Five Times It Pays to “Try Before You Buy” with Rental Power

Does the phrase “rental power” conjure up visions of electrical outages, severe weather events or unexpected breakdowns? A lot of organizations view rental primarily as an emergency solution, and for good reason. Immediate availability allows you to fill gaps and keep critical operations running with minimal or no interruption.

But rental power isn’t just for last-minute, unforeseen needs. It’s also a great way to plan for the future. Trying out a power asset before you buy it is a smart strategy in all sorts of scenarios. Let me walk you through a couple:

Scenario #1: I’m not 100% sure of my power needs.

How many kilowatts or megawatts of power does your site or project require? If you’re unsure, you risk over- or under-sizing, and both mistakes can be expensive. Buying too much power wastes money; buying too little forces you to make an additional investment. And what about location? Do you know where on your site it makes the most sense to place generator sets, especially if you have multiple options? Once they’re installed, moving them can be costly and disruptive. Renting gives you the flexibility to make adjustments in size, location, and other factors before you buy.

Scenario #2: I need to prove out a financial hypothesis.

Maybe you’re thinking about investing in a power asset for peak shaving or revenue generation. Will the profit outweigh the purchase price and ongoing expenses? Perhaps you work in a commodity-driven industry like mining or oil and gas, where boom-and-bust cycles are common. Is it more cost-effective to buy or rent power for peak production times, knowing you won’t be using it when the bottom falls out of the market? You certainly can perform a cost-benefit analysis on paper, but that’s theoretical. Renting before you buy lets you test out your calculations in the real world — with real gensets, real fuel, and real results — to help minimize risk and uncertainty.

Scenario #3: I want to avoid unnecessary costs.

When you rent a car, you don’t have to schedule oil changes or renew the registration sticker. The rental car company covers those services and their costs. The same is true for rental power: Your rental provider delivers a genset that’s ready to run on day one. You don’t have to worry about installation, labor, maintenance, spare parts, or consumables. Now, will you incur these expenses if you decide to buy? Yes — but renting first can help streamline the process. During the rental period, you learn exactly what’s needed, so you can avoid pricey mistakes, budget for expenses appropriately, and optimize costs.

Scenario #4: I’m interested in renting more than just generator sets.

Gensets support many types of power needs, but what if you’re considering other alternatives or add-ons? Maybe you want to pair a genset with a battery for energy storage, or use one with compressed air, heating, or cooling solutions for temperature control. When you rent first, you can test out multiple combinations of products, including solutions from multiple brands, to find the ideal combination for your operation. And if you rent through your Cat^® dealer, the team there can help you source not just Cat power assets but also any related products once you decide to buy.

Scenario #5: I’m not a power expert.

There’s no shame in not living and breathing power 24/7. Most people don’t. You’re an expert in your business; rental power providers are experts in theirs. Cat dealers, for example, provide turnkey rental service: helping you select the right power assets and then installing them, teaching you how to operate them and taking care of any service and maintenance. Consider the rental period like a semester in “power school” — one that gives you the knowledge and assurance to become an effective owner and operator of power assets.

Don’t limit rental power to emergency situations only. Use it to test the waters, pilot a new approach or gain confidence in your results before you invest time, money, and resources in a permanent solution. We’re here to help. Reach out to us with your situation and your questions, and we’ll help you find a rental power solution you can try before you buy.