Commercial Generator Systems

The Tampa Bay area is one of the most lightning-prone regions in the United States, with an average of 80 to 100 thunderstorm days per year. Combined with the annual threat of tropical storms and hurricanes from June through November, power outages are not a question of if but when. For commercial operations, even a brief power interruption can result in lost revenue, spoiled inventory, data loss, security vulnerabilities, and liability concerns.

Restaurants and food service businesses face immediate losses when refrigeration fails, with the Florida Department of Health requiring disposal of potentially hazardous foods held above 41 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four hours. Medical and dental offices risk patient safety and data integrity when power is lost. Retail stores lose sales and security system coverage. Office-based businesses experience productivity losses and potential data corruption. Warehouses with temperature-sensitive inventory can lose entire shipments worth tens of thousands of dollars.

A commercial generator system eliminates these risks by automatically providing backup power within seconds of a utility outage. Modern commercial generators from manufacturers like Generac, Kohler, Cummins, and Caterpillar are engineered for reliable, long-duration operation and can power your critical systems for as long as fuel is available, whether that means hours during a thunderstorm or days during a major hurricane.

The automatic transfer switch (ATS) is the brain of your commercial backup power system, responsible for monitoring utility power quality, initiating generator startup, transferring electrical loads between utility and generator, and returning to utility power when the outage ends. The ATS selection is as important as the generator itself, and Ranch and Coast Electric installs only commercial-grade transfer switches from ASCO, Generac, Kohler, and Eaton that meet the demands of Florida commercial environments.

For commercial applications, we typically install service-entrance-rated automatic transfer switches that are listed for use as the main disconnecting means per NEC Article 700 and NFPA 110. These switches are available in open-transition and closed-transition configurations. Open-transition switches briefly interrupt power during the transfer, resulting in a momentary outage of one-sixth of a second or less. Closed-transition (make-before-break) switches overlap utility and generator power for 100 milliseconds, providing a seamless transfer with no interruption, which is critical for sensitive electronic equipment and data centers.

All commercial transfer switch installations comply with NEC Article 700 for emergency systems, Article 701 for legally required standby systems, and Article 702 for optional standby systems. We ensure proper coordination with the utility company, whether Duke Energy or TECO, to meet their interconnection requirements and prevent backfeed to the utility grid, which is a critical safety requirement during storm restoration work.

A commercial generator is a significant investment, and regular maintenance is essential to protect that investment and ensure reliable performance during emergencies. Generators that sit idle without regular exercise and maintenance are far more likely to fail when called upon during an actual power outage. Ranch and Coast Electric offers comprehensive maintenance agreements tailored to your specific generator model, fuel type, and operational requirements.

Our standard commercial generator maintenance program includes bi-annual comprehensive service visits with oil and filter changes, coolant system inspection and testing, battery load testing and terminal cleaning, fuel system inspection including tank, lines, and filters, air filter inspection and replacement, exercise cycle verification and adjustment, full-load testing to ensure the generator can handle its rated capacity, automatic transfer switch testing and maintenance, and a detailed written report documenting the condition of all components.

Maintenance agreement customers receive priority 24-hour emergency response, discounted parts and labor rates, priority scheduling for storm preparation services, and detailed maintenance records that support warranty claims and insurance documentation. Regular maintenance also ensures compliance with NFPA 110, which requires documented testing and maintenance records for emergency and standby power systems in commercial facilities.