Backup power guides
Plain-English explanations of the utility rules that decide how much a generator or home battery installation costs.
Meter Collar Transfer Switches: Does Your Utility Allow Them?
What a meter collar (meter socket adapter) transfer switch is, why your electric utility must approve it, how to check your utility's rules, and what to use instead if collars are not allowed.
Gas Meter Size for a Whole-Home Generator (250 vs 400+ CFH)
How to tell if your natural gas meter can run a standby generator plus your furnace and water heater, how to add up BTU load, and how to request a larger meter from your gas utility.
CPAP Users and Power Outages: Utility Medical Programs and Backup Power
What utility medical programs (Medical Baseline, critical care, life-support registries) actually provide for CPAP, BiPAP and oxygen users, and how to size a backup battery for a CPAP.
Generator Interlock Kit vs Transfer Switch vs Meter Collar
Compare the three main ways to connect a generator or home battery to your house safely: a panel interlock kit, a manual or automatic transfer switch, or a utility-approved meter collar.