Recent wildfires across Texas including the enormous Bastrop fire caused lengthy power outages because poles supporting miles of power lines burned in the fires. So, thousands of homes which were untouched by the fires lost their electrical power. In many cases, the power was out for weeks, and others are still waiting to see their power restored. We often take electrical power for granted, but the grid is continually being interrupted for a variety of reasons, including storms, fires, ice buildup, falling tree limbs, and nearby construction projects. And heavy air conditioning use during the hottest parts of the summer can overload the grid, resulting in regional blackouts. Parts of Dallas experienced a four-hour blackout this last summer when temperatures reached 108 in the shade. Needless to say, this was not a good day to go without air conditioning.

A lengthy power outage can ruin the contents of your refrigerator and make your home extremely uncomfortable during a hot summer or a cold winter, but if you live in a rural area and have a well, a loss of power can also leave you without water. Of course, this can be disastrous if the power outage is caused by a nearby wildfire. During a lengthy outage, backup power for your computer will fail and your electronic security systems can also become disabled, leaving your home without sufficient security.

If you’ve considered or experienced some of these conditions, and would like to make your home or business more secure, an automatic backup generator can relieve many of your concerns. The backup emergency generators we install operate on clean-burning natural gas or propane, and start automatically in seconds when a power outage is detected. These generators have the power to keep your home running normally during a lengthy power outage.

If you would like more information and a professional quote, please call Bryant Electric Service at 512-402-8587. We’ve installed many generators in Austin and in Central Texas, and can recommend the right size unit for your needs.

We’ve begun installing chargers for electric cars in Los Angeles – thus my new interest in electric cars. Interest in electric cars (electric vehicles or EVs) is picking up because the Nissan Leaf just began deliveries in L.A. in December and the Chevy Volt is supposed to start deliveries early this year. Los Angeles buyers are starting to install electric chargers for these vehicles, and I’m starting to learn a lot more about EVs.

Of course, as someone who installs chargers for electric cars, I’m interested in how many will be sold in Los Angeles. Sorry folks, no one really knows. Forecasts are all over the board. Pike Research, a transportation analysis firm, just projected in early 2011 that in the next six years, between 2011 and 2017, over 96,000 electric vehicles will be sold in Los Angeles. It projects that Los Angeles purchases will be second highest in the country, trailing only New York City. Its overall projection is 366,000 EVs  sold nationwide by 2017.

Another study in 2009 by the University of California, Berkeley (Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology) projected that the U.S. will hit 1,000,000 EVs sold by 2017. This is still far lower than President Obama’s call for 1,000,000 by 2015, which many analysts consider realistic.

Why are the projections so different? The U.C. study explains. It mostly depends on the price of gasoline. For example, if gas prices continue at about $3.50 a gallon, U.C. forecasts only 18% of new car sales will be electric in 2020. But if gas prices rise to about $5.50 a gallon, the forecast rises to 45% of new car sales in 2020. Of course, experience tells us that gas prices move up and down very quickly and unexpectedly, often depending on events in the volatile Middle East.

The safest statement one can make about electric cars sales in Los Angeles is that they’re starting in a big way now and will continue to increase over the coming years. Another safe statement – buying an electric car and installing a charger is going to protect you from the wild ups and downs of gas prices, something no one can predict.

If you have bought or are thinking of buying a new electric car,  click her for more about what’s involved in installation of a charger for your EV.

Within the great state of Minnesota, professionals are required to have electrical licensed in order to install electrical wiring. Professionals are given these licenses after they have demonstrated that they understand the National Electrical Code (NEC). The Minnesota standard protects both you and the electrical professional. With knowledge of wiring, you get an electrical system that works and does not threaten your family’s safety. On the other hand, the electrician can safely install electrical wiring without jeopardizing his or her life.

Another important aspect you should consider is whether your licensed electrician has a positive attitude. Although having a positive attitude may seem irrelevant, it is not. A positive attitude will help your licensed electrician come to you whenever there is a problem. It will also make him or her feel comfortable addressing questions or concerns you have about your electrical system. When you hire a licensed electrician with a good positive attitude, you can rest assured knowing that his or her wiring is sound.

One of the complaints many homeowners make about searching for an electrician is the process of comparing quotes. In many cases, professional electricians offer quotes that are exactly clear, which may prevent homeowners from making a great comparison. To avoid this problem, homeowners must get quotes that detail the specifics of the work. Without doing so, you could get a quote that is higher, yet offers more, that you reject. Once you have all the quotes you need, make sure the electrician you choose is competitively priced.