Generator Electrical Services

Connecting a generator to your home's electrical system isn't as simple as running an extension cord or plugging into an outlet — doing that can backfeed power into the grid, which is dangerous for utility workers trying to restore power and is not a legal or safe way to use a generator. A transfer switch is what makes generator use safe: it physically isolates your home's wiring from the utility grid while the generator is running, so power only flows one direction.

There are two main approaches. A manual transfer switch (or interlock kit on the main panel) lets you switch selected circuits to generator power by hand during an outage, at a lower cost than a fully automatic system. An automatic transfer switch detects an outage and switches over on its own, typically paired with a standby generator that starts itself — more convenient, at a higher cost, and usually the right choice when the generator is a permanent, whole-home installation rather than a portable unit brought out during storms.

Either way, part of the job is deciding which circuits actually get backup power. Most portable generators don't have the capacity to run a whole house, so we help prioritize what matters most — refrigeration, well pump, sump pump, some lighting and outlets — rather than trying to power everything at once.