FAQ
How much does a standby generator cost in the Hamptons?
Generac, the manufacturer, sizes an 18–22 kilowatt unit as the "sweet spot" for a roughly 2,000-square-foot house, and its own 22 kilowatt unit lists at $6,309–7,369 before installation. Installed, a whole-house standby generator runs $1,516–8,810 nationally by one guide (average $5,160) — though two other guides say $1,540–8,740 and $5,505–10,245. Putting the unit price together with typical installation, a pad and a permit works out to roughly $8,900–13,900 all-in for a 22 kilowatt unit. The Town of Southampton charges a flat $200 generator permit. Two real East End electrical companies already sell standby generators as a standard service line.
Last updated · Reviewed by Water Mill Electric Co.
Why size comes before price
Generac, the largest generator manufacturer and the only one whose sizing guidance we could read directly, says plainly: bigger is not automatically better. Size follows peak electrical load, not square footage. Its own guidance: a roughly 1,550-square-foot house typically needs 10–14 kilowatts (18 if a heat pump or medical equipment is on the circuit); an 18–22 kilowatt unit is the "sweet spot" for about 2,000 square feet; and 22 kilowatts is described as "the industry standard" for whole-home coverage up to roughly 3,000 square feet.
What the unit costs
Generac's own current retail pricing, read directly from the manufacturer: a 10 kilowatt unit lists at $3,769–4,619, 14 kW at $4,889–5,949, 18 kW at $5,709–6,769, 22 kW at $6,309–7,369, up to a 60 kW commercial-scale unit at $27,699. These are unit-only prices — installation, the transfer switch, the pad and the permit are all separate.
What installation adds
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Manual transfer switch | $500–2,000 |
| Automatic transfer switch | $2,000–30,000 |
| Concrete pad | ~$1,000 (18 sq ft) or $50–75/sq ft |
| Permit, national | $50–200 |
| Annual maintenance | $80–300 |
Three disagreeing "all-in" figures
One national guide puts the average whole-house standby install at $5,160 (range $1,516–8,810); a different page from the very same publisher says $1,540–8,740; a third guide says $5,505–10,245. Putting Generac's own 22 kW unit price together with typical installation labor, a pad and a permit works out to roughly $8,900–13,900 all-in for that size — narrower than, but broadly consistent with, one unverified vendor's $8,000–16,000 estimate. We show the range rather than one number, because that is what the sources actually support.
The Hamptons permit fee — a real, current number
The Town of Southampton charges a flat $200 for a residential generator permit, per its fee schedule effective January 2, 2026 — the same schedule that prices an EV charger permit at $100 and outdoor lighting at $200.
Why this matters more on the South Fork
Tropical Storm Isaias, in August 2020, cut power to roughly 645,000 Long Island customers, with full restoration taking up to eight days. South Fork towns run anywhere from about half to more than 60% seasonal or vacant housing, meaning most houses here have nobody watching when the power goes out — exactly the case a standby generator, and Generac's own remote-monitoring feature, are built for. Two real East End electrical companies already sell standby generators as a standard service line, alongside landscape lighting and, in one case, EV chargers.
What we do
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