Kettle Moraine Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC
Family-owned since 1987, it operates day and night, every day. Standby generators and generator installs are offered, with Generac among its brands.
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Backup power in Madison
Electricians for generators and transfer switches.
11 pros in Madison
Madison's backup power needs come from two kinds of weather. The city averages 51.8 inches of snow a year, and in August 2018 a series of storms brought major flash flooding across Dane County and flooded the Yahara chain of lakes. A generator here may have to run through a winter storm or after a wet-weather outage. When you hire, start with who does the work. Wisconsin's consumer protection department says a permanent standby generator should be installed only by a qualified professional such as a licensed electric contractor, and that a licensed electrician should install the transfer switch. Madison Gas and Electric warns never to connect a generator directly to your home's wiring, so ask any installer how the transfer switch will isolate the house from the grid. Ask for the licence details in writing, and ask who handles permits and inspection for the job.
Source: Wisconsin State Climatology Office, UW-Madison (source, opens in a new tab)
Key Light Electrical
Serving Sun Prairie, Lake Mills, Janesville and Fort Atkinson, it does panel upgrades and generator installs. Free estimates are offered and the warranty runs one year.
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Helping Hands Electric
Generac, Trane and Mitsubishi are the brands it names, and generator work sits beside panel upgrades. Its towns include Madison, Verona, Janesville and Middleton.
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Richland Home Power
Cummins, Generac and Kohler are its brands, and it installs transfer switches and home battery backup alongside standby generators. The warranty is a lifetime one.
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All Comfort Services
Open around the clock, every day, the firm has worked in the area since 1973. It handles generator installs and panel upgrades in Madison, Sun Prairie, Waunakee and Lake Mills.
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Home Backup Systems, LLC
Opened in 2006, the business sells and services standby generators, with Generac, Kohler and Briggs & Stratton among its brands. It offers a 7-year warranty.
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Industry Electric
Barneveld and surrounding Wisconsin communities are served for generator installs and panel upgrades, with surge protection also offered.
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Universal Power & Systems
Based in Sun Prairie and open on weekdays, the electrical company handles generator installs for homes in Madison, Fitchburg, Middleton and Verona, and has operated since 2014.
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Action Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning and Electric, Inc.
Lennox is one of its brands, and the family-owned firm has been in business since 1989. It offers a 12-year warranty and handles panel upgrades.
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Badger Electric, Inc.
Founded in 1999, the firm is family-owned and offers a 5-year warranty. Panel and breaker box upgrades are central to its work, and backup generators are among its services.
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Krantz Electric Inc.
Working around Madison, Verona and Stoughton, the firm does standby generators, generator installs and panel upgrades. It has been in business since 1978.
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What to know in Madison
The National Weather Service describes a series of storm systems from Aug 17-27 (2018) that brought major flash flooding across Dane County and flooding of the Yahara chain of lakes in the Madison area.
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan (source, opens in a new tab)
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 Madison
Who may install a standby generator in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's consumer protection department says a permanent standby generator should be installed only by a qualified professional such as a licensed electric contractor. Ask to see the licence before you sign, and confirm that the person named on the quote is the one responsible for the electrical work. Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (source, opens in a new tab)
Do I need a transfer switch with a home generator?
Yes. The state advises using a transfer switch whenever a generator connects to a building's electrical system, and says a licensed electrician should install it. Check that your quote lists the switch, its size and who installs it, rather than leaving it as an extra. Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (source, opens in a new tab)
What should a generator quote include?
A good quote names the generator model, the transfer switch, fuel connection, permits and inspection, and who does each task. It should state the start date, the warranty terms and how changes are handled. Get at least two quotes in writing so you can compare the same scope side by side.
Why does Madison Gas and Electric warn about generators?
The utility says never to connect a generator directly to your home's wiring. It can send power back onto the lines and endanger crews. It also advises staying at least 30 feet from a downed line, including in puddles, and reporting it at 608-252-7000. Madison Gas and Electric (source, opens in a new tab)