Last updated on April 16, 2026
Spring storm season can put commercial electrical systems under serious stress.
Lightning, grid disturbances, and power fluctuations can impact everything from distribution panels to sensitive building equipment. According to the National Weather Service, the United States sees about 25 million lightning strikes each year, making surge events a real concern for facilities across the country.
For electrical contractors working on commercial buildings, spring is often the time when customers start asking the same question:
“Are we ready for storm season?”
A simple preventative electrical maintenance check can help identify potential issues before severe weather arrives.
Here are several areas contractors commonly review when preparing a facility’s electrical system for spring storms.
1. Check surge protection devices
Power surges can come from lightning, utility switching, or internal building events. These voltage spikes can damage electronics, HVAC equipment, and building automation systems in seconds.
Research from Berkley Asset Protection found that electrical disturbances occur more than 100 times per month in the average facility, with many of those events being minor surges.
Because of that frequency, many facilities rely on layered surge protection, including:
- Service entrance surge protection
- Distribution panel SPDs
- Point-of-use surge protection for sensitive equipment
What contractors often inspect
- Status lights on surge protective devices
- Proper grounding connection
- Signs of overheating or failure
- Protection at service entrance and downstream panels
Common surge protection products used on commercial jobs
Contractors often source products like:
- DITEK surge protective devices
- Intermatic HVAC surge protection modules
- Panel-mounted SPDs from Siemens
2. Run generator and backup power checks
Storm season also means higher outage risk, which is why many commercial facilities rely on backup power.
According to outage data compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, severe weather is responsible for a large portion of major power interruptions in the country each year.
That’s why spring is often the time contractors test standby generators and emergency systems before peak storm activity.
Typical generator maintenance checks
- Inspect oil and coolant levels
- Check fuel lines and filters
- Test automatic transfer switches
- Verify battery condition
- Run the generator under load
Commercial standby generators from manufacturers like Generac are widely used to keep facilities operating during outages.
3. Inspect grounding and bonding systems
Grounding plays a major role in protecting electrical systems during storm events.
When lightning strikes nearby infrastructure or utility lines, grounding systems help safely dissipate excess voltage and reduce the risk of equipment damage.
Industry research shows that improper grounding can significantly reduce the effectiveness of surge protection systems, which is why constructors often review these components during seasonal inspections.
Areas commonly checked
- Ground rods and electrode systems
- Bonding across panels and metal systems
- Grounding conductors and clamps
- Corrosion at connection points
Common grounding components available through distributors include:
- Ground rods
- Ground clamps
- Bonding jumpers
4. Review panels and distribution equipment
Switchgear and electrical panels run continuously in commercial facilities, which makes seasonal inspections important.
Contractors often look for:
- Loose connections
- Signs of overheating
- Moisture inside enclosures
- Corrosion or rust
- Circuit labeling issues
Some facilities also perform infrared thermography scans during preventative maintenance to identify hot spots before failures occur.
Why seasonal electrical maintenance matters
Electrical infrastructure is expected to run reliably year-round, but storm season can expose weaknesses quickly.
With millions of lightning strikes and frequent power disturbances across the United States each year, even well-designed systems benefit from routine inspections.
For contractors, spring maintenance checks are often a good opportunity to:
- Review surge protection coverage
- Confirm backup power readiness
- Inspect grounding systems
- Identify equipment issues before storms arrive
City Electric Supply supports electrical contractors with the products used in these types of installations, from surge protection devices and grounding components to generator and transfer switch solutions.
Explore products available at CES!
https://www.cityelectricsupply.com