Welcome to New England Total Power, your trusted partner for residential standby generator solutions. Located conveniently in Greenwich, CT, we proudly serve homeowners across the area, including Stamford and Westchester County. Our dedicated team offers top-tier services featuring industry-leading brands like Generac and Kohler to keep your home safe and powered, no matter what.
Updated: April 15, 2026
When the lights flicker during a nor’easter, most people stop and listen. Is the power coming back, or is this the beginning of another long night without heat, refrigeration, internet, or a working sump pump?
For a business owner, that same outage can bring operations to a halt. Registers go dark. Refrigeration begins warming. Employees lose access to important systems. Customers are left waiting, and every hour of downtime creates another problem to solve.
At New England Total Power, we help homeowners and business owners throughout Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, Darien, Westchester County, and surrounding areas prepare for those moments. We provide residential and commercial standby generator sales, installation, maintenance, and repair using trusted systems from Generac and Kohler.
Because backup power isn’t just about keeping a few lights on. It’s about staying in control when the wind is howling outside, the utility lines are down, and the rest of the neighborhood has gone quiet.
What Is a Standby Generator?
A standby generator is a permanently installed backup power system connected to a home or commercial building. It sits outside the property, much like an air-conditioning unit, and is ready to respond when utility power is interrupted.
The generator works with an automatic transfer switch. Here’s how we think about it: the generator provides the power, while the transfer switch acts as the lookout. It monitors incoming utility electricity, signals the generator to start when an outage occurs, and safely transfers the planned electrical loads to generator power.
When utility service returns and stabilizes, the transfer switch reconnects the property to the grid. The generator then completes its normal shutdown sequence. There’s no need to pull equipment out of storage, run extension cords through the house, or stand outside trying to start an engine during severe weather.
That automatic response is what makes a standby system different. When an outage begins in the middle of the night, the generator doesn’t need someone to wake up and manage it. It gets to work.
Standby Generators vs. Portable Generators
At first, many homeowners think a portable generator will be enough. And for limited, short-term needs, a properly operated portable unit may provide temporary power to selected appliances or circuits.
But then we look at what using one involves. The generator must be moved outdoors and positioned safely away from doors, windows, and vents. Fuel has to be stored and handled correctly. Connections usually need to be made manually, often while the outage and bad weather are already underway.
A standby generator takes a different approach. It’s installed in a permanent location, connected to an approved fuel source, and integrated with the property’s electrical system through transfer equipment. When utility power fails, the system responds automatically.
Honestly, the biggest difference is what happens during the outage itself. With a portable generator, you’re managing equipment while the storm is happening. With a standby generator, the planning and setup have already been handled.
That doesn’t mean a standby system is the right answer for every property. It’s a larger investment, the installation requires careful planning, and the equipment still needs routine maintenance. But for homeowners and businesses that want dependable, automatic backup power, it removes much of the uncertainty and manual work.
Why Backup Power Matters in Connecticut and Westchester County
Around Fairfield County and Westchester County, the weather doesn’t exactly wait for a convenient time. Nor’easters, hurricanes, ice storms, heavy rain, coastal wind, saturated ground, and falling tree limbs can all put pressure on the electrical grid.
And not every outage arrives with a dramatic forecast. A vehicle can damage a utility pole. Equipment can fail. Construction can interrupt service. Sometimes the sky is clear, but the power is still out…
For a homeowner, that interruption can mean falling indoor temperatures, a basement taking on water, or a refrigerator full of food slowly warming. The stress builds quickly when children, older family members, pets, or people working from home depend on the house remaining safe and functional.
For a business, even a short outage may affect customer service, building access, communications, inventory, and revenue. Backup power helps protect the functions that keep a temporary grid failure from becoming a full shutdown.
Choosing the Right Generator Size and Coverage
Generator capacity is usually measured in kilowatts, or kW. In simple terms, that number tells us how much electrical demand the generator can support.
But choosing the right generator isn’t as simple as matching a unit to the square footage of a home or commercial building. Two properties of the same size can have very different electrical needs. One may use natural gas heat and municipal water. Another may rely on heat pumps, a well pump, central air conditioning, and multiple refrigeration units.
So we begin with a practical question: What needs to keep running when the grid goes down?
For a homeowner, that may include heat, refrigeration, a sump pump, a well pump, basic lighting, internet equipment, or selected kitchen circuits. A business may need to protect refrigeration, point-of-sale systems, security equipment, communications, pumps, servers, or specific work areas.
