WFEC offers backup power backed by service
Like mosquitoes and humidity, thunderstorms and possible hurricanes are facts of life for northwest Floridans. But even if severe weather damages powerlines or other equipment involved in delivering your electric service, a backup generator from West Florida Electric Cooperative can ensure you’ll have a constant supply of power. With top-of-the-line equipment at a competitive price, backed by over 65 years’ experience in customer service, you can rely on having the best backup power available whenever you need it most.
Through an arrangement with Cowart Electric, of Valdosta, Ga. WFEC furnishes generators to meet any power need – from portable types for campers to PTO-driven models for farm use to stationary units for home, commercial or industrial use – with professional installation available "at cost." In-stock models include GEN-PRO portables ranging from 3 kilowatts to 9 kW; SENTRY-PRO 8 kW, 10 kW and 12 kW standby units; and a 25 kW PTO-driven model. The standby units feature automatic switchgear and self-testing. Other styles and sizes not in stock are available by order, and all are covered by a warranty.
In any generator purchase, a so-called bargain isn’t necessarily the best choice. Power quality and installation should be considered along with price. GEN-PRO and SENTRY-PRO generators create "clean" power with low harmonic distortion levels, averaging just 7 percent, to safely operate even voltage-sensitive equipment. In contrast, inferior brands often produce electric power with harmful harmonic distortion as high as 25 to 40 percent, which, over time, tends to destroy microprocessor-based electronics.
Proper sizing and professional installation contribute to efficient, safe generator operation. Through Cowart, WFEC can conduct a preliminary audit of your engineering, sizing and specification requirements to help you select an appropriate model for your home, business or facility. WFEC offers financing on all models at 15 percent interest for up to five years with approved credit and 20 percent down payment.
For additional information, log on to http://generators.wfeca.com.
For reliable standby power for their public water system’s well on Noland Street in Marianna, the City of Marianna chose a 175 kw Cummins unit from WFEC. "The price was very competitive, and it seemed like a real good product," said City Waste/Wastewater Division Superintendent Rick Harrell, shown above, at left, with Public Works Director Joseph Richey. "We’d had another brand generator that was not reliable at another site. It was a bad experience. I wouldn’t recommend it." Previously, the city purchased a 250 kw Cummins from WFEC for another municipal well.
A 13 kw Gillette standby generator from WFEC provides emergency power for office equipment at Shelton Trucking, based in Altha. "The thing I love about it is that, we’ve had two outages since we put it in, and I didn’t have to get up and drive 40 miles in the middle of the night to deal with that," said Shelton MIS Director Danny Exum. He contacted WFEC about a generator after trying an inferior product. "These cheap models just don’t do the job. They don’t have the sensitivity. I wouldn’t recommend them for an office environment," he said. "After talking to several other people out of Panama City, Tallahassee and Pensacola, we called West Florida Electric because it was local, the price was very competitive and we’re already customers. If I have a problem, I don’t have to wait two or three days for help."
For Carmen Hayes, of Bonifay, a backup source of electricity is an absolute necessity to ensure continuous operation of vital medical equipment for a quadriplegic household member. She purchased a 10 kw Gillette standby generator with automatic switchgear from WFEC because of "the security I understand I have from West Florida Electric," she said. "They’re the electrical people. I checked around at some other places, but I thought West Florida knew how to handle generators better, more professionally."
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