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Power after a lightning strike

Client: Electrical Contractor

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Sectors: Contracting

The Challenge

Getting power out fast to a huge, floating facility

Casinos might be use to seeing spectacular strokes of luck, but nothing could prepare this Chicago-based casino for the literal lightning strike of a storm that destroyed its transformer and left it completely cut off. The 53,000 square ft. casino was located on a floating barge, making the conditions for repair even more challenging.

Additionally, the wide-spread effects of the storm created a competing demand for temporary power among businesses. The longer the casino went without power, the more they lost in revenue. Not knowing how long repairs would take, the casino needed a temporary, reliable power source as quickly as possible.

Key Facts

of power to run the casino 3 MW
Of cabling 3 miles
From call to completion 8 hours

The Solution

A power-sharing setup that made great use of generators

The casino asked us for a 2 MW generator, but we quickly realized the better, more reliable option would be providing two 1.5 MW generators that could share the electrical load. Not only would this meet the precise needs of the casino, it also meant that, if one went offline, the other would pick up the demand.

As well as powering the casino, we provided a 1,500 kW generator to run the air conditioning. We worked closely with the casino’s electrical contractor to install all equipment, including three miles of cabling. Meanwhile, our remote monitoring team kept a close eye on performance, making sure our equipment ran at peak efficiency.

The Impact

A better, cheaper system in place - and within hours

Just eight hours after getting the call from the customer, our team had the entire equipment package fully up and running. The customer could reopen their doors and resume business as usual with no problem.

Even better, we’d identified a solution that reduced power and fuel usage, saving them a significant amount of money in the long run.

Our Difference

When lightening strikes, we help you strike right back