When the power goes out in an ice storm or a summer grid strain, a backup generator is the difference between a minor inconvenience and a frozen pipe, a flooded basement from a dead sump pump, or a fridge full of spoiled food. The generator itself is only half the job. The part that keeps your family and the utility crews safe is the transfer switch, which isolates your home from the grid so power can never backfeed onto the lines. Our licensed and insured electricians handle the full electrical side of a standby installation, done right. We install backup and standby generators across Toronto and the GTA, including Mississauga, Brampton, North York, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Markham and Vaughan. We size the system to what you actually need to keep running, set the automatic or manual transfer switch, wire it to your panel, and coordinate with your gas fitter or propane supplier and the manufacturer's startup so the unit is commissioned properly. Generator and transfer switch installations are notifiable work under the Ontario Electrical Safety Code: we file the ESA notification and the work is inspected. Natural gas and propane connections must be done by a licensed gas technician, which we coordinate. Call (289) 799-3802 to plan your install.
What's included
- Load assessment to size the generator to the circuits you actually need to back up
- Automatic or manual transfer switch supply and installation, integrated with your panel
- Critical-load subpanel wiring for furnace, sump pump, fridge, well pump and select circuits
- Whole-home transfer setup where the generator and service are sized to support it
- Outdoor generator pad placement and clearances per manufacturer and code requirements
- Coordination with a licensed gas fitter for natural gas or propane fuel connection
- Manufacturer-spec commissioning, transfer testing and a walkthrough of operation
- ESA notification filed and the installation inspected per the Ontario Electrical Safety Code
Signs you may need this service
- Outages leave your sump pump down and the basement at risk of flooding
- You rely on a fridge, freezer, medical equipment or a home office that cannot go dark
- Your street loses power often, or for long stretches, during storms and heat waves
- You are running extension cords from a portable generator and want something safe and permanent
- You want power to restore automatically while you are away or asleep
- A home addition, EV charger or heat pump has you rethinking backup and panel capacity
How it works / what to expect
We begin with a load assessment: do you want a few critical circuits backed up, or the whole home running. That decision drives the generator size, the transfer switch type and whether we set up a critical-load subpanel. On install day we mount and wire the transfer switch to your service, run the connection to the generator location, and place the unit on its pad with the required clearances. A licensed gas fitter makes the natural gas or propane connection, which we coordinate so the trades line up. We then commission the unit to the manufacturer's procedure, test an automatic transfer by simulating an outage, and walk you through operation, maintenance and exercise cycles. The work is filed with ESA and inspected. Lead time depends on the generator and fuel coordination, so we plan the schedule with you up front.
Cost factors in the GTA
Generator pricing varies widely, so we scope it rather than quote a flat number. The largest factors are how much of the home you want to back up and the size of the generator that requires, plus whether you choose an automatic standby unit or a manual transfer setup. Electrical work depends on the distance from the generator to your panel, whether a critical-load subpanel is needed, and the condition and capacity of your existing service, since older Toronto and inner-GTA panels sometimes need an upgrade first. Fuel adds cost: running a new natural gas line or setting a propane tank is priced by the gas fitter and depends on distance and supply. Pad work, permits and the ESA inspection round it out. We assess your home, lay out the options and give a clear scope and price before any work begins. Prices vary by job.
Serving the whole GTA
We provide generator installation across the Greater Toronto Area. Find your city for local service, or call (289) 799-3802.