How Small and Rural Agencies Upgrade Power and Cooling to Prepare for Anything

Small and rural governments are working hard to provide reliable and dependable services to their citizens. Unfortunately, outdated IT systems and infrastructure that can make it extremely challenging to avoid disruptions provide excellent service to citizens. Updating your power and cooling solutions is an excellent way to optimize infrastructure, ensuring that your small or rural town is well-equipped to meet the demands of weather, aging systems and the needs of its citizens. 

Small and rural agencies face unique hurdles in power and cooling management.

• Limited technical support: Many small towns face challenges in recruiting or accessing local IT / power specialists, making equipment maintenance more difficult. Due to location and budget constraints, small and rural agencies often rely on external support for equipment upkeep.

• Aging infrastructure: Most of the U.S. electric grid was built in the 1960s and 1970s and a majority of transmission lines are approaching the end of their lifecycle. These strained infrastructures are causing power outages and are susceptible to cyberattacks or community emergencies.

• Extreme weather events: The U.S. has had around 27 weather-related climate disasters in 2024, each disaster causing damages exceeding in $1 billion. Preparing as much as possible for these events to limit damages is cost effective for small and rural agencies and will help you better serve your communities during a disaster.
• Budget constraints: Upfront costs for energy-efficient solutions can be high, even if they offer long-term savings. However, if small and rural agencies are not properly prepared an outage can cost you an average of $5,600 per minute.

Addressing these challenges requires a mix of proactive planning, investment in modern technology and partnerships with expert providers.

When a disaster strikes, small and rural agencies need to be ready to aid citizens. To accomplish that, it is crucial to take steps to modernize systems and prepare staff to handle any situation.

Here are three ways you can prepare your infrastructure.

A thorough assessment of your existing infrastructure is a great place to start. Knowing your current power use, identifying inefficiencies and pinpointing areas where improvements need to be made is necessary.

Your agency can use this information to develop a strong modernization strategy. Assessments can be made by a third party that can do both virtual and physical assessments and help ensure that you know all your available options.

Lithium-ion batteries are transforming how small and rural agencies manage power and cooling. Some key benefits include:

• Longer lifespan: Lasts up to 10 years, reducing replacement costs.
• Lower maintenance: Requires fewer service interventions, ideal for understaffed agencies.
• Compact and lightweight: Easier to install and transport.
• Enhanced safety features: Advanced technologies prevent thermal runaway at the pack level, addressing concerns about battery fires.

Addressing Cost Concerns

While lithium-ion battery systems have a higher initial cost, they offer significant savings in total cost of ownership (TCO) over time. Agencies hesitant about the upfront investment can explore:

• Financing options: Leasing and credit-based purchasing programs can make upgrades more accessible.
• Government incentives: Federal and state programs offer grants and rebates for energy-efficient technology adoption.
• Refurbished power solutions: Some providers can connect you with businesses that offer certified pre-owned UPS units or that will take a trade in and help you upgrade to lithium. Having these connections, with a quick turnaround can provide cost savings while ensuring reliability.

Many small agencies work with local value-added resellers (VARs) for power and cooling needs. However, these providers may lack expertise in comprehensive power solutions. Partnering with specialized service providers can offer key advantages:

• Comprehensive solutions: Access to a wide range of energy and cooling technologies tailored to agency needs.
• Dedicated support: Expert assistance in selecting, deploying and maintaining power infrastructure.
• Better pricing and procurement options: Larger providers often secure volume-based discounts that aren’t available through local vendors.

For small and rural agencies, having reliable power and cooling solutions is essential for operational continuity. Partnering with CDW Government ensures you select the best solutions for your agency. With over 25 years of experience, our team can help you improve resilience, reduce costs and enhance sustainability.

Amazing happens when you are prepared for the unexpected.