We also consider startup demand. Some motors and compressors briefly require more power when they turn on than they use while operating. Think of pushing a heavy wheelbarrow. Getting it moving takes the most effort. Once it’s rolling, keeping it moving is easier.
That’s why generator sizing has to account for more than normal running wattage. We review the electrical service, major equipment, fuel availability, transfer system, and how the property is expected to function during an outage.
Some customers choose essential-circuit coverage. This directs generator power toward the systems they’ve decided matter most while leaving certain high-demand equipment off.
Others prefer broader or whole-home coverage. But whole-home coverage doesn’t always mean every electrical load should operate at the same time. Even a properly sized system has limits.
Load management can help control that demand. These controls temporarily delay selected equipment when the generator is already carrying a heavy load. Once capacity becomes available, the system can allow that equipment to operate.
Bigger isn’t always better. A well-planned system is better. The goal is to provide the coverage you need without oversizing the equipment or expecting a smaller generator to do more than it was designed to handle.
Residential Standby Generator Solutions
For homeowners, backup power is personal. It’s the relief of hearing the heat continue to run during an ice storm. It’s knowing the basement pump is still moving water while rain pounds against the windows. It’s being able to charge a phone, make coffee, and keep the household moving while utility crews work outside.
And every household has different concerns. Someone working from home may be focused on reliable internet and office equipment. A family with young children may prioritize heat, hot water, lighting, and refrigeration. A property with a well or finished basement may have an entirely different set of priorities.
We take the time to understand how the home operates before recommending a system. That allows us to plan around the way the household actually lives instead of relying on a standard package that may provide too much in one area and not enough in another.
At the end of the day, a residential standby generator should support the parts of home life you’ve decided cannot simply stop when the grid does.
When the grid fails, the home should continue doing the jobs you’ve decided matter most.
Commercial Standby Generator Solutions
For a business, an outage isn’t just inconvenient. It can interrupt revenue, employee productivity, customer communication, inventory protection, and access to the building.
The goal isn’t always to keep every outlet and piece of equipment operating normally. It’s to identify the functions the business cannot afford to lose and build the backup power plan around them.
A restaurant may need to protect refrigeration and point-of-sale equipment. An office may prioritize servers, communications, security, and selected work areas. Another commercial property may depend on pumps, access controls, production equipment, or critical lighting.
We evaluate how the business should operate during an extended outage, not just how much electricity the building uses on an ordinary day. The generator, fuel source, transfer equipment, and electrical distribution all need to support that plan.
When those pieces work together, a commercial standby generator becomes part of a practical continuity strategy. It helps the business remain responsive instead of leaving employees and customers waiting for utility service to return.
Generac and Kohler Standby Generators
New England Total Power works with standby generator systems from Generac and Kohler. Both manufacturers offer dependable residential and commercial backup power equipment, but the right choice depends on more than the name on the enclosure.
We compare available capacity, controls, monitoring options, installation space, fuel requirements, service access, and the long-term needs of the property. One system may fit a tight installation area more comfortably, while another may offer features that better support the owner’s priorities.
And the generator itself is only one part of the system. The transfer equipment, fuel connection, electrical design, placement, and maintenance plan all affect how reliably the system performs.
So rather than beginning with, “Which brand should you buy?” we begin with, “What do you need the system to do?” Once that answer is clear, comparing Generac and Kohler options becomes much more useful.
What to Expect During Standby Generator Installation
A standby generator installation begins with a site assessment. We review the electrical service, available fuel source, possible generator locations, access around the property, and the level of backup coverage being considered.
This is also when we identify practical site conditions. Homes and businesses throughout Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, Darien, and Westchester County may have mature landscaping, stonework, tight side yards, sloped lots, limited utility access, or carefully designed outdoor living areas.
Those conditions don’t necessarily prevent an installation. They simply mean the placement and project plan have to be thoughtful.
Once the system design is established, the work may involve site preparation, electrical installation, fuel coordination, transfer-switch installation, permits, inspections, equipment startup, and testing. The exact process depends on the property, generator system, and local requirements.
Our experienced team helps coordinate those steps so the owner isn’t left trying to determine which department needs which paperwork. Requirements can vary between Connecticut towns and Westchester municipalities, so local experience matters.
After installation, we test the generator and transfer system to confirm that the planned loads respond properly. We also explain what the owner should expect during an outage, exercise cycle, warning notification, or service visit.
