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Backup power in Boise

Electricians for generators and transfer switches.

20 pros in Boise

Boise's winters are cold enough that a heating failure is a real concern: the National Weather Service lists the all-time record low as 25 degrees below zero, set on 22 December 1990, and says a temperature inversion with snow cover keeps the west end of the Treasure Valley several degrees colder than Boise. If you live in Meridian, Nampa or Caldwell, that matters when you size up backup power for a furnace. On the hiring side, the City of Boise requires an electrical permit to install, change or repair any hard-wired electrical system, which covers a transfer switch. If someone other than you does the work, Planning and Development Services says that person must be a State of Idaho registered and licensed contractor in that trade. Before you hire, ask to see the licence, ask who pulls the permit, and ask for the city inspection to be part of the job. Get all of this in writing before work starts.

Source: National Weather Service Boise (source, opens in a new tab)

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Before you hire

  1. A generator wired into your home needs an approved transfer switch, fitted under a permit, so it can’t feed power back into the lines. Plan it before you buy.

    Source: bchydro.com (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Put it in a written contract: the work, price, deposit, start and finish dates, warranty, permits and clean-up. Paying cash to skip it leaves you no recourse.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

Questions about hiring in Boise

Do I need a permit to install a transfer switch in Boise?

Boise requires an electrical permit to install, change or repair any hard-wired electrical system. A transfer switch ties into your home wiring, so ask your installer whether the permit is included in the quote and who will apply for it before any work begins. City of Boise Planning and Development Services (source, opens in a new tab)

Who is allowed to install a standby generator for me?

If you are not doing all of the work yourself, Boise says the person doing it must be a State of Idaho registered and licensed contractor in that trade. Ask for the licence details and check them before you sign anything. City of Boise Planning and Development Services (source, opens in a new tab)

Can I do the electrical work myself as a homeowner?

Boise's Homeowner's Electrical Permit is limited to the homeowner of record on the deed who lives in the home and does the basic electrical work without help from others. The city inspects all of it against the current National Electrical Code and applicable City codes. City of Boise Planning and Development Services (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a generator quote include?

Ask for a written quote that names the generator model, the transfer switch, the wiring work, the permit and inspection, and who handles each. Get at least two quotes with the same scope so you can compare them line by line, and keep a copy of the contract.

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