// NYC · Master Licensed · All 5 Boroughs
Generator Installation Residential & Commercial NYC
Standby generators that start automatically when ConEd power fails — for homes, multi-family buildings, and businesses across NYC. We handle sizing, permits, fuel connections, and ConEd coordination end to end.
- Generac, Kohler & Cummins certified install
- Automatic transfer switches (ATS)
- Natural gas & propane fuel connections
- DOB + DEP permits handled
- Commercial & multi-family systems
- Annual maintenance plans available
Residential generators — sizing for how NYC homes actually live
Generator sizing is where most installations go wrong — oversold by kW or undersized for the loads that matter. Here’s the honest framework:
Essential-circuits backup (10–13kW): Refrigerator, lights, outlets, sump pump, furnace blower or boiler controls, and internet. This covers what most NYC households actually need through an outage, and it’s the most popular residential size we install. $4,000–$8,000 installed.
Whole-home backup (16–22kW): Everything above plus central air conditioning and electric appliances. Requires 200A service — if your panel is older, see our panel upgrade service, since the upgrade should happen first. $7,000–$13,000 installed.
Portable + transfer switch (from $1,500): A manual transfer switch lets a portable generator safely power selected circuits — no extension cords through windows, no backfeed danger. The budget path for occasional outages.
Coastal NYC reality: Post-Sandy, standby generator demand in Howard Beach, the Rockaways, Throggs Neck, City Island, and coastal Brooklyn has stayed permanently elevated. If your neighborhood floods or loses power in storms, a standby unit with automatic transfer is the difference between an inconvenience and an evacuation.
Commercial generators — code-driven and business-critical
Commercial generator work in NYC splits into two categories:
Code-required emergency power. Certain occupancies — assembly spaces, high-rises, healthcare, buildings with fire pumps or emergency lighting loads — are required by NYC Building Code to maintain emergency or standby power systems. These installations involve life-safety transfer equipment, fire-rated feeder protection, and rigorous DOB inspection. We design and install to NEC Articles 700/701/702 and coordinate with your engineer of record.
Business-continuity power. Restaurants protecting refrigeration inventory, medical and dental offices, data closets, groceries, and property managers protecting building systems. Here the math is simple: one extended outage often costs more than the generator. We size these systems around the loads that actually protect revenue — not the whole panel.
Commercial systems run $12,000–$40,000+ depending on kW, fuel, and transfer switching. Every commercial project gets a fixed-price itemized proposal after a site walk. See our commercial electrical cost guide for context on rates.
How a NYC generator installation actually works
Load assessment & sizing
We document the circuits you need backed up, measure real loads, and size the unit — no guesswork, no overselling kW you’ll never use.
Site & fuel evaluation
Natural gas availability check (preferred — no storage), or propane tank siting where gas isn’t available. Placement must satisfy clearance and NYC sound ordinance requirements.
Permits — DOB + DEP
Electrical permit through DOB; fuel-gas permit through DEP for gas-connected units. Co-op/condo board packages prepared where applicable. We file everything.
Installation
Concrete pad or composite base, generator set, automatic transfer switch at the panel, fuel connection by licensed fitter, and control wiring. Typically 1–2 days on site.
Inspection & commissioning
DOB inspection, full load test under simulated outage, and a walkthrough of the controls and app monitoring.
Maintenance plan
Annual service — oil, filters, battery, exercise-cycle verification — keeps the warranty valid and the unit ready. We offer plans on every install.
Service areas
Generator installation throughout Brooklyn, Queens (including Howard Beach and the Rockaways), Manhattan, and the Bronx (including City Island and Throggs Neck). Full pricing detail in our generator cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Residential standby generators run $4,000–$8,000 for essential-circuit systems (10–13kW) and $7,000–$13,000 for whole-home systems (16–22kW), installed with transfer switch and permits. Commercial systems run $12,000–$40,000+. Portable generator transfer switch setups start around $1,500.
Natural gas where available: no storage, no refills, runs indefinitely. Coverage varies by neighborhood — Manhattan and the Bronx generally have good gas access; parts of outer Queens, coastal Brooklyn, and City Island often need propane with an above-ground tank (DEP-permitted). We check availability at your address during the assessment.
A DOB electrical permit always; a DEP fuel-gas permit for gas-connected units; and sound ordinance compliance in residential zones. Co-ops and condos additionally need board approval. We handle all of it — permits are included in every quote.
Townhouses with private outdoor space: usually yes. Co-ops and condos: sometimes — ground-floor units and buildings with private yards have the best odds, and board approval plus noise compliance are required. High-rises generally can’t accommodate individual units but can install building-level systems. We advise honestly upfront before you spend anything.
Automatic transfer switches detect utility failure and start the generator within seconds; power is typically restored to backed-up circuits in 10–30 seconds, fully automatically — even when you’re not home.
Yes — annual service (oil, filter, battery, spark plugs) plus a weekly self-test cycle the unit runs automatically. Skipped maintenance is the #1 cause of generators failing during actual outages, and it voids most warranties. We offer annual maintenance plans on every installation.
What our customers say
“22kW Generac with whole-home transfer at our Howard Beach house. They handled DOB, DEP, the gas connection, everything. Two outages since — both times power was back in 15 seconds. Worth every dollar.”
“Our restaurant lost $9k of inventory in one blackout. MP Electric installed a commercial standby unit sized exactly around refrigeration and POS. Their fixed-price proposal was itemized to the line. Professional operation.”
“City Island, so propane. They sited the tank, got the DEP permit, dealt with the sound requirements, and the install was clean. Annual maintenance plan means we never think about it.”
Get a free generator assessment
We’ll assess your loads, check fuel availability at your address, and give you an honest sizing recommendation with a fixed written price — residential or commercial.