Alabama Power Company: generator, battery backup & CPAP rules
Service area: Serves about 1.6 million customers across the southern two-thirds of Alabama, including Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and Tuscaloosa.
Meter collar transfer switches
No published rule found
Alabama Power does not publish a rule or approved list for meter collars or meter socket adapters. Its DER interconnection guidebook (V3.2, February 2026) says no modifications, including a line side tap, may be made in the utility meter socket, and that solar or battery systems connect at a breaker or a line side tap in the customer's panel. Ask Alabama Power before buying any meter collar device.
Generator and battery disconnect requirements
Generators must be installed to code and inspected by the local inspecting authority before they are connected to home wiring, and a licensed electrician or engineer must notify Alabama Power in writing. A generator may not run in parallel with the grid without Alabama Power's written approval, and portable generators may not be connected directly to home wiring. Solar and battery systems that run in parallel need an outdoor AC disconnect that can be operated by hand, has a visible break, locks open with a padlock, and is reachable by Alabama Power at all times. It must be labeled (for example "BATTERY AC DISCONNECT") and be within 10 feet and in sight of the meter, or a placard at the meter must show where it is.
Gas meter upgrades for standby generators
Gas utility: Spire Alabama (main gas utility in much of the area; check who supplies gas at your address)
No published Spire policy or fee for upgrading a gas meter for a standby generator was found. Spire's contractor finder lists generator contractors, and Spire's Alabama customer line is 800-292-4008. Call Spire before installing to confirm meter size and any cost.
Estimate your gas load with our gas meter calculator and read how gas meter sizing works.
Medical program for CPAP, BiPAP and oxygen users
- Program
- Life support status (Rule 3.13, Postponing Termination Due to Special Conditions)
- What it provides
- Alabama Power temporarily postpones disconnection of residential service for an unpaid bill when a physician has verified that life support equipment is needed in the home. It is not a discount, and service continuity is not guaranteed.
- CPAP / BiPAP
- Not named. Life support equipment is defined as any medical device that runs on electricity 24 hours a day, continuously, to avoid loss of life.
- Renewal
- No fixed period. Alabama Power may periodically ask for an updated certified statement and new physician verification, and the customer must report any change.
Backup battery or generator programs
- Program
- None found
- What it provides
- No backup battery or generator program for medical customers was found. Alabama Power Smart Financing, through Regions, offers loans of $2,000 to $25,000 for home generators and battery backup systems through participating dealers; it is not a rebate and is not limited to medical customers.
- Eligibility
- Smart Financing: anyone can apply, not just Alabama Power customers, through a participating dealer; approval is required.
Frequently asked questions
Does Alabama Power allow meter collar transfer switches like the Tesla Backup Switch?
No published rule found. Alabama Power does not publish a rule or approved list for meter collars or meter socket adapters. Its DER interconnection guidebook (V3.2, February 2026) says no modifications, including a line side tap, may be made in the utility meter socket, and that solar or battery systems connect at a breaker or a line side tap in the customer's panel. Ask Alabama Power before buying any meter collar device.
Does Alabama Power have a program for customers who use a CPAP or other medical equipment?
Life support status (Rule 3.13, Postponing Termination Due to Special Conditions): Alabama Power temporarily postpones disconnection of residential service for an unpaid bill when a physician has verified that life support equipment is needed in the home. It is not a discount, and service continuity is not guaranteed. Not named. Life support equipment is defined as any medical device that runs on electricity 24 hours a day, continuously, to avoid loss of life.
Does Alabama Power offer backup batteries or generator rebates for medical customers?
We did not find a current backup battery or generator program for medical customers at Alabama Power. No backup battery or generator program for medical customers was found. Alabama Power Smart Financing, through Regions, offers loans of $2,000 to $25,000 for home generators and battery backup systems through participating dealers; it is not a rebate and is not limited to medical customers.
How do I get a bigger gas meter for a standby generator in the Alabama Power area?
Spire Alabama (main gas utility in much of the area; check who supplies gas at your address): No published Spire policy or fee for upgrading a gas meter for a standby generator was found. Spire's contractor finder lists generator contractors, and Spire's Alabama customer line is 800-292-4008. Call Spire before installing to confirm meter size and any cost.