"Kope Electric just finished installing a Generac generator at my house and their work was top notch. They actually got me in their schedule 1 week early and finished as timely as they said they would. I highly recommend them to anyone interested in a generator."
"Did all we needed quickly and in one day. Friendly, enjoyed having him in my house. Very reasonable price, really thought it would be much more. I had others working in my house while he was here and he worked very well around and with them. Great overall electrician."
"We have hired Plesh Electric to install a fixed generator. Plesh Electric called us to set up an appt the same day we were on Home Advisor. They came the next day to do a property survey and we received a proposal the very next day. They have not started the work yet BUT I can say that I am very impressed with Lisa their office manager. Customer Service is rare these days and so far in this process she has quickly applied for permits and submitted application to PSE&G. She has kept me up to date and I very much appreciate it. I am looking forward to their guys doing a quality job. Stay tuned!"
"Absolutely excellent as soon as I put the request to Angie I received a message right away. Came out gave us a quote to connect our attic fan to electric and put an outlet on our porch. Day of installation came out and we are 100% happy!!"
"the job was complicated because another installer had left connections from heated floor tiles in the wrong place Chris and Joe and Anthony had to do a lot of adapting to get connections made I felt that they did an excellent,difficult job."
"Ken and his team from Transform Electric were terrific! Ken immediately contacted me and was able to come and give me an estimate right away. We started the project a few days later. I had four rooms that needed new recessed lighting installed. The team came on time and started working. They were very professional and reliable. They moved all my furniture and covered what was necessary. When it was all done, everything looked great and I was very pleased with the outcome. They also cleaned up after they completed the job. Overall they did a fantastic job and I would definitely recommend them to others!"
"We had outlets installed. They wasted no time in getting the job done. They were Very Courteous, they new what they were doing and they were very clean! They put plastic around where ever they were drilling. Great Job!"
"I have no complaints about Mr. Electric. In fact, the technician went above and beyond and was excellent. He couldn't make it on the day of installation, which was unexpected, but his stand in honored his commitments. The only reason to not give 5 stars was that it seemed excessively expensive. I wouldn't pay that again for what it was. I'd do it myself. Even Angi gave me a reasonable quote. They charge six times that reasonable quote for a simple outlet transfer... 10/10 for customer service. I guess you'd have to be though, for all that money."
"My central air quit during a nasty heat wave and they responded quicklyâ within a few hours a technician arrived that evening, followed shortly by the salesman when I decided to replace instead of repair. The job was scheduled for the very next morning! The installers were on time, friendly and cleaned up the areas. Everyone I dealt with was knowledgeable and professional. Interest-free financing was a huge selling point. Very good experience!."
"Joe from Simmz Electrical was very skilled, charged a fair price and was great to work with. He did a wonderful job, worked very carefully and was very neat. He communicated with us quickly; is very reliable and prompt. We felt comfortable with him in our home; he is now our go to guy for anything electrical. Lucky find"
You may need a permit for a portable generator if you’ll be installing a transfer switch for your primary residence or similar work. Otherwise, a permit for other uses may not be necessary. Check your local building codes or ask a local generator installer for more information about your local regulations.
Here’s what you can run with different wattages and types of generators:
Portable generator:
2,000 watts can handle a large appliance like a freezer or refrigerator, plus a few smaller items like phones or computer chargers.
4,000 watts will keep two large appliances operating and a few smaller devices.
8,000 watts should power most essential appliances and other devices, including a sump pump, well pump, or your dishwasher.
Partial to whole-house generator:
20,000 watts and above will make it seem like your home’s power is still on.
No, you should never plug a generator directly into a wall outlet in your house. This practice is extremely dangerous, often illegal, and can cause "back-feeding," where power from the generator flows back into utility lines, creating a life-threatening hazard for utility workers. It can also damage your home's electrical system, including appliances like pumps and HVAC fans. If the main power is restored while the generator is connected, it can destroy the generator and cause an electrical fire. To safely connect a generator, you must use a professionally installed transfer switch or an interlocking kit, which prevents back-feeding by disconnecting your home from the utility grid before the generator provides power.
Generators run on a variety of fuel types, ranging from natural gas to solar power. Keep in mind that fuel costs varying by type:
Natural gas: $2,000–$21,000 per year
Liquid propane: $2,000–$21,000 per year
Diesel: $3,000–$20,000 per year
Gasoline: $500–$3,000 per year
Solar generator: $2,000–$25,000 per unit
Battery backup: $10,000–$25,000 per unit
An undersized whole-house generator has the potential to overheat and shut down when you try to run a central AC system. This scenario can not only damage the whole-house generator, but can also trip your home’s breakers or cause electrical damage. To avoid this situation, hire a local generator installer to correctly size your whole-house generator.
The High Bridge, NJ homeowners’ guide to generator installs
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Natural gas generators are whole-home standby generators that are connected to your home’s natural gas line. The average cost for a natural gas generator is $12,000.
Generators should give you peace of mind, but you’ll only get that if your installer knows what they’re doing. Learn how to hire a pro and what red flags to look for.
Thinking about a generator installation? Learn about backup power options, costs to expect, and how to hire the right local pro to keep your home running.
