Vermont winters mean outages. We're a Tesla Certified Powerwall installer and a Generac authorized dealer, which means we can quote either side of the battery vs generator question without trying to push you toward whichever one we happen to sell.
Most of our backup power calls come in October, when the leaves are coming down and the first ice storms have already knocked out power on a few of our customers' streets. By that point getting on the install schedule is hard.
We do a free in-home assessment before we ever quote a number. We look at your panel, your loads, your fuel situation if you're considering a generator, where the equipment would physically go, and what you actually want backed up. Some homeowners want everything. Some just want the well pump, the fridge, and a couple of outlets to run a laptop. Both are valid and the systems look very different.
The honest answer on Powerwall vs Generac depends on three things: how often your power goes out, how long the outages typically last, and whether you have solar or are planning to add it. Here's the short version:
We'll walk you through the math at the assessment, line by line, with the equipment costs and the install costs separated so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
These are real numbers for installs we do most often. The free in-home assessment gets you a firm quote.
Critical loads only. Backs up your fridge, freezer, well pump, furnace, and a handful of outlets and lights for 12 to 18 hours of outage.
Whole-home automatic standby. Runs everything in the house including the EV charger and electric range. Propane or natural gas.
Whole-home backup with battery storage. Pairs with new or existing solar. Multi-day backup if you ration loads. Eligible for federal tax credit.
Manufacturer-certified on the two big ones, comfortable installing the rest.
Tell us what's going on. We'll give you a real answer about whether we can help, when we can come out, and roughly what it'll cost. No pressure, no upsells, no weird sales scripts.