Generator Installation in Houston, TX
Whole-home standby generators sized, permitted and installed by a licensed Houston electrical contractor. Certified for Generac, Kohler and Gillette.
How Generator Installation Works in Houston
A whole-home generator installation in Houston runs in five stages. First a load analysis, which sizes the unit to what you actually run. Then the City of Houston electrical permit. Then the concrete pad and the gas connection. Then the transfer switch that separates your home from the utility grid. Then the inspections that let the system be energized.
The permit and inspection schedule sets most of the timeline, not the install itself. RBG Services holds Texas electrical contractor license TECL #38858. We pull the permit in our own name, so nothing waits on you.
A written load analysis of your real peak draw, not a square-footage estimate.
Houston issues generator electrical permits only to registered master electricians.
Pad, gas and electrical inspections, then a live transfer test before we leave.
Generator Installation by Licensed Houston Electricians
RBG Services designs and installs whole-house standby generators, portable hookups and transfer switches. Every job is built for real outage protection. Whether it's a sudden summer storm or a winter freeze, our solutions ensure your home or business remains powered.
We don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Our team runs a detailed load analysis to match you with the right kW rating. We are certified for Generac, Kohler, and Gillette. We handle everything from city permitting to final testing, ensuring your backup power system is code-compliant and reliable.
What Houston Neighbors Say
Trusted back-up power reviews from across Greater Houston.
"Jeff and his team were very professional from start to finish. We had a generator installed and they made sure everything was up to code. Highly recommend!"
"RBG Services did an incredible job with our generator install. They were always on time and very professional throughout the process. Highly recommend!"
"The team at RBG Services was great. They were very thorough and made sure we understood how the system works. Very professional and friendly!"
Complete Backup Power Solutions
Generac Certified Installation
Authorized installation of whole-house and commercial standby systems for 24/7 protection.
Kohler Generator Installation
Certified Kohler standby installation for Houston homes and light commercial sites.
Gillette Generator Installation
Commercial and industrial Gillette systems, three-phase power and high-kW facility loads.
Back-up Power Maintenance
Routine tune-ups and inspections to ensure your system starts instantly during an outage.
Emergency Repairs
24/7 emergency electrical repair for failing generators and transfer switch systems.
Transfer Switch Installation
Automatic and manual transfer switches to safely bridge your home to backup power.
Portable Generator Hookups
Safe, code-compliant interlock and inlet box installations for portable backup power.
Surge & Outage Protection
Whole-home surge protection to protect your electronics during power restoration.
The Houston Guide to Generator Sizing and Fuel
Finding the Right Size for Your Houston Facility
Sizing is not about square footage. It is about peak load. We evaluate your high-draw appliances, including central AC, pumps and refrigeration, so the kW rating carries a safe margin.
Most suburban Houston homes find the sweet spot between 22kW and 26kW for whole-house standby comfort.
Reliable Fuel Sources: Natural Gas vs. Propane
Houston's infrastructure makes natural gas a top choice for infinite fuel during long-term grid failures. Liquid propane offers high energy density for rural properties or those requiring dedicated tanks.
We coordinate with local utility providers to ensure your line pressure is sufficient for your new backup power system.
Safe Power Restoration: The Role of the Transfer Switch
The transfer switch is the most critical safety component of your backup system. An automatic transfer switch detects the power loss. It isolates your home from the utility grid, then starts your generator in seconds. This prevents dangerous "backfeeding," which protects utility workers and prevents electrical fires in your home. See our full guide to transfer switch installation in Houston, including the CenterPoint approval step.
Commercial & Industrial
Backup Power Systems
For Houston business owners and facility managers, downtime equals revenue loss. We provide high-capacity, heavy-duty backup power from Generac, Kohler, and Gillette for:
For three-phase and high-kW facility loads, see our dedicated commercial Gillette generator installation page.
