If your business requires standby electric generation to ensure vital production or service performance, you know the daily reality: constant maintenance of your backup system in the hope that it will perform when you need it.

For most of the year, however, the only thing your backup system generates is a stream of operational and maintenance expenses.

PGE’s Dispatchable Standby Generation program puts your standby generators to work for up to 400 hours annually to meet peak power demands — and PGE picks up all your maintenance and fuel expenses. Your generator is always available to backup your facility and will operate synchronized and in parallel with PGE power so there is no service interruption.

• Upgrade switchgear and install control and communications hardware at no charge, increasing reliability and improving control of your system.
• Assume all maintenance and operation costs for your system, eliminating your costs for fuel, repairs, tune-ups, oil changes, filter replacements and overhauls.
• Provide additional sound attenuation, if needed, quieting the generator system.
• Provide additional fuel storage, if needed, expanding your operating time during those weather-related, long-term power outages.
• Test your system at least once a month under full load; frequent full-load testing ensures the generator will operate successfully during an outage and is better for the engine.

A powerful network
PGE equips your standby generator with paralleling switchgear, allowing the unit to be operated in synchronization with the electric distribution system. Qualifying commercial and industrial customers (those with standby generators of 250 kilowatts and up) are networked with PGE’s communications and power control system. The standby units can be monitored and dispatched from PGE’s control center.

In case of an outage, the standby generator functions as it normally would, providing backup power to your facility for the duration of the outage. However, when power returns to the grid, your facility moves back to utility power without additional interruption.

Program participants pay standard electric rates for power used, regardless of where it’s being generated. PGE pays all the fuel costs for the standby generators, even during an outage, adding to the operational savings.

So how does this work?
Read our FAQ, which answers common questions about how the program works, why PGE is offering the DSG program and how your business can take advantage of this savings opportunity.

Unleash the full potential of your standby generator
Interested? At your request, we will provide a detailed analysis and proposal tailored to your business requirements. Please contact your PGE representative or e-mail us. You may also call Mark Osborn, DSG program manager, at 503-464-8347.

If you are considering purchasing a new generator or upgrading to a larger system of backup generation, PGE provides convenient financing on request. Financing can be added to your monthly electric bill.