to be gained in generators," he said.

Mr. Desmond Duval of Gibson Energy Limited, part of the Gibson Group, said that residential units were a small part of their business and stocked F.G. Wilson and Filippini USA generators for such use.

However, Gibson is currently having discussions with several factories, especially sugar companies and others, "to see how we can work with them," he said.

Gibson which offers services in consultancy, co-generation and power plants, operation and maintenance and project development, is being asked to do a complete energy audit of these companies and to look at setting up co-generation plants. Engineers from Wartsila Diesel Generators and Power Plants, which Gibson represents, are expected to arrive in Jamaica shortly to assist the process.

The noisy diesel generator or the petroleum gas generator that 'trips' in during a power cut, regardless of brand, has been dubbed with the name "Delco" by the average Jamaican. Yet there are several makes that vary in output and price according to the particular household or industry need.

One supplier explained that for residential use 3-6 kilo volt amps (KVA) would run a typical household's lights and appliances, with home air-conditioning units requiring 6 KVA. Prices vary but the 3 KVA unit could cost about $45,000 with the 6 KVA unit being in the region of $80,000. Industrial generators for commercial purposes ranging from 100 KVA to 1000 KVA start at a low of $45,000 for 100 KVA and run up to $2 million for 1000 KVA.

Appliance traders are dealers in Onan generators for industrial applications and Honda generators that are suited to smaller applications such as household needs.

A generator, complete with fuel tank and providing up to 2000 watts with 110 and 220 volts outlets, for a small house could cost in the region of $52,000.

One advertisement placed in The Gleaner this week, promoted reconditioned Homelite Briggs & Stratton engine generators, 440 watts, 8 HP, for upwards of $30,000.

Quietness comes at a cost as well. With a sound attenuator the level of noise can be controlled. The manufacturer either builds a housing around the generator or a sound proof house can be constructed for the generator.

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