One of my coworkers recently told me they were getting back into Pokémon. I was surprised to hear this since he’s in his 40s and didn’t grow up playing them. I asked him why and he said well, seeing that we are a power solutions company, I got inspired to catch all the electric Pokémon types to help come up with some ideas for the blog. I have already caught 60 total- weird flex but ok.
Maybe he is on to something though. You see the classic slogan “Gotta catch ‘em all” applies not only to those little pocket monsters that everyone seems obsessed with these days, utilities companies are trying to catch all the electricity that they can. It has become a race to not only figure out how to maintain the grid that has already been built, but to also supplement with a little something extra when those grids can’t handle all of the load that is being put onto them.
The Six Types of Power
Much like Pokémon, there are a wide variety of types of power. Public utilities are at the mercy of the landscape they are in, so more often than not you will not see a city with all six types, but you will see utility companies purchase power from regional grids that does offer access to all of them.
The six types are:
- Natural Gas
- Coal Plants
- Nuclear Plants
- Wind Turbines
- Solar Farms
- Hydroelectric Dams
All of these have distinct advantages for keeping reliable power traveling through the substations and onto the consumer. The catch? Most of the electricity generated is used instantaneously. This is why if a city has a blackout, it can take a bit for the electricity to come back to your home.
If a single utility company has access to every single type, 9 times out of 10, they are able to hold off blackouts thanks to the diversified portfolio of power. But what about utilities companies that don’t have that complete access? Or even companies that simply want a backup for peace of mind? That is where Mesa Power Solutions comes into play.
Natural Gas When You Need it Most
Electric grids run like a well-oiled machine but they also have to be prepared for every emergency you can think of. Wildfires, ice storms, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and any other extreme weather can put stress on the mechanical structures that provide power. If just one of those pieces overheat or break down, there is an immediate need for power that the rest of the grid has to absorb, but all of that can be protected by simply having Mesa’s mobile generator sets or PowerCores on site.
Just a single GX22 PowerCore can provide up to 450 KW of power. When multiple units are placed together, that has more than enough juice to help save a city from losing power for hours on end. Not only that, but they can also help with peak-shaving, so that the grid never has to feel the full load, even during the hot summer months or cold winter nights when household power is used the most. To us, it seems like a no-brainer if it helps keep the lights on for critical businesses that need power 24/7. If you get one you can even boast that you have caught all of the electricity types for your grid which I am told is a huge brag when you talk to your cohorts at other utility municipalities.
Gotta Catch ‘Em All
Just like a seasoned Pokémon trainer builds a team with strengths for every situation, utilities need a diverse mix of power to keep communities energized. The grid will continue to evolve but reliability is always the ultimate goal. By adding flexible back-up solutions like the ones we offer here at Mesa, your utilities can strengthen your roster, improve resilience, and ensure that your city is prepared for whatever comes next. Unlike my coworker’s collection of 60 Electric-type Pokémon, these are assets that actually help keep the lights on. Gotta catch ‘em all? For utilities, that’s not just a slogan, it’s a strategy.
* This is an informational blog and is not affiliated with, endorsed, or supported by Nintendo or The Pokémon Company.
