Southern Ontario's electrical grid is under more stress than it's ever been. Ice storms, summer thunderstorms, and an increasingly strained infrastructure mean multi-day outages are no longer rare events. For homeowners with medical equipment, freezers full of food, or just a strong preference for keeping the lights on, a backup generator is worth serious consideration.
Portable generators: flexible but limited
A portable generator runs on gasoline (or dual-fuel with propane) and can produce 3,000–12,000 watts. You pull it out when you need it, start it manually, run extension cords to what you need, and that's it. They cost $400–$3,000 and require no permanent installation.
The limitation is in the delivery method. Running multiple extension cords around your home is inconvenient and doesn't power hardwired appliances like your furnace, well pump, or security system. And a portable generator must always be run outdoors, well away from windows and doors — carbon monoxide poisoning from improper generator use kills people every year.
Transfer switches: the missing piece
A transfer switch is an electrical panel component that lets you safely connect a generator to your home's wiring system. Without one, the only way to use a generator is extension cords. With one, you connect the generator to the switch and flip specific circuits over to generator power — no extension cords, and critically, no risk of back-feeding power into the utility lines (which can electrocute utility workers).
Connecting a generator directly to your home's wiring without a transfer switch is illegal and extremely dangerous. It can energize the utility lines outside your home and kill the lineworker trying to restore power to your street.
- Manual transfer switch: A separate small panel you install beside your main panel. You physically move circuit breakers from utility to generator power. Cost: $800–$1,500 installed.
- Automatic transfer switch (ATS): Detects a power outage and automatically starts the generator and switches circuits over. Cost: $1,500–$3,000+ installed, usually paired with a standby generator.
Standby generators: automatic whole-home backup
A standby generator is permanently installed outside your home (like a large HVAC unit), connected to a natural gas or propane supply, and wired to an automatic transfer switch. When the power goes out — even at 3am while you're asleep — the generator starts automatically within seconds and your home's power is restored. When utility power returns, it switches back and shuts itself down.
Standby generators range from 10kW (enough for essential circuits) to 22kW+ (whole-home power). A 14–18kW unit covers most GTA homes completely. Installed cost runs $8,000–$18,000 including the generator, transfer switch, and electrical work.
Ontario permit requirements
Any permanent generator installation — including the transfer switch — requires an ESA permit and inspection in Ontario. This isn't optional. The transfer switch work inside your panel, the generator's electrical connection, and the outdoor wiring all require licensed electrical work. A licensed electrician handles the ESA permit as part of the project.
A standby generator also needs a gas permit if connecting to natural gas. Safer Electric coordinates both the electrical and gas work so you're dealing with one contractor, not two.
Safer Electric Team
Licensed Electricians · Toronto, ON
Our team of licensed GTA electricians writes these guides to help homeowners make informed decisions. Every article is reviewed for technical accuracy.