Request a Commercial QuoteHouston's Standard for Generator Installation Safety
Licensed, Insured, and Bonded Electrical Contractor
Precision sizing to protect your infrastructure and budget
Full coordination with City of Houston & Harris County
What the City of Houston Requires
Houston does not treat a standby generator as an appliance swap. It is a permitted electrical and gas installation, and the rules are specific.
The Houston Permitting Center issues generator electrical permits only to registered master electricians. A homeowner cannot pull this permit, and neither can an unregistered installer.
- Placement is regulated. The unit must sit at least 2 feet from your lot lines. It must also sit at least 5 feet from combustible exterior walls and at least 5 feet from wall openings.
- The pad is inspected before the pour. An electrical pad inspection happens before concrete goes down. Getting that wrong means breaking it out and starting again.
- Gas gets its own inspection. A plumbing final covers gas line sizing, flex connectors, regulators and meter location under NFPA 37 Section 4.1.4.
- Your gas line may need upsizing. The service line to the meter has to be sized for the generator BTU rating. On older homes it often is not.
- A load analysis is part of the permit. The electrical inspection covers wire, conduit, panel location and a load analysis identifying the loads selected.
- Noise is a code matter. Placement has to respect Houston Code of Ordinances Chapter 30.
We handle all of it. You are not chasing a permit number or scheduling your own inspections.
What Actually Drives the Price
Two houses on the same street can quote very differently. The generator itself is rarely the reason.
Load, not square footage
Central air, well pumps, pool equipment and a double oven move the kW rating far more than floor area does. A soft start kit on the AC can sometimes let a smaller unit do the job.
Distance from the panel
Every foot between the generator pad and your electrical panel is conduit, wire and trenching. Placement is a cost decision as much as a code one.
Gas supply
If the existing line cannot carry the BTU load, the line or the meter has to be upsized. That is a real line item and it is better found before the quote than after.
Transfer switch type
A whole-home automatic transfer switch costs more than a managed load switch that covers selected circuits. Both are legitimate. Which one is right depends on the load analysis.
We put all of this in writing before anything is ordered. No verbal ranges, no surprises at the panel.
Why Houston Homes Need Standby Power
Houston loses power in two different ways, and they call for the same answer.
Summer brings hurricane season, which runs 1 June through 30 November. Wind and flooding take lines down for days at a time. The heat index does not pause while crews work. A house without air conditioning in August is not merely uncomfortable.
Winter brings the other kind. The February 2021 freeze put the state grid into rolling outages and left homes cold for days. Pipes burst. That failure is why standby generator demand in Greater Houston has never gone back to where it was.
A correctly sized standby unit covers both cases. It starts on its own, whether anyone is home or not.
Houston Generator Installation FAQ
Do I need a permit to install a generator in Houston?
Yes. Houston requires an electrical permit for a standby generator. The Permitting Center issues those permits only to registered master electricians. We pull it in our name and handle the inspections.
How far from the house does a generator have to sit?
At least 2 feet from your lot lines. At least 5 feet from combustible exterior walls, and 5 feet from wall openings. Placement also has to respect the city noise ordinance.
Will a standby generator run my central AC?
Yes, when it is sized correctly. We often recommend a soft start kit on high-tonnage AC units. Reducing the startup draw can let a smaller generator do the job.
How fast does a standby generator take over?
With an automatic transfer switch, power is typically restored within 10 to 30 seconds of the utility grid failing. Nobody has to be home for it to happen.
Natural gas or propane in Houston?
Natural gas is the usual answer here because the line supply does not run out during a long outage. Propane suits rural properties and homes without gas service.
Will my existing gas line be big enough?
Not always. The service line to the meter has to be sized for the generator BTU rating. Older homes often need the line or the meter upsized. We check this before quoting.
What size generator do I need?
That comes from a load analysis, not from square footage. We list your high-draw appliances and size the unit to real peak load with a safety margin.
Do you install commercial and three-phase generators?
Yes. We install high-kW Generac and Gillette systems built for three-phase power. They cover warehouses, medical suites and server rooms.
Secure Your Power Today.
Licensed generator installation serving Houston, Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land and The Woodlands.
Financing Available • TECL License #38858
