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Backup power in Pittsburgh

Electricians for generators and transfer switches.

34 pros in Pittsburgh

If you are weighing a standby generator in Pittsburgh, start with how the city handles the paperwork. The City of Pittsburgh lists "Generator – Exterior" as its own residential electrical permit work scope, and its two other residential scopes for service, power and lighting say that installing an exterior generator is not permitted under them. The city also says an electrical permit is required for installing a new electrical system, and that work on single and two-family homes needs a Residential permit. The storms are part of the picture too: the National Weather Service Pittsburgh office ranks Ivan in September 2004 first and Tropical Storm Gordon in September 2018 second for tropical rainfall since 1876. When you hire, ask which permit scope the installer will file under and who files it. Ask for the permit to be named in the quote, and make sure the transfer switch is part of the same electrical work. Keep the permit record with your house papers.

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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 Pittsburgh

Does a generator installation in Pittsburgh need its own permit?

The City of Pittsburgh lists "Generator - Exterior" as a separate residential electrical permit scope. Its other residential scopes for service, power and lighting say an exterior generator is not permitted under them. Ask your installer which scope they will file under before work begins. City of Pittsburgh (source, opens in a new tab)

Which permit type applies to a house or duplex?

The city says work on single and two-family homes, and structures accessory to them, needs a Residential electrical permit. All other work needs a Commercial permit. If your property is a house or duplex, confirm the quote names the Residential permit and says who applies for it. City of Pittsburgh (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a generator quote include?

A good quote names the generator model, the transfer switch, the fuel connection, the permit and who obtains it, the inspection, the work schedule, the warranty terms and what happens if the scope changes. Ask for it in writing, and compare several quotes line by line rather than by the total alone.

Why do Pittsburgh homes get generators in the first place?

Storms are one reason. The National Weather Service Pittsburgh office ranks Ivan in September 2004 first and Tropical Storm Gordon in September 2018 second for tropical rainfall in the city since 1876. Heavy storms can bring outages, so a standby unit and transfer switch are worth planning ahead. National Weather Service Pittsburgh (source, opens in a new tab)

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