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Backup power in South Bend

Electricians for generators and transfer switches.

11 pros in South Bend

South Bend gets an average of 64.5 inches of snow a year, and the National Weather Service names January as the month heavy snow is most likely. Storms can also take out power on short notice: on 10 August 2020, about 11,700 Indiana Michigan Power customers lost service, nearly all in the South Bend/Elkhart area, mostly because of fallen trees and branches. For a standby generator, that means planning for outages in both winter and summer. When you hire, remember that residential permits in South Bend cover electric work, and contractors must be registered or licensed with the Building Department. Electric contractors must be reviewed before being licensed in the city's jurisdiction. Ask to see the city registration or licence, and ask who will pull the permit. Indiana Michigan Power also says never to connect a generator's output to home circuits or plug it into a wall outlet, so ask how the transfer switch will keep your home isolated from the grid.

Sources: National Weather Service Northern Indiana (source, opens in a new tab), Indiana Michigan Power (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 South Bend

Do I need a permit to install a standby generator in South Bend?

Residential permits in South Bend include electric, plumbing and HVAC work, and contractors hired for construction must buy a building permit. Owners doing their own work also need a permit. Ask any contractor who will apply for it and get that agreed in writing before work starts. City of South Bend 311 (source, opens in a new tab)

Who is allowed to do the electrical work for a generator in South Bend?

Electric contractors must apply and be reviewed before being licensed in the city's jurisdiction. Ask to see proof of that licence or registration with the Building Department. If gas piping is part of the job, plumbing contractors need an Indiana State Plumbing License before being registered. City of South Bend 311 (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a generator quote include?

A clear quote should name the generator model, the transfer switch, and the electrical and fuel connections. It should say who pulls the permit, who handles inspections, and what the warranty covers. Ask for the same details from each contractor so you can compare quotes fairly.

Why does a transfer switch matter for a home generator?

Indiana Michigan Power says not to connect a generator's electrical output to any home or building circuits, and never to plug one into a wall outlet. A properly installed transfer switch is how a home is wired for backup power. Ask your contractor to explain how it will be installed. Indiana Michigan Power (source, opens in a new tab)

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