The huge majority of gas stations do not have back-up generators with which to pump fuel.
Earlier this week I was speaking with a "generator expert" about the estimated cost to have emergency power at a fuel station. These are "very rough" magnitudes of estimates that I'm going to give you.
- First of all, what size is needed? He figured a 30-40KW generator would take care of an "average" gas station.
- The cost estimate to retrofit an existing gas station just to have what are called "pig tails" which you can hook a generator up was around $50K because of the need to rewire and isolate the emergency power.
- However, if you planned for it at the time of construction, you could have the facility pre-wired for about $10K.
When you need power — you want it now. ... Now won't happen, unless you are thinking ahead about the eventual need.