Our team of generator experts and factory-trained technicians have seen just about every backup power scenario. Here is where we’ve assembled our knowledge to answer your questions and guide you to solutions.
Backup Generator Planning & Safety
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English.
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English.
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English.
If your facility runs more than one brand of commercial generator, you already know the headache: the company that sold you your Blue Star unit may not touch your Gillette, and the dealer who commissioned your Rehlko system might not want anything to do with either. So who actually provides commercial generator service in the […]
Here’s the part most facility managers miss: the blackout isn’t what quietly destroys your equipment. The brownout is. A blackout trips everything off, and your team knows immediately that something is wrong. A brownout doesn’t announce itself. The lights dim slightly, the motors keep spinning, the drives keep running, and everyone keeps working while low […]
The backup generator behind your building is supposed to be the thing you never have to think about. Then an air-district notice arrives, and suddenly you’re wondering whether that generator was ever permitted, how many hours it has run this year, and where the operating logs are. If you assumed your emergency unit was “grandfathered […]
How often does the power actually go out in Northern California, and how bad is it getting? Most facility managers can name the outage that hurt them, but few have the regional numbers to plan around. This is the Northern California power outage statistics report for 2026: a plain-English synthesis of public grid data covering […]
For most businesses, a backup generator is insurance against a rare bad day. For a data center, that framing is dangerous. That’s why data center backup generator service in California demands a fundamentally different discipline. A generator that keeps a retail location running during a two-hour outage is doing its job. A generator protecting a […]
Most facilities managers test their generators on a regular schedule and assume the backup power system is ready. It’s a reasonable assumption, except the generator is only half the system. Automatic transfer switch inspection in California is the maintenance step most programs quietly skip, and it’s the reason some buildings go dark even when the […]
At CD & Power, giving back holds real weight and keeps us grounded in the community we serve. When a youth maritime nonprofit reached out for help, we saw an opportunity to use our strengths where they mattered. Giving Back to the Next Generation An email arrived in our support inbox from a nonprofit running […]
Photo credit, CuriOdyssey In early 2023, Coyote Point Recreation Area, nestled close to the San Francisco Airport, faced the wrath of winter storms that drenched the grounds and unleashed powerful gusts of wind. The aftermath was devastating, with approximately 200 eucalyptus trees toppling due to saturated soil, one striking a crucial transformer. The result? A […]
In the aftermath of recent natural disasters, it’s become clear that power outages threaten facilities across California, including fire departments. The South Placer Fire District in Granite Bay, CA, recognized the risk and concluded that all of their fire facilities needed backup generators to ensure their readiness. That is where CD & Power was asked […]
Fuel consumption depends upon the size of your generator and the load placed on it. To estimate fuel consumption, visit our generator sizing calculator
Generators and trucks are complex pieces of equipment. The problem with your equipment may be as simple as a rodent nesting inside of it has chewed through a wire. Or, something more challenging to diagnose may be going on.
As emissions restrictions have escalated, manufacturers have incorporated sophisticated electronics to control emissions output. In order to assess any problem that you are having with your equipment, we must thoroughly evaluate it, often with the aid of electronic diagnostic tools.
Periodic load bank testing is critical to ensuring that your generator is ready to perform when needed. Load bank testing is a process by which we run a generator with a real load on it (as if it was being relied upon to generate power — not simply idle). Load bank testing allows your generator to burn off carbon that builds up in the cylinders so it doesn’t bog down when it is actually needed. Depending upon your generator size and type, periodic load bank testing may be required. More information about load bank testing.
PTO stands for Permit to Operate. It is required to legally install and use your backup generator that is over 50hp. This type of permit is issued by your regional air quality management organization.
Both portable and stationary backup generators over 50hp are subject to emissions regulation. Regional air quality management, counties, fire protection, and local municipalities may all have authority in your area to govern your generator use. For help with specific regulations in your area, contact us and ask for our compliance department.
Depending upon the size and intended use of your generator, you may have strict limits on the number of hours you can operate your generator each year. Regulations are intended to manage air quality. Review the operating conditions for restrictions.
In order to make sure that your standby generator is functioning properly and ready to operate when a power failure occurs, it should be exercised with a load periodically. How often you can run your generator for this purpose is regulated by the air quality management authority. Contact us and ask for our compliance department for assistance
A Notice of Violation (NOV) is a formal finding that your equipment is out of compliance with a specific air quality regulation. It is one of the most serious common Air District notices. An NOV may result in fines and typically requires a written response, often including a corrective action plan submitted by a specific deadline.
Ignoring a compliance order can escalate the problem. Once the correction deadline passes, the district may issue fines, upgrade the matter to a Notice of Violation, or pursue civil or criminal enforcement. In some cases, the district may order the equipment to be shut down until compliance is demonstrated. Responding on time, even partially, is better than not responding.
