Cost is an important consideration but the real question is can you afford to be without electricity? What value do you place on the security, comfort and peace of mind that comes from 24/7 control over electric outages, especially longer duration outages associated with the severe weather in our state?

Costs can vary widely because of the many factors involved in the generator purchase and installation process.

• What are my kilowatt (KW) power needs? Do I want to back up a few essential circuits or
the whole house?
• Where do I want to place the generator? Is it close to the gas and electric meter?
• Are permits required?
• Do I want to install a second natural gas service line and meter to serve just the generator or simply upgrade the existing meter?
• Where is your gas and electric meter located? The lowest cost installation can be obtained if the electric meter and gas meter are next to each other Installation costs range a bit higher when the
• One general rule of thumb is that the installation costs will closely approximate the cost of the generator equipment. This isn’t always true but it’s a starting point for budgeting.

Can you give an example of the costs of a typical installation?

A standard installation package for a 2,000 square-foot home usually requires a 16 to 17 kilowatt (KW) generator, which costs approximately $8,500 to $10,000 installed and typically includes six feet of electric and six feet of gas line, city permits and licenses required for the installation. As noted before, larger generators and/or more feet of gas and electric lines will increase the installation cost. The participating dealer will help you determine the most cost-effective solution for you.

What about the cost of generators at home improvement stores?

You’ve probably seen generators for sale at some of the larger home improvement stores. Often the listed prices reflect the purchase cost of the generator and not the total installed cost. By participating in the CenterPoint Energy program, a participating dealer will provide you with a turnkey solution, which includes a correctly sized generator and the proper connections to your electrical and natural gas service.

Are financing options available?

Yes. Financing, service and maintenance contracts and other options that make owning a generator easier and more affordable are available through participating dealers. Ask the dealer for details.

Because each generator installation is somewhat unique, it's difficult to determine actual costs without a site visit by a participating dealer and a CenterPoint Energy representative. We recommended you complete the registration form to have our participating dealers contact you and arrange a FREE onsite visit to determine the actual generator installation cost. You can also call toll free 855-713-POWER to contact a participating dealer.

Operating costs will vary depending on the size of the generator, duration of an outage and the cost of natural gas. For a simple calculation, assume you have a 20KW generator operating at half-load, running for one hour, and hooked up to your existing natural gas service from CenterPoint Energy. The generator will typically use 1.61 CCFH (hundred cubic feet per hour) x $0.68220 per CCF(CenterPoint Energy Houston natural gas rate per CCF as of March 2016). Your natural gas cost for one hour of use is $1.10. At full load, the cost is $3.09 per hour. See current natural gas prices for your area.

Assume you have a 12KW portable gasoline generator. At half-load, the gasoline generator will use about 9 gallons over a ten-hour period before refueling is required. At .9 gallons per hour x $2.00 per gallon, your cost for one hour of operation is $1.80. That’s nearly three times the operating cost of a comparable natural gas standby generator ($0.64) plus you never have to worry about refueling. A gasoline generator will need to be refilled at least twice in a 24-hour period assuming you can find an open gas station.

Installing a standby generator is a complex job best left to trained and licensed professionals, such as CenterPoint Energy's participating dealers.

The installation time can range from several days to several weeks or more. Installation times vary based on the complexity of the installation. Factors that can add time to the installation process include:

• acquisition of permits
• homeowner’s association approval
• amount of wiring and piping to connect the generator to your home’s natural gas supply and electric service panel.

Generator sales and installations peak during periods of severe weather so it’s best to plan ahead as much as reasonably possible. The great news is that our participating dealers automatically qualify for CenterPoint Energy's streamlined service process which helps expedite the installation of your generator.

If your property is within the city limits, you will likely require certain permits and inspections as part of the installation process. Your participating dealer will secure all necessary permits for you.

No. CenterPoint Energy only provides the reliable supply of natural gas that fuels your generator. The participating dealers handle the turnkey installation from initial site visit to final testing of the unit.

Generators require a steady supply of natural gas at a specific pressure to operate properly.

In most cases, this will require an upgrade of your existing meter to serve your generator and other natural gas appliances or an additional service line and meter. Your participating dealer will make this assessment along with the assistance of a trained CenterPoint Energy representative, if necessary.

If CenterPoint Energy installs an additional natural gas service line and meter, each month you will receive a separate bill for your second meter.