Standby Generators
Standby generator sizing, install, and transfer switches.
A standby generator with an automatic transfer switch keeps your heat, sump pump, fridge, and lights running through an outage — it starts on its own within seconds, no cords, no gas cans. Monmouth County’s coastal storms and nor’easters make that real protection, not a luxury.
We size the unit to what you actually want to run, set the pad, and install the transfer switch — and coordinate the gas hookup (run by a licensed plumber) and the electrical permit.
Homeowners & businesses
For homeowners
At home, a standby generator keeps the heat, sump pump, fridge, and lights on through a storm outage — sized to what you want to run and starting automatically, so you don’t have to be there.
For businesses
For a business, backup power is about staying open — protecting refrigeration, servers, or equipment and avoiding the cost of downtime. We size the unit and transfer switch to the loads that matter and work around your schedule.
Signs you should call
- You lose power every storm — and lose the fridge, heat, or sump pump with it
- You’ve had a basement flood when the sump pump lost power
- Someone in the home relies on powered medical equipment
- You’re tired of hauling out a portable generator and gas cans
- You want the whole house — or just the essentials — to stay on automatically
How it works
Call or request a quote and describe the problem or project. We’ll ask a few questions, and when we can we’ll give you a sense of what’s involved right away.
We come out and find the real issue — not just the symptom — and tell you what it’ll cost before we do it. A simple fix we’ll often just take care of on the spot; for a bigger job we provide a written estimate. Either way, no surprise charges.
We do the work to NJ code, pull the permit and handle the inspection where it’s required, and walk you through what we did before we leave.
How we price it
What we price a generator install on:
- Generator size (kW) — sized to the loads you want covered
- Distance from the gas meter or propane tank to the unit — gas pipe costs more per foot than wire
- Whole-home vs. essential-circuits transfer switch
- Pad, placement, and any site prep
- Township permit fee
We size it to your real needs, not the biggest unit on the shelf.
Generators — frequently asked questions
What size standby generator do I need?
It depends on what you want to keep running — just the essentials (heat, fridge, sump pump, some lights) or the whole house including central air. We do a load assessment and size the generator and transfer switch to match, so you’re not paying for capacity you don’t need or coming up short in an outage.
Does a standby generator turn on automatically?
Yes — a standby (whole-home) generator wired to an automatic transfer switch senses the outage and starts on its own, then switches back when utility power returns. We install the generator and the transfer switch and handle the permit and inspection.
Will you give me a price before doing the work?
Yes — you’ll know the cost before we do the work. For a service call or a small fix we’ll tell you what it’ll take and, if it’s quick, often just take care of it on the spot. For a bigger job like a panel upgrade or an install, we provide a written estimate. Electrical pricing depends on what we find on site, so we price it after we see it rather than from a menu — and we don’t add to it without your say-so.
Do you handle small jobs, or only big projects?
Both. A single outlet, a flickering circuit, or one new fixture is just as welcome as a full panel upgrade or a rewire. We’d rather you call a licensed electrician for the small stuff than risk a fix behind the wall going wrong.
How quickly can you come out?
We offer same-day service for urgent electrical problems. Call (732) 555-0148 — depending on the day you might reach us directly and get a quote or a visit set up on the spot, or leave your details and we’ll get right back to you. We won’t promise a time we can’t keep.
Why call a licensed electrician instead of doing it myself?
Electrical work is one of the few home jobs where a mistake can start a fire or quietly fail an inspection years later at resale. A licensed, insured, and bonded electrician pulls the permit, does the work to current NJ code, and leaves you with an inspection sign-off — unpermitted or DIY work can void your insurance and create problems when you sell.
Is Northline Electric licensed and insured?
Yes — Northline Electric LLC is a licensed, insured, and bonded New Jersey electrical contractor (NJ Lic. 34EI01388240), and we provide a certificate of insurance on request.
Ready for a free estimate?
Tell us about your project — we'll get back to you by phone or email.