Aurora · Alectra Utilities service area
Generac standby generators for Aurora homes
When a storm takes the power out in Aurora, the sump pump stops with it. A standby generator and an automatic transfer switch keep it running, along with the furnace and the fridge. We supply and install Generac units as an authorized dealer.
Why Aurora owners buy one
Storms, outages and finished basements
Aurora's family homes often have a finished lower level. In Aurora Grove, Bayview Wellington and Bayview Northeast, that space may hold a playroom, an office or a guest suite. A sump pump in the corner protects all of it.
The trouble is timing. Thunderstorms and ice storms bring heavy rain or meltwater, and they're also what brings lines down. When the power goes, the pump stops while the ground around the foundation is soaked.
A standby generator closes that gap. It starts on its own within moments of an outage and switches back once Alectra restores power.
Essentials or everything
Choosing what the generator carries
| Essential circuits | Whole home | |
|---|---|---|
| What runs | Sump pump, furnace, fridge, some lights and outlets | Everything, often including central air |
| Generator size | Smaller | Larger, matched to the full service |
| Transfer switch | Feeds a separate panel of chosen circuits | Switches the whole service |
| Often chosen in | Family homes in Aurora Heights and Aurora Grove | Estate homes in the Hills of St. Andrew |
What's included
A standby system from start to test
- Load calculationCounting the starting surge of the pump and furnace
- SitingClearances from openings, vents and the lot line
- Automatic transfer switchWired beside your panel
- Power and control wiringProtected for outdoor use
- Licensed gas fitterMakes the gas connection, coordinated by us
- ESA permit and a full testBefore the system is handed over
For more on standby units and transfer switches, see our backup generator page.
Older homes and larger lots
Two Aurora situations to plan for
In the older village homes, the panel may be too small or too full to take a transfer switch. We check it at the same visit. If it needs work, the upgrade and the generator can go on one permit.
Estate lots in the Hills of St. Andrew usually leave room to set a unit well away from bedrooms. Owners there more often want the whole house covered, including air conditioning. That calls for a larger unit and a switch rated for the full service. See all our work in Aurora.
Panel check
Small service, new generator
If your panel is old or full, we'll tell you at the visit and price both jobs together.
Panel upgrades in AuroraQuestions
Backup generators in Aurora: questions
Is a battery backup sump pump enough?
For a short outage, it may be. A battery runs down, though, and a long storm outage can outlast it. A standby generator keeps the main pump running for as long as the gas supply holds. Some Aurora owners choose both.
Where will the generator go on a smaller lot in Bayview Northeast?
Usually beside or behind the house, near the gas meter and the panel wall. It has to keep its clearances from windows, doors, vents and the property line. We measure those at the site visit and show you the options before you choose a unit.
Can I connect a portable generator to my house?
Yes, but only through a proper inlet and an interlock or transfer switch at the panel. Never feed the house through an outlet. That can send power back into Alectra's lines and endanger line crews. We install the inlet and the switch.
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what you want running during an outage. Some homeowners back up essentials only (furnace, sump pump, fridge, a few lights and outlets). Others want the whole house. We look at your panel and how you use power, then recommend a size and a transfer switch to match.
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