Fire season runs May through November — and Chico knows what PSPS shutoffs and extended outages feel like. Automatic standby power that starts itself in seconds, sized for your whole home.
When a wildfire or PSPS shutoff knocks out power across Butte County, it doesn't come back in an hour — it comes back in days. Refrigerators full of food, medical devices, home offices and AC in 95-degree heat all hang on the same question: do you have backup power or don't you? A whole-home standby generator answers it permanently, starting automatically within seconds of an outage whether you're home or not.
Electrician Chico connects you with electricians who handle the complete installation: sizing the unit to your actual loads, setting the pad, running the gas or propane connections with licensed partners, installing the automatic transfer switch pulling permits and commissioning the system. Installs scheduled in spring beat the post-storm rush every time — after a named storm, lead times stretch to months.
Every job is quoted in writing before work begins — these ranges reflect typical Chico-area pricing.
| Service | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Portable inlet box + transfer switch | $900 – $1,800 |
| 10–14kW standby (essentials) | $8,000 – $11,000 |
| 18–22kW standby (most homes) | $10,000 – $14,000 |
| 24–26kW+ (large homes / dual HVAC) | $13,000 – $18,000 |
| Automatic transfer switch (incl. above) | — |
| Annual maintenance plan | $250 – $500/yr |
Final pricing depends on your home's specifics. Your quote is always firm before work starts.
Licensed, insured electricians serving Chico and the North Valley — upfront pricing, same-week appointments.
Installed turnkey, most Chico homes land between $10,000 and $15,000 including the unit, transfer switch, pad, fuel connections, permits and startup. Smaller essential-circuit systems start around $8,000; large homes with dual HVAC systems run higher. Quotes are always itemized and written.
It depends on what you want running: a 10–14kW unit covers essentials (fridge, lights, some outlets, one HVAC stage), while 18–22kW runs most whole homes including central AC. A proper load calculation — not a guess from square footage — determines the right size.
Portables work, with real tradeoffs: manual setup in the rain, refueling every few hours, extension cords through windows, and carbon-monoxide risk if placed too close to the house. A transfer switch with an inlet box ($900–$1,800) makes a portable far safer — but only a standby unit starts itself when you're not home.
Before June. Every named storm that threatens the California coast triggers a wave of generator calls, and installers book out months. Scheduling in late winter or spring means better pricing attention, faster permitting, and power security before the season starts.
Dead outlets, tripping breakers, flickering lights, mystery power losses — diagnosed fast and fixed to code by licensed Chico electricians.
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200-amp panel upgrades, breaker replacements and Federal Pacific / Zinsco replacements — power your whole home safely, sized for EVs and modern HVAC.
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Recessed lighting, under-cabinet LEDs, pendants, chandeliers, landscape and security lighting — designed and installed cleanly, dimmers included.
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Fan-rated boxes, proper bracing, balanced mounting and wall controls — installed right so they run silent on high, all Chico summer long.
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Level 2 home charging installed to code — dedicated 240V circuit, load calculation, permits handled, most installs done in half a day.
Learn More →From summer PSPS shutoffs to wildfire-season outages, Chico homes need an electrician who picks up the phone. Call now — a local pro is ready to help.
