Portable
Manual
- Runs off extension cords
- You start it by hand
- Powers only a few circuits
- Needs refueling around the clock
Electrical Service
Generator Installation
When the grid goes down, a whole-home standby generator keeps your heat, fridge, sump pump and Wi-Fi running — automatically. Precision Power sizes, installs and commissions standby generators across New York, with the permit, gas line and utility coordination handled for you.
What a Standby Generator Does
Backup Power That Turns Itself On
A whole-home standby generator is a permanent unit that sits outside on its own pad — not a portable you drag out and refuel in the dark. It connects to your natural gas or propane supply and to an automatic transfer switch wired into your panel. When the utility power drops, the transfer switch senses the outage, starts the generator and moves your home onto generator power within seconds. When the grid comes back, it switches you back and shuts the generator down — all without you touching a thing.
The key to a generator that actually carries your home is sizing it to your real load. We look at what you need to keep running — heat, sump pump, refrigeration, medical equipment, the well pump, a home office — and spec a unit and transfer switch that match. Whether you want a whole-home install or a smaller essential-circuits setup, we handle the load calculation, the generator pad, the gas hookup, the panel tie-in, the permit and the startup test so the system is safe, legal and ready before the next outage.
- Whole-home & standby generators sized to your load
- Automatic transfer switch — power restores in seconds
- Natural gas or propane — no refueling in a storm
- Permit, gas hookup & utility coordination handled
AUTOTRANSFER SWITCH
Know Your Options
Portable vs Standby vs Whole-Home
Not every generator keeps your home running on its own. Here's how the three common setups compare — and why a whole-home standby is the one you never have to think about.
Essential
Good
- Starts automatically
- Covers key circuits — heat, sump, fridge
- No refueling — runs on your gas line
Whole Home
Whole-Home
- Fully automatic — hands-off every time
- Runs the entire house, not just a few circuits
- Natural gas — keeps going as long as you need
Should You Have One?
Who Needs a Standby Generator?
For some homes a generator is a convenience. For others — well water, a sump pump, medical equipment — losing power is a real problem. Here's where standby power earns its keep.
You're on Well Water
No power means no well pump — and no well pump means no running water at all: no taps, no toilets, no showers. A standby generator keeps the pump alive so an outage doesn't shut your whole household down.
Frequent or Long Outages
If storms knock your power out regularly, or it stays out for hours at a time, a portable and a cooler stop being enough. Standby power means you stop bracing for every forecast.
You Have a Basement Sump Pump
Storms cause both outages and the heavy rain that floods basements — at the same time. If your sump pump loses power right when it's needed most, a standby generator keeps it running and your basement dry.
Medical Equipment at Home
Oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, powered wheelchairs and refrigerated medications can't wait out a blackout. For households that depend on them, automatic backup power isn't a luxury — it's essential.
Home Office / Work From Home
When your income depends on staying online, an outage isn't just dark rooms — it's missed meetings and lost work. Standby power keeps your office, Wi-Fi and equipment running straight through.
No Natural Gas Line
No gas service at your address doesn't rule out standby power. A propane-fueled generator running off an on-site tank gives you the same automatic backup — we'll spec the right setup for your fuel situation.
NYC Specifics
Permits, Gas & Con Edison in NYC
Installing a standby generator in New York isn't just bolting a unit to a pad. It ties together electrical work, gas work and the utility — and each piece has its own rules. A generator install is filed with the Department of Buildings (DOB), and because the unit runs on fuel, a separate gas permit is usually involved as well. We handle the filings so the whole system is permitted and inspected, not a liability hiding in your backyard.
Con Edison coordination
An automatic transfer switch sits between your panel and the utility, so the install has to be coordinated with Con Edison to keep generator power and grid power safely separated. Getting that sequence right is what keeps the system code-compliant and keeps your generator from ever back-feeding the utility line.
The natural-gas line hookup
A standby generator needs a fuel line sized to feed it under full load. We run and connect the natural-gas line from your meter — or set up the propane supply where there's no gas service — and confirm the pressure and capacity actually support the unit you're installing.
Placement, clearances & CO safety
Code dictates how far the generator must sit from windows, doors, vents and the lot line, both for fire safety and to keep carbon-monoxide exhaust away from the house. In the suburbs around the city, local noise ordinances can also limit where a unit can run. We plan placement around all of it before the pad ever goes in.
