When the power goes out, there is more to consider than just lighting a candle. Plan in advance with a backup power system that matches your budget and needs.

Situation number one: You have anticipated and planned for this. You decided in advance that you are the only one who can ultimately guarantee electrical supply and took matters into your own hands. You researched the options available and invested in a backup power system that matches your needs and budget. The backup power supply kicks in and things start to power back up again. Dinner is enjoyed and you have a relaxing evening as planned.

Situation number two: Blindly, you fumble and stumble to a drawer where hopefully there’s a flashlight. A stubbed toe and bruised forehead later, you find it. It gives you two minutes of light and then dies. Maybe you should have replaced those batteries last month. You find your way to a phone, but there’s no dial tone because cordless phones need power. You dig in the closet for a corded phone. After dialling the power company, they ask you to visit their website for status updates and give you an estimated wait time of two hours and 17 minutes to speak with an agent. Hello? The power is out. You just wanted to know what is happening and when the power will be back on. The hours drag on and you wonder how the basement is doing with no sump pump. It’s only after flushing the toilet a few times that you realize you have no more water. That’s because your pump needs power, too. You decide to abandon the cottage to go visit your neighbour and see if they are having any luck or know what is going on.

Which situation do you want to be in? Think about what the inconvenience of a power outage is worth to you and prepare appropriately. Make a list of the appliances you want to keep on hand and for how long. Look to past events, like last winter when there were many homes without power for a week. And remember, rural areas will often have longer outages than urban centres. So what are your options?

To read the full story, pick up the January issue of Cottage magazine at your local newsstand.To get more great articles like this one, subscribe now.