How Much Does It Cost to Run a UPS System in Devon & Cornwall?

When businesses in Devon and Cornwall look into Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, one of the first questions is:

“How much will this actually cost to run?”

It’s a fair concern. While a UPS protects your business from costly downtime, there are ongoing running costs to consider—mainly electricity consumption, battery replacement, and maintenance. Let’s break it down.

1. UPS Energy Consumption

A UPS is always “on,” conditioning your power supply and keeping batteries charged. How much electricity it uses depends on:

• UPS type:
  • Standby / Line-interactive UPS (common for small offices): very low running cost, typically 2–5% of load.
  • Online double-conversion UPS (common in data centres and hospitals): higher efficiency loss, around 5–10% of load.
• Load size: A 10kVA UPS running at 70% load will draw more electricity than a 1kVA UPS running at 50%.
• Efficiency rating: Modern UPS systems (like Riello or Eaton) can achieve 95–97% efficiency, significantly reducing wasted energy.

2. Battery Replacement Costs

UPS batteries degrade over time and need replacing—especially important in coastal areas like Plymouth or Truro, where humidity and salt air can shorten battery life.

• Typical replacement cycle: every 3–5 years.
• Costs: vary from £100–£200 for small systems to £5,000+ for large battery banks in data centres.

Proactive battery monitoring helps avoid surprise failures and can spread costs more predictably.

3. Preventive Maintenance

Regular UPS servicing is vital to keep costs low long-term. A maintenance contract typically includes:

• Annual inspection & load testing
• Battery health checks
• Firmware updates & cleaning

For South West businesses, service costs usually start from £300–£500 per year for smaller units, scaling up for larger critical systems.

4. Generator Integration (Optional)

Some businesses in Cornwall and rural Devon pair a UPS with a generator for extended backup. While the generator has its own running costs (fuel, servicing), this can save money overall by reducing the need for oversized UPS batteries.

5. The Cost of Doing Nothing

It’s worth remembering: the biggest “cost” isn’t the UPS itself—it’s not having one when you need it.

• A short power cut in a manufacturing site near Bodmin could cause hours of lost production.
• A server crash in an Exeter data centre could mean lost data and reputational damage.

Compared to those risks, the running costs of a UPS system are relatively small.

The cost of running a UPS system in Devon & Cornwall depends on size, efficiency, and maintenance. For most businesses, you should expect:

• Energy costs: a few hundred pounds per year for smaller UPS systems, more for large installations.
• Battery costs: every 3–5 years.
• Servicing: annual maintenance for peace of mind.

At South West Power Protection, we help businesses across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset design cost-effective UPS solutions that balance protection, efficiency, and long-term value.

Get in touch today for a free consultation on UPS running costs for your South West business.