If you have lived on the North Shore through a few winters, you know the drill: a nor'easter rolls in, the wind comes off the water, and the power goes out — sometimes for days. Coastal Essex County towns like Gloucester, Marblehead, and Beverly are especially outage-prone. A backup generator turns those outages from an emergency (no heat, spoiled food, a sump pump that stops in a flooded basement) into a manageable inconvenience.
Portable vs. standby generators
Portable generators are cheaper and can run a few essentials, but you have to store fuel, roll them out, and run extension cords — and they must be operated well away from the house because of carbon monoxide. Standby (whole-home) generators are permanently installed, run on natural gas or propane, and switch on automatically within seconds of an outage via an automatic transfer switch. For most families who want the heat, fridge, and sump pump to just keep working, a standby unit is the answer.
Why an electrician has to be involved
Connecting any generator to your home's wiring is not a DIY job. A generator wired in improperly can backfeed the grid and electrocute a utility worker, or damage your home. A licensed electrician installs the transfer switch, sizes the generator to your actual load, and pulls the permit so everything is safe and to code.
Install before the storm, not during it
The worst time to shop for a generator is the day a storm is in the forecast — that is when they sell out and installers are booked solid. Late summer and early fall is the ideal window to size, order, and install a system so it is ready when the first big storm of the season hits.
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Get a free electrical quote →Frequently asked questions
How much does a whole-home standby generator cost in Massachusetts?
Installed standby generators typically run $6,000–$15,000 depending on the size of the unit, the transfer switch, and the gas hookup. Portable generators are far cheaper but power only a few circuits and require manual setup.
Can I connect a generator myself?
No — connecting a generator to your home's wiring requires a licensed electrician and a transfer switch. Improper hookups can backfeed the grid and endanger utility workers, and they violate electrical code.
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what you want to run — just the essentials (heat, fridge, sump pump, some lights) needs far less than powering the whole house including AC. An electrician will calculate your load and size the unit correctly.