February 2021 is a date that’s burned into the memory of a lot of Texas homeowners. Winter Storm Uri knocked out power across the state for days. Millions of people sat in houses that were getting colder by the hour, unable to run heat, unable to use water that was freezing in pipes, unable to charge the devices they needed to communicate or get information.
That event changed how a lot of people think about energy resilience. Not as a theoretical concern, but as a practical one that had very real costs — financially and in some cases much worse.
Backup generators are one response to that reality. Here’s what they are, how they work, and how to think about whether one makes sense for your home.
Types of Backup Generators
Portable Generators
Portable generators run on gasoline or propane and can be moved where needed. They’re less expensive upfront — a quality portable generator capable of running critical circuits typically costs $800 to $2,000. They can power a few essential loads: refrigerator, some lighting, phone charging, a window AC unit or a space heater.
The limitations are significant. Portable generators must be operated outdoors — carbon monoxide is deadly, and every year Texans are seriously injured or killed running generators in garages or enclosed spaces during power outages. They require fuel that may be unavailable or difficult to obtain during a widespread outage (remember the gas station lines in February 2021). They need someone to start, monitor, and refuel them. And they don’t automatically come on when the power goes out — you have to be home and capable of setting them up.
Standby Generators (Whole-Home)
Standby generators are permanently installed outside the home, connected to your home’s electrical system through an automatic transfer switch, and fueled by natural gas or propane. When grid power fails, the generator senses the outage, starts automatically, and transfers power to your home within seconds. When grid power returns, it transfers back and the generator shuts off — all without any action required from you.
A whole-home standby generator can power everything in your house that’s on the circuits connected to it — often the entire electrical panel for homes on natural gas, or selected critical circuits for larger systems. Natural gas units draw from your existing gas utility line, so they’re not dependent on stored fuel or supply chains that break down in a crisis.
The tradeoff is cost. A properly sized whole-home standby generator, installed, typically runs $10,000 to $20,000 depending on home size and specifics. This is not a trivial investment. But for families with medical equipment, households that work from home, homes with young children or elderly family members, or anyone who simply refuses to relive February 2021 — the value calculation is clear.
Who Benefits Most
- Families with medical equipment (home oxygen, CPAP, powered mobility devices) where power outages are genuinely dangerous
- Remote workers and home businesses where outages translate directly to lost income
- Homes with elderly residents or young children where temperature extremes pose health risks
- Homeowners with wells — electric pumps stop when the power goes out, which means no water
- Anyone who experienced significant property damage or hardship during Uri and doesn’t want to repeat it
Natural Gas vs. Propane
If your home has natural gas service, a natural gas standby generator is typically the simpler and more reliable choice. The fuel supply is continuous and doesn’t depend on a tank that needs refilling. In San Marcos and most of the I-35 corridor, natural gas service is widely available.
In more rural areas — Wimberley, Marble Falls, parts of Dripping Springs — natural gas service may not be available. Propane-fueled generators are the standard alternative. These require a propane tank sized for the generator’s consumption, and the tank needs to be adequately full before an outage is anticipated.
Backup Generators and Solar Battery Systems
Standby generators and solar battery backup systems serve the same general purpose — keeping your home powered when the grid fails — but they work differently and have different cost profiles. Solar battery systems store energy from your solar panels (or the grid) for use during outages. They’re quiet, require no fuel, and pair naturally with a solar installation. Standby generators burn fuel and produce exhaust but can run indefinitely as long as fuel is available.
For extended outages, a standby generator has more staying power than a battery system alone. For shorter or more frequent outages, a solar battery system may meet the need. Some homeowners install both. The right answer depends on your specific situation.
Divided Sky’s Generator Services
Divided Sky installs backup generators for homes throughout Central Texas. We handle the full installation — generator, transfer switch, fuel connections, permits — and we stand behind the work. If you’ve been thinking about this since Uri and haven’t pulled the trigger yet, there’s no better time to have the conversation.
