I work on computer systems for my company's clients and we had a severe ice storm in December of 2008. The ice storm which knocked out power for 3 days and wreaked havoc on the customer's computer systems but thankfully, my Guardian 16KW generator that was installed 2 years prior kept the entire house running and enabled me to be operational to my employer and our customers. Furthermore, my neighbors use my house for charging cell phones to making coffee plus I was able to make hot meals for them as all the restaurants were closed. During that time, the temperature dropped to below zero degrees Fahrenheit by my home heating was able to keep working. The generator enabled me to live a fairly normal 3 days while I see the stress building in my neighbors' eye. Needless to say, many of them ask me about the Guardian generators. I consider a backup generator a necessity, not a luxury.