Market guide
Compare complete installer proposals
Put generator, switch, fuel, electrical, site, permits, commissioning and maintenance on one scopeEquipment price is only one part of a standby project. Comparable proposals use the same load plan and show every allowance, exclusion, inspection and service commitment.
01
Electrical
Freeze transfer and load management
Record switch rating, service entrance relationship, selected circuits, surge protection, control wiring and every managed load.
- Drawing
- Require a one-line or clear system description.
- Utility
- Include disconnect and reconnect responsibilities.
02
Site and fuel
Make civil and gas work explicit
Pad, drainage, flood elevation, snow, exhaust clearance, trenching, meter, pipe, regulator, propane tank and restoration can dominate cost.
- Permit
- Name who files and closes each permit.
- Finish
- State landscaping, wall and driveway restoration.
03
Commissioning
Approve the system under realistic load
Startup should verify transfer, voltage, frequency, fuel pressure, load sequencing, monitoring and shutdown. The owner needs emergency and long-outage procedures.
- Record
- Keep serials, settings, permits and baseline readings.
- Contract
- Price annual service and storm response in writing.
Evidence used
First-party sources behind this guide
- 01Current home standby generatorsGenerac · checked August 15, 2026Open source
- 02Current home generatorsKOHLER Home Energy · checked August 15, 2026Open source
- 03Generator buying guideConsumer Reports · checked August 15, 2026Open source