Electrician St. Catharines
Open seven days a week, into the evening, it does panel upgrades and surge protection, and serves St. Catharines, Welland and Thorold.
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Backup power in St. Catharines–Niagara
Electricians for generators and transfer switches.
10 pros in St. Catharines–Niagara
Niagara's case for backup power is recent. Niagara Region declared a state of emergency on Dec. 24, 2022 during a record-breaking winter storm, and Canadian Niagara Power reported 14,000 customers without power on Christmas Eve. Nine thousand six hundred were still out at 4 p.m. on Dec. 25. Wind gusts of 100 to 120 km per hour were expected along Lake Erie, and thousands of residents lost power. For a standby generator and transfer switch in St. Catharines, Welland, Niagara Falls or the towns around them, the hiring questions are practical. Ask who handles the electrical work and the inspection. Niagara Peninsula Energy says a micro generator of 12 kW or less that connects to its system needs an Electrical Safety Authority inspection once it is built. After the ESA issues its Connection Authorization, the utility schedules a site visit to witness-test the generator protections. Ask any installer to explain how that sequence fits into the quote and the schedule.
Emcor Electric Group Inc.
Operating since 1993, the firm installs generators for homes and large commercial sites, along with panel upgrades. Open weekdays only.
Also serves Buffalo
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Jansen Electric
From Smithville, it installs generators and upgrades panels for St. Catharines and Niagara. Weekday hours only.
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Peak 2 Peak Electric
Working with Generac equipment, it installs generators and transfer switches, and does panel upgrades. Open seven days a week, it also covers Fonthill, Lincoln and Thorold.
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Powered Electric Niagara
Around-the-clock service every day, with generator installs, transfer switches and backup power work. It carries a 10-year warranty and also serves Niagara Falls and Thorold.
Also serves Buffalo
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Hobbs & Heynen Electrical Contracting
Veteran-owned, the firm dates to 1973 and handles transfer switches, generator installs and panel upgrades. It also serves Grimsby, Lincoln and Thorold.
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Parisi Electric
A family-owned business since 2016, it installs backup generators and does panel upgrades. It serves Niagara Falls.
Also serves Buffalo
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Keener Electric Inc.
Emergency service is offered, with generator installs and panel upgrades in St. Catharines, Grimsby and Welland. Free estimates are also available.
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Niagara Electrical
Family-owned since 2017, it offers emergency repairs and generator hook-ups alongside panel upgrades. Open Monday to Saturday, evenings included.
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M & M Electric Construction Co. Inc.
Founded in 1984, it installs standby generators and does panel upgrades. It offers free estimates and serves Niagara Falls and Grand Island.
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What to know in St. Catharines–Niagara
During the December 2022 storm, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority issued a flood warning for the Lake Erie area, with wind gusts expected at 100 to 120 km per hour. Thousands of Niagara residents lost power.
Niagara Peninsula Energy advises staying back 10 metres from a downed powerline and away from any trees in contact with a powerline. It notes that branches and trees may come down in storms and high winds and contact powerlines.
Before you hire
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.
Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.
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.
Questions about hiring in St. Catharines–Niagara
What happens after a generator is installed in Niagara Peninsula Energy's area?
For a micro generator of 12 kW or less connecting to the utility's system, the owner must apply to the Electrical Safety Authority for an inspection once it is built. After the ESA issues its Connection Authorization, Niagara Peninsula Energy schedules a site visit to witness-test the generator protections. Niagara Peninsula Energy (source, opens in a new tab)
Why do Niagara homeowners look at standby power?
In December 2022 a record-breaking winter storm led Niagara Region to declare a state of emergency on Dec. 24. Canadian Niagara Power reported 14,000 customers without power on Christmas Eve, and 9,600 were still without it on the afternoon of Dec. 25. CHCH News (source, opens in a new tab)
What should a generator quote include?
Ask for the generator size, the transfer switch type, the wiring and fuel connection work, who applies for permits and the inspection, the schedule, the warranty and payment terms. A written quote that lists these items makes it easier to compare several installers on equal terms.
Who is allowed to install a standby generator and transfer switch?
The wiring and the transfer switch are electrical work, so ask to see the installer's electrical licence and who will pull the permit. Fuel connections may involve a separate qualified trade. Ask who is responsible for each part, and get that written into the contract.