East Bay Electrician Services

Generator Installation Oakland, CA

We install Kohler standby generators in Oakland and East Bay homes. Every installation includes the automatic transfer switch, Kohler composite pad, permits, PG&E coordination, and a full load test when we're done.

Matt handles every job personally. Most of our generator customers are in the Berkeley Hills, Oakland Hills, and other neighborhoods where extended PG&E outages have become common enough that homeowners are looking for a permanent backup power solution.

★★★★★
"Power went out during a storm and the generator kicked on automatically. Didn't even notice until the neighbors started calling."
See all reviews ↓
📞 Call (510) 467-0856 Get a Generator Quote →
What Is a Standby Generator?

A standby generator is a permanently installed backup power system connected to your home's electrical panel and a natural gas or propane fuel supply. When utility power goes out, an automatic transfer switch detects the outage and starts the generator within seconds — no manual action required.

Standby generators are sized by kilowatt output. A 14kW unit covers essential circuits in most homes. A 20-26kW unit can power the whole house including central air conditioning.

Unlike portable generators, standby units sit on a pre-made composite pad outside — Kohler supplies the pad, so no concrete forming or pouring is required. They run on a dedicated fuel line and require professional installation with permits and inspections.

Matt reviewing completed whole-house Kohler standby generator installation with homeowner in Oakland, CA
★★★★★
"Power went out during a storm and the generator kicked on automatically. Didn't even notice until the neighbors started calling."
See all reviews ↓

Generator Services

We install Kohler standby generators throughout Oakland and the East Bay.

Electrician discussing whole-house standby generator options with homeowner before installation

Kohler Standby Generator Sales

We sell Kohler standby generators direct. Kohler is our brand of choice for build quality, noise levels, and customer support — and buying through us means the unit is sized correctly for your home before it's ever ordered. No guessing on kW, no oversizing to cover a bad load calculation.

Kohler standby generator installed on composite pad with automatic transfer switch and outdoor electrical conduit

Standby Generator Installation

We handle home generator installation and commercial standby generator installation. Every installation includes the automatic transfer switch, Kohler composite pad, all electrical wiring, permits, PG&E coordination, and a load test. Already have a unit? Call us first — we'll confirm it's the right size for your panel before we start.

Electrician wiring automatic transfer switch next to main electrical panel for standby generator

Transfer Switch Installation

An automatic transfer switch is what makes a standby generator work without you doing anything. We install whole-house and selected-circuit ATS units for every generator we put in, wired directly into your electrical panel. The transfer switch is included in every installation quote — it's not an add-on.

Why Oakland Homeowners Install a Standby Generator

These are the most common questions and concerns we hear before a generator installation.

Oakland hills home running on standby generator power during neighborhood PSPS outage

Repeated PG&E PSPS shutoffs

If your neighborhood has lost power multiple times in the past two years during fire season, it's likely to happen again. PSPS shutoffs in the East Bay hills can last two to four days. A standby generator means you don't have to plan around them.

Home medical equipment running on standby generator power during overnight outage

Medical equipment or power-dependent needs

CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, refrigerated medications, and home medical devices can't run on uncertainty. A standby generator with an automatic transfer switch keeps power on within seconds of an outage — no manual intervention required.

Sump pump operating in basement during storm while home runs on standby generator power

Sump pump or flooding risk

A sump pump that loses power during a storm is one of the most expensive outage scenarios for a homeowner. Standby generators are sized to handle the startup surge of sump pump motors — it's one of the most common reasons East Bay homeowners install one.

Homeowner running extension cords from portable generator during nighttime power outage

Done dealing with a portable generator

Hauling out a portable generator, running extension cords, managing fuel, and manually switching loads gets old fast. A standby unit eliminates all of that. It runs on your existing gas line, starts itself, and shuts itself off when utility power comes back.

How a Generator Installation Works

From the first call to the load test, here's what to expect.

What's Included with Generator Installation

Equipment & Installation

  • Kohler standby generator unit
  • Automatic transfer switch
  • Kohler composite pad (no concrete pouring required)
  • All electrical wiring and conduit
  • Load test after installation

Permits & Coordination

  • City building permit
  • City inspection scheduling
  • PG&E utility coordination
  • Gas contractor coordination

Honest Recommendations

  • Load calculation before sizing
  • Written quote before any work starts
  • No surprise costs after work begins
  • Clear explanation throughout

What This Means for You

One contractor handles everything. You're not coordinating between an electrician, a gas plumber, and a permit runner.

No surprise costs after work starts.
No permit or inspection confusion.
No generator that fails when you actually need it.
📞 Call (510) 467-0856 Get a Generator Quote →

Generator Installation Pricing

Pricing depends on generator size, transfer switch type, site conditions, and whether panel work is needed. Final cost confirmed after a site assessment.

Typical Cost Ranges
14kW Install (Essentials)
Starting at $9,500
Lights, refrigerator, furnace, outlets
20–26kW Install (Whole House)
$14,000 – $18,000+
Whole house including central AC
Annual Maintenance
Call for Pricing
Oil, filter, battery test, load test
Install pricing includes the generator, automatic transfer switch, Kohler composite pad, all wiring, and permits. It does not include the gas line — that's coordinated with your gas contractor separately. Panel upgrades, if needed, are quoted separately after the site assessment.

