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Backup power in St. John’s

Electricians for generators and transfer switches.

4 pros in St. John's

St. John's set its all-time daily snowfall record in the January 2020 blizzard, at 76.2 cm, and the city was under a state of emergency for eight days with widespread power outages. Long outages are part of the region's history too: after Hurricane Igor, Newfoundland Power estimated about 30,000 customers were still without power on a Wednesday afternoon, down from 50,000 households and businesses the night before. For a standby generator, that history is a reason to plan before the next storm rather than during it. When you hire, know the rules. Newfoundland Power says a generator may not be connected directly to house wiring unless a properly installed CSA approved transfer switch is in place, and the installation needs an electrical permit and an inspection by the local electrical inspection authority. Provincially, permits are issued only to Registered Electrical Contractors, with limited exceptions. Before you hire, ask who will pull the permit, ask for the transfer switch to be named in the quote, and ask how the inspection will be arranged.

Sources: The Weather Network (source, opens in a new tab), CBC News (source, opens in a new tab)

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What to know in St. John's

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 St. John's

Can I plug a generator into my house wiring myself in St. John's?

Not directly. Newfoundland Power says you may not connect a generator to house wiring unless a properly installed CSA approved transfer switch is in place. The installation also needs an electrical permit and inspection by the local electrical inspection authority, so have the work planned with a qualified electrician. Newfoundland Power (source, opens in a new tab)

Who can get the electrical permit for a standby generator in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Electrical permits are only issued to Registered Electrical Contractors. There are exceptions: a journeyperson electrician may get a permit for work on their own property, and anyone may request inspection of an existing system. Ask any contractor you consider to confirm who will apply for the permit. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Government Services (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a generator quote include?

Ask for a written quote that names the generator and the transfer switch, describes the wiring and fuel connection work, states who handles the permit and inspection, and sets out the schedule and payment terms. Itemised quotes from several contractors are easier to compare line by line.

Why do St. John's homeowners plan for long outages?

The January 2020 blizzard brought a record 76.2 cm of snow in one day, a state of emergency lasting eight days, and widespread power outages. That is why many people size a standby system for several days, not hours, and discuss run time and fuel supply with the installer. The Weather Network (source, opens in a new tab)

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