Standby Generator Installation · Louisiana

Standby Generator Installation in Louisiana

A standby generator is a permanently installed unit, usually fueled by natural gas or propane, that starts on its own when the power goes out and switches your home over through an automatic transfer switch.

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Local notes for 3 Louisiana cities

A standby generator on a concrete pad beside a house

Standby Generator Installation across Louisiana

Standby Generator Installation in New Orleans, LA

Hurricane Ida in 2021 left all of New Orleans without power when the transmission lines into the city failed, some homes for more than a week in extreme heat, and standby generators became far more common afterward. Natural-gas units with automatic transfer switches are popular, and Entergy New Orleans, which also provides gas, may need to upgrade the meter.

Older homes often have original or patched wiring, and raised homes may have wiring running in crawl spaces exposed to moisture and pests. Panels, AC units and generators in flood-prone areas are often elevated.

Standby Generator Installation in Baton Rouge, LA

Hurricanes Gustav in 2008 and Ida in 2021 both left much of Baton Rouge without power for days in heat and humidity, and the August 2016 flood added another reason to plan carefully. Many families choose a natural-gas standby generator with an automatic transfer switch, sized to run central air, and in neighborhoods that flooded in 2016, such as parts of Southdowns and the areas along the Amite and Comite rivers, the unit should sit on a raised platform.

Older homes may have original or patched wiring, and many suburban homes rebuilt after the 2016 flood were rewired from the floor up. Generators, surge protection and post-flood inspections are common requests.

Standby Generator Installation in Shreveport, LA

The February 2021 winter storm left many Shreveport homes without power for days in freezing temperatures, and summer storms bring long outages in the heat. Natural-gas standby generators with automatic transfer switches are a popular choice, and the gas meter may need upgrading for a whole-house unit.

Older homes may have original wiring and small services, and mid-century homes often have full panels with little room for new circuits. Air conditioning runs for much of the year, stressing older circuits.

What standby generator installation involves

Unlike a portable generator, a standby unit sits on a pad outside the home, runs a self-test each week, and takes over within seconds of an outage without anyone being home. It can power selected circuits or, if sized for it, the whole house including central air.

Installation combines electrical, fuel and site work: an automatic transfer switch at or near the panel, a gas line or propane tank sized for the unit, and a placement that meets the manufacturer's and local code clearances from windows, doors and property lines.

Signs to look for

Outages that last a day or more in your area
Medical equipment, sump pumps or home offices that cannot lose power
No one home to set up a portable generator during storms
Wanting central air or heat to run during outages
Natural gas already at the home

What moves the price

Generator size in kilowatts
Whole-house versus essential-circuit transfer switch
Distance from the panel and gas meter
Gas meter or propane tank upgrades
Pad, placement and HOA or flood-elevation requirements
Permits and gas work

Standby Generator Installation in Louisiana: questions

Where in Louisiana is standby generator installation common?

Our local notes cover New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport. Hurricane Ida in 2021 left all of New Orleans without power when the transmission lines into the city failed, some homes for more than a week in extreme heat, and standby generators became far more common afterward.

Who issues permits for standby generator installation in Louisiana?

The city or county building department where the home is. New Orleans: Electrical permits in New Orleans are issued by the city's Department of Safety and Permits, and historic districts may need separate review for exterior changes. Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish share a consolidated city-parish government, and electrical permits come from its Department of Development; Baker, Central and Zachary issue their own. Shreveport: Electrical permits in Shreveport come from the city's Permits and Inspections Division, where electrical contractors must also register; Bossier City and unincorporated Caddo Parish issue their own.

What size standby generator do I need?

It depends on what you want to run. Essential circuits may need a smaller unit; whole-house backup with central air needs more. A load calculation decides.

Standby or portable generator?

A portable generator with an inlet and interlock costs less but has to be set up and refueled by hand. A standby unit starts and switches over by itself.

Can a standby generator run on propane?

Yes. Most run on natural gas or propane; the fuel supply must be sized for the unit.

Related help in Louisiana

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