Executive Electric
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Residential home standby generator on a concrete pad beside a San Jose house

Backup Generators in San Jose, CA

Home standby generators with automatic transfer switches for South Bay houses and small commercial buildings. Sized, permitted, and tested. CSLB #1133790.

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Standby Power for South Bay Outages

PG&E public safety power shutoffs, summer heat, and winter storms still knock out neighborhoods in the hills and on older feeders. A portable generator in the driveway is loud, manual, and easy to get wrong. A home standby unit on a pad starts itself when the utility drops.

Executive Electric installs air-cooled standby generators for houses in San Jose, Los Altos, Cupertino, and nearby cities. The unit sits outside like an air conditioner, runs on natural gas or propane, and feeds selected circuits or the whole house through an automatic transfer switch.

Sizing matters. A 10 kW unit will not run two air conditioners and a well pump. We walk the panel, list the circuits you care about, and quote a generator that matches the house, not a brochure.

Small offices and clinics ask for the same setup on a slightly larger pad. We treat those as commercial jobs with the same permit path and a transfer switch that keeps lights, refrigeration, and network gear up.

What Generator Installation Includes

Load-based sizing

We list HVAC, refrigeration, medical devices, and home offices so the kW rating is honest.

Pad, gas, and clearances

Concrete pad, gas piping or propane connection, and manufacturer setbacks from windows, meters, and property lines.

Automatic transfer switch

When utility power fails, the switch starts the generator and moves the house or selected circuits over. When power returns, it switches back.

Panel or subpanel work

Whole-home backup often needs a service-rated transfer switch or a generator subpanel. We include that in the quote.

Permit, inspection, and startup

City electrical and, when required, mechanical or gas permits. We start the unit, test under load, and show you the weekly exercise cycle.

Small commercial standby

Retail and office suites get the same hardware with after-hours commissioning when the space cannot go dark during business hours.

How We Install a Standby Generator

  1. 01

    Walk the yard and the panel

    We pick a pad location that meets setbacks, check gas availability, and confirm which circuits you want backed up.

  2. 02

    Written quote and permits

    You see equipment, pad, gas, electrical, and permit as separate lines. We file before we order the unit if lead times are long.

  3. 03

    Set, wire, and gas

    The unit goes on the pad, the transfer switch lands in or next to the panel, and the gas fitter completes the fuel line.

  4. 04

    Startup and training

    We run a simulated outage, confirm voltage, and show you the app or controller so you are not guessing during the next PSPS event.

When a Standby Generator Is Worth It

  • check You lose power several times a year and keep throwing food out.
  • check Someone in the house relies on medical equipment or a stair lift.
  • check You work from home and cannot sit through a six-hour PSPS event.
  • check You already own a portable unit and are tired of dragging it out and storing fuel.
  • check A small office or clinic cannot close every time the feeder drops.
  • check You are building an ADU or addition and want backup planned before the yard is finished.

Questions About Backup Generators in San Jose

Is this a portable generator?

No. We install permanent home standby units on a pad, tied to the electrical system and usually to natural gas. Portable units are a different product.

How long does installation take?

Site work and electrical are often one to two days after the unit arrives and permits are issued. Gas piping can add a visit.

Will it run the whole house?

Only if we size it that way. Many owners back up kitchen, HVAC, and office circuits and leave the rest off. We will show both options.

Do I need a permit in San Jose?

Yes. Electrical and often gas. We pull them and meet the inspector.

Can you install Generac or similar brands?

Yes. We install common residential standby brands. If you already bought a unit, send the model before we schedule so we can confirm the transfer switch.

Serving San Jose, Willow Glen, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Los Altos Hills, Atherton, and nearby cities

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Want backup power that starts itself?

Tell us which circuits matter during an outage. We will size a home standby generator and send a quote.