Honest Pricing
What Drives the Cost of a Generator Install
We quote a flat rate after an on-site assessment. These are the factors that move the number up or down.
Generator Size (kW)
A whole-home unit carries far more load than an essential-circuits one. The kilowatt rating your home needs is the single biggest driver of the equipment cost.
Fuel: Natural Gas vs Propane
Tying into an existing natural-gas line is different work than setting up a propane tank and supply. Your fuel source shapes both the install and the long-term running cost.
Distance to Gas Line & Panel
The farther the generator sits from your gas meter and electrical panel, the more line, conduit and trenching the install takes — which adds labor.
Transfer Switch Type
A whole-home automatic transfer switch is a larger, more involved piece than an essential-circuits switch that covers only selected loads — and that difference shows up in the quote.
Pad & Placement Work
Pouring the concrete pad, prepping the site and meeting clearance requirements all factor in — a tight or sloped location takes more groundwork than a simple flat spot.
Permits & Gas Inspection
The DOB electrical and gas permits and the inspections carry fixed fees. We roll these into your quote so there's no surprise line item at the end.
The honest version: there's no flat price for a generator install — the size of the unit, your fuel source, the run to the gas line and panel, and the placement work all move the number. That's why we don't quote sight-unseen. We assess your home on-site, explain exactly what your install needs, and give you a clear flat-rate price before any work begins — and the assessment is free.
Our Process
How a Generator Install Works
Clear, permitted and clean from first call to final startup test.
1
Assessment & Sizing
We walk your home, list what you need to keep running, and run a load calculation to size the right generator and transfer switch — then hand you a clear flat-rate quote.
2
Permit & Gas Coordination
We file the DOB electrical and gas permits and coordinate the natural-gas line and Con Edison side so the install is fully legal.
3
Install
We set the pad and unit, install the automatic transfer switch, run the gas line and complete the panel tie-in — clean, labeled and to code.
4
Inspection & Startup Test
The work is inspected, then we commission the system — simulating an outage to confirm it starts, transfers and carries your load automatically.
Precision Power
Never Lose Power Again
When the next storm rolls through New York, your generator starts itself — heat, water, fridge and Wi-Fi stay on while the rest of the block goes dark.
Call (332) 290-3178Where We Work
Generator Installation Across New York
Licensed electricians serving every borough and the surrounding counties.
Questions
Generator Installation FAQs
Straight answers to the questions we hear most.
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what you want to keep running. A whole-home unit carries your entire panel; an essential-circuits setup covers the must-haves — heat, sump pump, fridge, a few outlets. We run a load calculation on your actual home and recommend a size that matches, instead of selling you more (or less) generator than you need.
Natural gas or propane?
If you have a natural-gas line with enough capacity, that's usually the simplest fuel — no tank to refill and effectively unlimited run time. If there's no gas service at your address, a propane tank gives you the same automatic backup. We confirm which your home supports during the assessment.
Does it start automatically?
Yes — that's the whole point of a standby generator. The automatic transfer switch senses the outage, starts the unit and moves your home onto generator power within seconds, with nobody home or awake. When the grid returns, it switches you back and shuts the generator down on its own.
Whole-home or essential-circuits?
Whole-home runs everything exactly as if the grid were up — no rationing what's on. Essential-circuits powers a chosen set of loads (heat, sump, fridge, key outlets) with a smaller, lower-cost unit. We'll lay out the trade-off and let you decide which fits your home and budget.
How loud is it and where can it go?
Modern standby units run much quieter than an old portable, but they aren't silent. Placement is set by code — minimum clearances from windows, doors, vents and the property line for fire and carbon-monoxide safety — and suburban areas may add noise rules. We pick a spot that satisfies all of it.
How long does installation take?
The physical install is typically a couple of days once permits are in hand — pad, gas line, transfer switch and panel tie-in. The overall timeline depends on permit approval and Con Edison and gas coordination, which we manage so the work itself stays on schedule.
Do you handle the gas hookup and permits?
Yes. We run and connect the natural-gas line (or set up the propane supply), file the DOB electrical and gas permits, coordinate Con Edison, and book the inspections. You don't deal with separate trades or chase paperwork — it's one project from sizing through startup.
How much maintenance does it need?
Standby generators run a brief self-test on their own and need periodic service — oil and filter changes and a general check, much like a small engine. We commission the unit at startup and can advise on a maintenance schedule so it's ready every time the power goes out.