PacB Group // Sometimes, it Makes More Sense to Only Hire a Generator

Articles

Sometimes, it Makes More Sense to Only Hire a Generator

One thing is certain. In South Africa, whether they choose to purchase one outright or to hire it, access to an electrical generator has now become an option that more and more people are being forced to rely upon. While in the early days of Eskom’s load shedding policy, when it was limited to domestic consumers and stage one and two outages, most of those affected would generally not have been too badly inconvenienced by an occasional hour or two of darkness. Nevertheless, even then, most industrial plants and many commercial establishments were already finding it necessary to make provision for dealing with mains outages resulting from lightning strikes and occasional infrastructure failures.

Today, however, the situation has taken a turn for the worse, and the recent escalation to stage four load shedding has prompted many more companies to either buy or hire a backup generator for use while these emergency power-saving measures persist. Without such precautions, many businesses would be unable to function, while essential services, such as healthcare, could be placing the lives of seriously ill patients at risk if unable to power life-sustaining equipment, such as respirators and cardiac bypass machines, and would be compelled to close down their operating theatres. Though, perhaps less serious, schools, libraries, and other public services would also come to a standstill.

One of the biggest obstacles to acquiring a backup power supply can often be the cost, especially when the power requirements may be on the high side. It is fortunate, therefore, that some suppliers now offer their clients the option to hire a generator rather than buy one. Instead of a capital purchase, the user is able to spread the cost over the months, and meet it from the regular operating budget. This, however, is not the only advantage offered by hiring a unit as opposed to purchasing.

When it is intended for industrial use, a purchased product will typically carry a warranty of between two and five, during which time the cost of any necessary repairs or a replacement product is borne by the manufacturer, providing the equipment has been used in full compliance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Accidental damage or damage resulting from misuse or occurring after the expiry of the warranty will be for the account of the purchaser. If, instead, one chooses to hire a generator, any repairs and replacements will normally remain the responsibility of the supplier throughout the duration of the agreement, a benefit that could also result in substantial savings over time.

Of course, securing a machine purely for backup purposes can often mean that it might spend a fair proportion of its time idle, and hence, a purchase may seem less justified. This, not the only reason a user may resort to hiring. For example, in businesses that are often required to operate in locations remote from a suitable mains supply, such as construction, the need for a portable power supply can occur from time to time, although it may only be necessary to a given project for a few weeks.

This is precisely the sort of situation in which it is clearly more cost-effective to avoid the cost of ownership and simply hire a suitable generator for the period it will actually be required. In this instance, a trailer-mounted unit could provide the hirer with a readily transportable product that would be ideal for use in this type of temporary, off-the-grid application.

Naturally, a quality product and reliable, expert support are essentials, whether one is buying or simply renting the equipment and, especially where there may be specialised requirements, locating a supplier with a design and manufacturing facility is clearly a must. Ticking these boxes and many more, PacB Group is widely respected by South Africans wishing to purchase or hire a world-class generator.