Home › Guides › Generators

Installing a generator: steps and cost

From the visit to the first outage: who does what, in which order, how long it takes, and the items that really change the bill.

Get a quote

By the master electricians of STM-ÉlectriqueRBQ licence 5815-0137-01Sources checked on September 11, 2026

Recommended byCAA-Québec

In short

The job comes down to three parts: the base, the electrical hookup, the fuel.

Natural gas or propane calls for a different trade than the electrician.
The transfer switch is the bulk of the electrical work; manual or automatic, installed, its price is in the quote.
The generator itself, its base and the fuel are extra.
It ends with a load test, not just a start-up.

Jump to a section6

Before the work
The job
The fuel
The final test
What changes the bill
Frequently asked questions

Before: visit, choice, permit

Installing a standby generator isn’t just setting down a machine. It means coordinating three trades around one date, and making sure the whole thing starts on its own six months later, at three in the morning, with nobody home.

Three things are settled before a single tool comes out of the truck.

The list of circuits to back up. It’s the starting point, and it’s what determines the unit’s output and the transfer switch’s capacity. Sump pump, heating, refrigerator, a few outlets: we draw up the list together.

The location. It must respect the required clearances from the building and openings, and take into account access for maintenance, noise for you and your neighbour, and snow build-up. It’s a decision we make on site, outdoors, not on a plan.

Declaration and permit. The electrical work is declared to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec by the master electrician, and the Régie may inspect it. Depending on the municipality, a municipal permit may also be required. Depending on the municipality and the fuel chosen, other authorizations may be added: we check for your address.

The job, part by part

Part	Who does it	What it includes
The base	Depending on the case, the general contractor or the supplier	A stable, level footing, out of the snow build-up area
The electrical hookup	Us	Transfer switch, backup panel, moving the circuits, wiring to the unit
The fuel	The gas or propane trade	Tank or connection to the gas network, piping, leak tests

The electrical part is the one that requires shutting off the power: we work inside the panel and move the circuits you chose to the backup panel. Depending on how many there are, count a few hours. You get the exact time window beforehand, not the same morning.

Connecting the fuel

This is the part that surprises people the most, because it isn’t the electrician’s job.

A standby generator running on natural gas or propane must be connected by the trade qualified for that fuel. It isn’t a matter of internal organization: it’s a matter of qualification, and an electrician who offered to do both should worry you.

What it changes in practice: there are two companies to coordinate on the same date. It’s the main source of delay on this kind of project, and it’s why a generator isn’t installed in three days.

If you’re on natural gas, check early that the service reaches your home and what capacity is available. If you’re going with propane, it’s the size and location of the tank that come into play, and that’s decided before the base is poured, not after.

The final test

A start-up isn’t a test. What needs checking is that the whole system works the way it will on the day of the outage:

We simulate the loss of the grid, for real.
We check that the generator starts and that the transfer switch switches over within the expected time.
We check that the backed-up circuits are the ones on the list, and that they hold the load, sump pump included.
We restore the grid and check that the transfer switch switches back and stops the unit.
We show you what to look at, and what the manufacturer’s manual says about maintenance.

You then receive the work report and the details of what was done. Keep it: it’s what your insurer will ask for, and the next buyer.

At the stage of asking for prices?

We look, we work out the price, and you have it in writing before any work begins.

Send my quote request

What changes the bill

The price of the electrical work, a 60 amp manual transfer switch or an automatic one, installed, I give you in the written quote, free of charge. The generator, the base and the fuel come on top.

What moves the rest:

The number of circuits to back up. Each circuit moved to the backup panel is work, and it pushes the required output up.
The distance between the panel and the location. It means cable and conduit, plus a trench when the line has to cross the yard.
The condition of your panel. If it’s full or at the end of its life, the project brings another one with it.
The fuel. Connecting to an existing natural gas line has nothing in common with installing a propane tank.
Access. A landscaped yard, a fence, a slab to cross: all of that costs money.

Our way of working stays the same: we look, we work out the price, and that price goes into the written quote before anything begins.

Rénoclimat: up to $1,000 for the hookup. Since October 1, 2026, Rénoclimat pays up to $1,000 toward the labour of a master electrician who connects a backup power source to the panel of your principal residence, a duplex, a triplex or a building with at least four units. The Québec government describes this measure as connecting a “backup power source fed by renewable energy”: for a generator, have Rénoclimat confirm its eligibility before counting on this rebate. The home must have been built and lived in for at least five years. The rebate doesn’t cover buying the generator or the transfer switch. You apply yourself, no later than 12 months after the work. Rénoclimat 2026: up to $1,000 to connect a backup power source

Frequently asked questions

How long does the project take?

The work on site is counted in days, not weeks. What drags it out is the coordination between trades and the unit’s availability. Allow plenty of time, and above all don’t start the process in November.

Is a concrete pad required?

You need a stable, level footing that keeps the unit out of snow build-up and water. The exact form depends on the model and the yard: the manufacturer’s manual sets its requirements, and they take precedence.

Who connects the gas?

Not the electrician. Natural gas and propane are the job of the trade qualified for those fuels. We coordinate with them, but we don’t do that work, and nobody should offer to do it for you.

Is a permit required?

For the electrical work, we declare it to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, which may inspect it. A municipal permit may also be required depending on the city: we check it for your address. Depending on your municipality and the fuel, other authorizations may be added: we check for your address before starting.

How far from the house?

Health Canada recommends at least 6 metres between a running generator and any building. The other clearances, from openings and air intakes, are set by the manufacturer and by the applicable regulations: they’re determined on site, with the manual of the model chosen.

Does the power have to be shut off?

Yes, for a few hours: long enough to put in the transfer switch and move the circuits you want backed up over to the backup panel. The length varies with how many circuits there are, and we give you the window ahead of the work.

Is there yearly maintenance?

Yes, and it’s what separates a generator that starts on the day of the outage from one that doesn’t. The frequency and the items to check are in the manufacturer’s manual. A unit left ten years without maintenance is a false sense of security.

A generator to install?

We draw up the list of circuits, coordinate with the fuel trade, and finish with a real load test, not just a start-up.

Get a quote Call 438-542-7304

4.9 from 469 Google reviews · RBQ licence 5815-0137-01 · CMEQ members · Free detailed quote

Get a quote: generator

Sources

The figures and requirements cited in this guide come from the official pages below, consulted on September 11, 2026. Programs change: check the page’s update date before committing to any expense.