1. Quick Overview & Purpose

An emergency power plan protects critical loads, ensures business continuity, and maintains the safety of personnel and equipment. Follow the steps below to create a complete plan.

2. Assessment

• Identify critical loads (servers, emergency lighting, security systems, critical HVAC components, etc.).
• Record each load’s power requirement (kW and kVA) and starting current.
• Define acceptable outage duration (minutes/hours/days).
• Analyze local outage history and risk sources (weather, infrastructure, cyber, etc.).

3. Power Calculation & Sizing

1. Calculate total continuous load (kW) and peak load.
2. Add a safety margin (25% recommended) — leave room for future expansion.
3. Evaluate generator type (diesel/natural gas/hybrid) and compatibility for parallel operation if needed.

4. Fuel & Supply Planning

• Select the fuel type (diesel, natural gas, HVO, etc.).
• Design fuel storage capacity and safety requirements (hours/kW coverage).
• Identify supply chain risks: backup suppliers and emergency refueling plan.
• Define fuel rotation and quality control procedures.

5. Location & Installation

• Generator location — ventilation, exhaust direction, vibration isolation, and access routes.
• Fuel line layout, transfer pumps, and safety clearances.
• Electrical panels, automatic transfer switch (ATS) placement, and cabling routes.
• Environmental factors: protection from flooding, heat, salt air, etc.

6. Safety & Compliance

• Verify local regulations, emission requirements, and necessary permits.
• Ensure fire suppression and fuel spill containment systems.
• Prepare worker training and safety instructions (PPE, lockout/tagout).

7. Maintenance, Testing & Verification

• Set up a periodic testing schedule: weekly run, monthly load test, annual major service.
• Use predictive maintenance: telemetry, oil analysis, and performance data tracking.
• Write test scenarios: full load test, half load, quick transfer, and power restoration test.

8. Communication & Governance

• Create an emergency contact list (phone, email, secondary contacts).
• Define incident command chain and responsibility matrix.
• Keep supplier and service agreements (SLAs) readily available.

9. Operational Readiness & Training

• Plan role-based training sessions and emergency drills for personnel.
• Document operation procedures and checklists (start/stop/transfer).
• Include emergency response procedures (evacuation, safety, communication).

10. Budget, Procurement & Contracts

• Hardware costs (generator, ATS, fuel tank, cabling).
• Installation, permits, and environmental costs.
• Set annual budgets for maintenance, fuel, and service agreements.
• Evaluate suppliers for SLA compliance and spare parts availability.

Quick Checklist (Summary)

Appendix: Templates & Notes

Example critical load table:

Device / System       | Continuous (kW) | Start (kW) | Priority (1-3)
----------------------|----------------:|------------:|---------------
Servers               | 25              | 60          | 1
Security & CCTV       | 3               | 4           | 1
Emergency lighting    | 2               | 2           | 2
HVAC (critical)       | 15              | 30          | 3
    

Fill in this template with your own values and add it to your emergency power plan.