I've noticed a significant increase in power-related emails from our APC NMCs over the past year, specifically a 700% rise from 2024 to 2025. This is happening in multiple locations that usually have stable power. Currently, our main office is facing strange voltage spikes, with readings hitting 126.8V at night and 125.8V during the day. We're collaborating with the power company to get to the bottom of it. Additionally, there was an incident in a nearby city where the frequency was out of range for five consecutive days, and it's concerning since none of these issues can be linked to individual storms. I can't help but wonder if there's a broader power issue, perhaps related to the strain of AI, electric vehicles, and bitcoin mining on our energy systems. Is anyone else dealing with similar UPS alerts at work?
5 Answers
Generally, UPS alerts aren't the best indicators of real mains frequency or voltage. If the power company says everything's within spec, they tend to get annoyed by constant UPS alerts. Investing in a calibrated data logger might give you a clearer picture of what's happening on your line!
For over 20 years I've been adjusting my UPS sensitivity to accept a wider input range. Most IT equipment can handle fluctuations without issue, and keeping the UPS less sensitive means you're less likely to trigger unnecessary alerts. Just remember, if the power goes really out of spec, the UPS will still kick in as needed. It feels less stressful to let it be a little less sensitive and definitely saves on battery life!
I keep mine at a 126.1 volts alert range, which I feel is a good balance!
Sounds like a solid plan!
I had a similar experience at home with my APC SMT3000 units where I received a bunch of emails about low input voltage (around 50-60 volts). After contacting the power company, they discovered that a damaged phase on my power line was the culprit. It might be worth checking your physical connections to the power line if you're getting weird readings too!
Yeah, it took forever for them to discover a bad junction on my phases as well!
It’s not necessarily tied to AI or large operations since they typically manage their own high-voltage feeds. The real issue might stem from renewable energy sources needing to keep voltage steady. It's generally safer to allow power to drift a little high rather than risk it going low. There's a lot of load on our lines from industrial operations and data centers that can cause spikes, but these systems are designed to cope.
It's tough to say if there are actual frequency problems in the grid because the U.S. has a lot of AC connections and a robust grid. Local distortion may happen, but a full frequency drop is very rare. You might just be seeing temporary disturbances that aren't indicative of broader issues.
They really do only care about legal specs, but if there's an issue that could lead to complaints, they'll fix it quick!