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Backup power in Des Moines

Electricians for generators and transfer switches.

17 pros in Des Moines

Des Moines has a recent reason to think about backup power. After the August 10, 2020 derecho, MidAmerican Energy said nearly 101,000 customers in the Des Moines area were without power. The city also averages 36.5 inches of snow a year under the 1991-2020 normals, so winter outages are part of planning too. For a standby generator, the key hiring point is the transfer switch. MidAmerican Energy advises that a standby generator should have a manual or automatic transfer switch, which isolates your home circuits from the power lines. That keeps electricity from running back out onto the lines. Before you hire, ask whether the quote includes the transfer switch and its connection to your service panel. Ask who will do the electrical work and whether they hold the licence your city or town requires. Ask whether a permit is needed in Des Moines, Urbandale, Ankeny or wherever you live, and who will apply for it. Get the answers in writing, so you can compare quotes on the same scope.

Sources: WOI-TV (Local 5) (source, opens in a new tab), The Christian Science Monitor (source, opens in a new tab)

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What to know in Des Moines

  • In the Great Flood of 1993, floodwaters from the Raccoon River inundated downtown Des Moines and the Des Moines Water Works on July 11, 1993. The National Weather Service says the water supply to a quarter-million people was cut off.

    NOAA National Weather Service (source, opens in a new tab)

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 Des Moines

Why does a standby generator need a transfer switch?

MidAmerican Energy says a transfer switch isolates your home wiring from the power lines. Electricity then runs through the home but not back out onto the lines, which protects line crews and neighbours. Ask any installer to confirm that the switch is included in the quote and how it will connect to your panel. MidAmerican Energy (source, opens in a new tab)

Should I choose a manual or an automatic transfer switch?

MidAmerican Energy advises that a standby generator should have either a manual or an automatic transfer switch. A manual switch needs you to operate it during an outage; an automatic one acts without you. Ask each installer which type they are quoting and what it adds to the job. MidAmerican Energy (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a generator installation quote include?

Ask for the generator model, the transfer switch type, the electrical work, and any fuel line work. It should also say who pulls permits and who handles inspections, plus warranty terms and a start date. Request the same details from each contractor so the quotes can be compared fairly.

How big was the Des Moines outage after the 2020 derecho?

After the August 10, 2020 derecho, MidAmerican Energy said nearly 101,000 customers in the Des Moines area were without power. If you are weighing whether to install backup power, that event is a local reminder of how widespread a storm outage can be across the metro. The Christian Science Monitor (source, opens in a new tab)

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