A system and method of balancing elevator car emergency power in an elevator system is provided. The method includes switching a first feeder group of elevator cars from building power provided through a first building power feeder to back-up power provided through a back-up power source, switching a second feeder group of elevator cars from the building power provided through a second building power feeder to the back-up power provided through the back-up power source, selecting, using an elevator controller, at least one elevator car from the first feeder group of elevator cars, selecting, using the elevator controller, at least one elevator car from the second feeder group of elevator cars, and powering the selected elevator cars from the first feeder group and the second feeder group using the back-up power from the back-up power source.