What affects install cost

  • Generator size (kW output)
  • Distance from panel to generator location
  • Transfer switch type (whole house vs. selected circuits)
  • Site conditions and pad work
  • Whether a panel upgrade is needed

Not included

  • City permit fees
  • Gas line installation (gas contractor)
  • PG&E utility fees
  • Panel upgrades if required
I come out, do a load calculation, and give you a written quote before any work starts. You'll know the exact generator model, total cost, and timeline before you commit to anything.
📞 Call (510) 467-0856 Get Free Quote →

Questions About Generator Installation

What size generator do I need for my home?

The right size depends on what you plan to power during a blackout. A 14kW generator can support most essentials in a typical Oakland home — lights, refrigerator, furnace, outlets, and a sump pump. If you also want to run central AC at the same time, you'll need 20kW or higher.

We do a load calculation before recommending a size so you're not over-buying or under-buying. Most of what drives the price difference between a 14kW and a 22kW unit is less than $2,000 — so if you're on the fence, it's usually worth sizing up.

What is an automatic transfer switch?

An automatic transfer switch (ATS) detects when utility power goes out and automatically switches your home to generator power — usually within seconds. When PG&E comes back on, it switches back and shuts the generator down. You don't have to do anything.

Each standby generator we install comes with an ATS. Without one, you'd need to manually start the generator and handle the connection yourself — which undermines the convenience of a standby unit.

Why install a Kohler generator instead of Generac?

Both are viable options, but we install Kohler as our primary brand because of build quality and customer support. Kohler uses commercial-grade engines with advanced sound dampening — they run noticeably quieter than most competitors. Their support is also significantly more reliable than Generac's, whose newer NextGen series has had widespread problems since launch.

Do I need a permit to install a standby generator in Oakland?

Yes. Generator installations in Oakland require a building permit covering both the electrical work and the mechanical installation — the generator pad and gas line connection. We pull the permit, schedule the inspections, and coordinate with PG&E for the utility reconnection. You don't manage any of that yourself.

What does a standby generator installation include?

Included are the generator unit, a Kohler composite base pad, an automatic transfer switch with all electrical wiring and conduit, coordination of the gas line connection, permits, city inspections, and PG&E coordination. We also run a load test after installation. We handle all of it — you're not coordinating between multiple contractors.

Recent Generator Installation

A real example of a standby generator installation completed in Oakland.

Home without standby generator power during PG&E PSPS shutoff before installation Before
Completed Kohler whole-house standby generator installation with automatic transfer switch in Oakland After
Montclair · Oakland

Kohler 20kW Standby Generator — Whole-House Backup

PG&E announced its first large-scale Public Safety Power Shutoff for this fire season this week, impacting East Bay hill communities with some neighborhoods dark for up to 36 hours. For many Oakland homeowners, this has become a familiar pattern and no longer comes as a surprise.

Situation: A Montclair homeowner had lost power twice in the past year during PG&E PSPS shutoffs — once for nearly four days. He has medical equipment that needs power overnight and a chest freezer with about $800 worth of food in it. The customer chose an automatic backup system designed to function without requiring any input from him during power outages.

What we did: We sized the home at 20kW based on his load — central AC, refrigerator, medical equipment, and full lighting. Installed a Kohler 20kW on a Kohler composite pad in the side yard with a whole-house automatic transfer switch wired into the main panel. We took care of all the permits and coordinated with PG&E for the meter connection, then ran a full load test before we left.

Result The generator has run through two outages since installation. Both times it kicked on automatically within seconds and powered the house until PG&E restored service. No food lost, no interruption to medical equipment. Permits closed, inspection passed first attempt.
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What Oakland Customers Say About Us

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"

I'm no expert on home generators, but my electrician Matt is. I went with a Kohler 22w unit based on his recommendation. All his work was top notch as usual, and he answered all my questions promptly and made sure that everything was to my liking. He provided detailed instructions on how to use the generator after the installation was completed.

Tom T., Rockridge
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"

I reached out to Matt for a rough estimate for a standby generator for my home. He was very responsive and quickly provided me with an estimate based on our conversation. Matt and his installation crew Tyler and Carl were the friendliest and very professional the day they installed it. I already have recommended them to many friends.

Peter G., Temescal
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"

Matt and Tyler did a great job, and our new Kohler home generator looks nice. They also left everything clean when they were done. It was clear from the beginning that they genuinely cared about doing the job correctly rather than rushing it. Very professional and knowledgeable, Matt explained everything thoroughly.

Alexa T., Grand Lake

Join hundreds of satisfied Oakland customers who trust us for their electrical needs

Most of the generator calls we get start with one of three things: the power went out and nothing kicked on, a tech told you the unit needs to be replaced and you want a second opinion, or you're tired of losing power and finally ready to do something about it. Any of those is a good reason to call.

Ready to Stop Losing Power?

Here's what most people want to know before they call — and how we handle it.

I don't know what size I need

First, I'll do a load calculation based on your actual needs, then give you a specific recommendation with the math behind it. You won't get a generic "bigger is better" pitch.

I'm not sure if I need a whole-house or partial system

That's exactly what the load calculation is for. Some homeowners need whole-house coverage, others just want essential circuits — refrigerator, lights, medical equipment, sump pump. I walk you through the tradeoffs and let you decide what makes sense for your situation.

I don't want to deal with permits and multiple contractors

We handle all the permits, inspections, and PG&E coordination. You deal with one person — Matt — from the first call to the final inspection.

Honest diagnosis. Written quotes. One contractor from start to finish.
📞 Call (510) 467-0856 Get Free Quote →