Under California’s Airborne Toxic Control Measure for stationary engines, an emergency standby generator may be operated for up to 50 hours per year for non-emergency maintenance and testing, as set out in Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 93115.6. Some districts allow up to 100 hours per year for engines meeting low-emission criteria. Operation during a genuine emergency, such as a Public Safety Power Shutoff event, does not count against that limit, but every hour must still be logged.
Generally, yes. Stationary engines rated at 50 brake horsepower or greater may require a Permit to Operate from the local air district. The permit sets your conditions of operation, including applicable annual hour limits, and must be kept current. Smaller engines may be exempt, but you should confirm the requirements with your local air district rather than assume.
We are experts in backup power. Our factory-trained technicians are truly some of the best in the country. We…
No, but we do act as a broker and can assist with selling. We have a large network of customers and industry connections to whom we promote generators for sale. Contact us so we can determine if your generator is a good candidate for our sales channel. Due to the challenges meeting air quality requirements, most older generator resources have to be sold out of state or out of the country.
Yes. We broker used generators, so often have a number of units available for sale. Contact us for details.
Yes. We sell both stationary and portable generators. As partners with brands like MultiQuip and Taylor, we are able to offer the best commercial-grade portable generators at competitive prices.
Yes, we have a fleet of over 100 generators available to rent. Our inventory ranges in size from 10 KW to 1 MW and we offer both long term and short term rentals. Visit our rental page for more information.
RemoteGP is our remote monitoring and reporting solution that makes producing necessary regulatory compliance reports easier and allows technicians (ours and yours) to monitor a variety of operating variables (alarm conditions, fuel level, etc.) from any internet-connected computer. It consists of a GPS-enabled device attached to each monitored piece of equipment and a private customer portal. For more information, visit our RemoteGP page.
Yes and no. Our technicians are factory trained to service and maintain engines or pumps and other types of industrial equipment. Contact us so we can discuss your needs.
Yes. Our technicians are trained to maintain and service automatic transfer switches (we sell them too).
Yes. We rent all of the necessary equipment to get up and running with backup power, including transfer switches, distribution panels, cables and cable ramps, and spider boxes.
No. We only perform work in our shop (trucks, RVs, other portable equipment and engines) at our Martinez headquarters.
We offer 24/7 emergency service 365 days per year. Our customers are always guaranteed to talk with a staff member live in the event of an emergency. We keep technicians on call, so we can mobilize a response to your service need or outage quickly. Overall response time depends upon your location and needs.
We service all major generator brands including Gillette, Honda, Kohler, MultiQuip,Taylor Power Systems, Cummins, Cat and Generac. From our Martinez facility, we also work on major trucks including International, Ford, Volvo Penta, John Deere, and Isuzu, and Engine Brands Volvo Penta, John Deere, Isuzu, and Deutz.
No. But we service major RV generator brands including Onan and Honda.
New Day for Children is a nationally recognized faith based charity 501-(c)3 that seeks to restore the stolen childhood of recovered sexually trafficked children. We raise and provide financial support for restorative care, providing a safe and secure living environment, school tuition, therapy, medical, dental and vision care, equine therapy, and other essential needs.
Our mission is to provide dream room makeovers to children with life-threatening illnesses. Our purpose is to surround these children with love and co-create the space of their dreams, may it be their bedroom, playroom or other refuge away from all the medical tests and treatments they must endure at the hospital. We are about bringing hope and joy to seriously ill children as they literally fight for their lives. These spaces are very personal and are built to represent the child’s unique personality, filled with everything that is meaningful to our Rooms of Hope children.
The New Life Dream Center discipleship program is structured as a four (4) level Christ centered program. Each potential disciple goes through an intense intake/interview process. The Levels Program is designed to give unique opportunities to disciples based on their behaviors and attitudes. This method provides the disciple with an understanding that the choices they make directly affects the benefits and rewards they receive in life. Those not interested in progressing forward with healthy positive choices will not reap the benefits and privileges that accompany positive choices. All disciples enter the program at Level One (1). They have an opportunity to move forward to greater rewards and responsibilities or regress to fewer privileges and less responsibility.
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations. Shoe boxes are packed and sent to kids all over the world. Packed with tangible items of necessity and fun.
Our mission at Operation Creekside is dedicated to providing comfort and support to families who have tragically lost their loved ones to military suicide. As a well-established non-profit organization with a 15-year history of serving troops and veterans, our focus has shifted to addressing the needs of these grieving families.
One Warm Coat is a national cloud-based nonprofit organization that provides free coats to children and adults in need while promoting volunteerism and environmental sustainability.
We are focused on nourishing our neighbors today and advocating for a hunger-free tomorrow.
We welcome you to Options Health. Our facility is a non-profit organization serving individuals and their families who come seeking help in decisions about pregnancy, sexual health, and parenting.
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