Posted on Thursday, 22nd May 2025 by

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At 5:02 p.m. on April 29th, a storm raged through our community, with winds of 70 to 80 miles per hour, straight-line winds, and rain with hail. This unusual weather event in Pittsburgh lasted 5 to 10 minutes, yet the damage was extensive and spread across several counties.

Over 500,000 homes were without electricity. We lost hundreds of dollars in groceries and sat in darkness for three days before I located a 2300-Watt gas-powered inverter generator, a lifesaver that brought light back to our home.

Not my First Rodeo

I experienced several natural disasters throughout my life, including Hurricane Camille that ripped through Biloxi, Mississippi, three months before I married my wife and brought her down to the devastation in the area.

In my memoir, I recollect the events of this disaster: “I was in Biloxi for two and a half months. About halfway through phase one of my training, Hurricane Camille hit on Aug 17, 1969. This massive Category 5 storm was devastating; in one night, the world turned upside down.”

I further state, “When it hit, all hell broke loose. We were on the first floor of a two-story building; a corner of the building collapsed. The rain was so intense that water leaked through the floor above in sheets, and ceiling tiles cascaded down on us throughout the night. Cars, trees, and debris were blown down the street. No one slept.”

Camille caused tremendous damage and produced a storm surge of 24 feet. It flattened nearly everything along the Mississippi coast and caused additional flooding and deaths inland. Camille killed more than 259 people and caused approximately $12.2 billion in inflation-adjusted damage.

Coping With the Current Event

Eight days later, 10,000 were still without power. We were fortunate to have power restored on day 5. I can only imagine what those in North Carolina and Florida suffered through when Hurricane Helene devastated entire communities; some will never recover.

Ours was a minor inconvenience compared to what they suffered through. Yet, being without power and sitting in the dark for 4 of those five days was upending and made one think about how our society is 100 percent reliant on this one power source. We are just one major solar flare event or a cascading power station failure away from mass mayhem and anarchy—something to think about.

Whole House Power Backup

About six months ago, one of our neighbors requested a quote for a whole-house backup system from a major big-box store. The price they quoted seemed high and unreasonable.

Shortly after the recent power failure, my neighbor asked another contractor for a quote, and they provided an installation estimate for both of us. I received the quote this week for $12,640. The quote includes everything needed to install a 20 KW Kohler standby generator with a 200-amp automatic transfer switch and tap into our natural gas line.

Gary, a good friend, texted me that he signed up for a Generac backup power quote from Costco, and they were offering an extended 7-year warranty. If you accept the deal, Costco gives you a Costco shopping card worth 10% of the sale price. If they are competitive, this is a great deal all around.

Estimated Cost

The cost depends on the size of your electrical load. For the average home, a backup engine generator that runs on natural gas, propane, or diesel fuel, with a capacity of 10,000 watts (10 kW), is recommended to power essential appliances and lighting during power outages.

This size typically handles the draw from major appliances, lights, and other critical appliances. A 15 kW or larger generator may be required for bigger homes or those with more demanding needs.

According to a local flyer, the average cost for a Generac backup power system, including installation, is as follows:

  • 5 kW $7,599
  • 10 kW $8,599
  • 14 kW $9,599
  • 22 kW $9,999
  • 24 kW $10,999
  • 26 kW $11,999

These prices include a unit pad, oil heater kit, whole-house surge protection, and electrical and gas or LP connections. I like that whole-house surge suppression is included.

Costs will vary depending on the complexity of the installation, including factors such as easy access to the power source, electrical difficulties, and the location of the outside unit. Generac generators are American-made and shouldn’t be impacted by tariffs levied on imports.

End Notes

Coping with the power outage isn’t the only issue after an event like this; it’s the damage done by whatever nature throws at you, such as roof and structural damage from the 70 to 80 mile per hour winds that lasted on and off for maybe 10 minutes at a time in our case.

We lost all the contents of two freezers and refrigerators, amounting to approximately $1,000 in food alone. We are still waiting for insurance adjusters to review the damage estimates we received from contractors. The yard cleanup also took time, but it’s still a minor inconvenience compared to those suffering from major natural disasters that impact many people yearly.

There are many options for backup power, ranging from small, portable inverter units to major players like Kohler and Generac, which can power your entire house for days on end.

This 2300-Watt inverter unit ran for 30 hours straight

According to Google’s AI search, “Kohler and Generac are both leading brands in home standby generators, with Kohler generally considered to have higher quality and reliability and a higher price. Generac offers a broader range of price points and may be a better option for those on a budget or with lower power needs.”

Wires Everywhere

My wife and I decided to purchase a whole-house unit even though long-term outages are, on average, few and far between. Power lines in our plan are underground; however, all of the feeds to our plan are above ground, with trees lining the way in most cases. We experience short power outages many times throughout the year, and at other times, lights flicker. While writing this article, we lost power for several minutes.

Another factor influencing our decision is that whole-house backup generators can enhance a home’s resale value. Buyers view it as a premium feature, and they can increase a home’s value by up to 5% or more.

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Disclaimer: The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, medical procedures, investment, and benefit information are subject to change. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact relevant parties for assistance including OPM’s retirement center.

Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The information contained herein should not be considered investment advice and may not be suitable for your situation. This service is not affiliated with OPM or any federal entity. You should consult with a financial, medical or human resource professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

 

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