the Hamptons
Standby generators for Hamptons houses: sizing, cost and the real local market
A whole-house standby generator, installed, runs $1,516–8,810 by one national guide (average $5,160) — though a different guide from the same publisher says $1,540–8,740 and a third says $5,505–10,245. Generac, the manufacturer, says an 18–22 kilowatt unit is the "sweet spot" for a roughly 2,000-square-foot house and that bigger is not automatically better; its own 22 kilowatt unit lists at $6,309–7,369 before installation. The Town of Southampton charges a flat $200 generator permit.
Last updated · Reviewed by Water Mill Electric Co.
Why this is a real category here, not a pitch
Two currently operating East End electrical companies already sell exactly this combination — a standby generator alongside landscape lighting, pool wiring and, in one case, EV chargers — as a standard service line, not a hypothetical upsell. Neither publishes pricing; both work on a call-for-a-quote basis, which is why the ranges below matter more as a planning tool than as a quote.
Why a second home needs one more than a primary residence
Tropical Storm Isaias, in August 2020, knocked out power to roughly 645,000 Long Island customers, with full restoration taking up to eight days. A house with someone home rides that out with flashlights and a cooler. A house nobody is watching loses its well pump, its sump pump and any freeze alarm at the exact moment they matter most, which is the specific case a standby generator is sold against.
Sizing it correctly
Generac, the manufacturer, publishes its own sizing guidance directly: a roughly 1,550-square-foot home typically needs 10–14 kilowatts (stepping up to 18 kilowatts if there's a heat pump or medical equipment 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. Generac's own stated principle is that bigger is not automatically better — the right size follows peak electrical load, not the square footage of the house.
What it costs
| Size | Install cost, by kW (one guide) |
|---|---|
| 1–6 kW | $500–1,800 |
| 14–18 kW | $4,000–5,500 |
| 20–24 kW | $5,000–6,500 |
| 26–32 kW | $6,500–15,000 |
Average installed cost by that same guide is $5,160 (range $1,516–8,810); a different page from the same publisher says $1,540–8,740, and a third guide says $5,505–10,245 — three figures, not reconciled. On top of the generator itself: a manual transfer switch runs $500–2,000, an automatic one $2,000–30,000; a concrete pad is about $1,000 for 18 square feet (or $50–75 per square foot); a permit nationally is $50–200; annual maintenance runs $80–300.
Generac's own current retail pricing for the unit alone: a 10 kW unit lists at $3,769–4,619, an 18 kW at $5,709–6,769, a 22 kW at $6,309–7,369, up to a 60 kW commercial-scale unit at $27,699 — installation, transfer switch, pad and permit are all separate from these unit prices. Putting a 22 kW unit's MSRP together with typical installation labor, a pad and a permit works out to roughly $8,900–13,900 all-in — narrower than, but broadly consistent with, one unverified vendor estimate of $8,000–16,000 for the same scope. We show both figures rather than present either as the number.
Southampton's permit fee
A flat $200 for a residential generator, per the Town's 2026 fee schedule — the same schedule that prices an EV charger permit at $100 and outdoor lighting at $200. Generac's units also offer remote monitoring (Mobile Link), confirmed as a real, current feature on the company's own site, though we could not independently verify its cost or full functionality this session.
What we do
Tell us the size of the house and whether you want whole-house or partial coverage, and we put you in touch with one licensed, insured electrician who installs and permits standby generators in your town. Free for homeowners.
FAQ
Common questions
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.
Read the full answer →Do I need a permit for a generator, EV charger or outdoor lighting in Southampton?
Yes, all three are separately permitted electrical work under the Town of Southampton's own 2026 fee schedule: a generator is a flat $200, an EV charging station is $100 each, and outdoor or landscape/pool lighting is $200 — one code covers both landscape and pool-adjacent fixtures under a single filing. The standard electrical permit application has dedicated fields for a generator's size and fuel type and for the number of EV chargers being installed, and it requires the contractor's Suffolk County electrical license number. A roughly 3% credit-card surcharge applies to fees paid by card. Outside Southampton Town, the permit desk and the fee differ — the electrician we send you to your town knows which one applies and files it.
How does Water Mill Electric Co. work?
Tell us what's going on with the house — an emergency, a repair, a generator, an EV charger, lighting, a rewire, or new construction — and where it is. We put you in touch with one licensed, insured electrician who works your town and does that kind of work, and they call you back, typically the same day for a genuine emergency. From there it's their quote, their schedule, their warranty. It's free for homeowners; participating electricians pay us a referral fee for the introduction. We are not an electrical contractor, we don't sell equipment, generators, panels or solar, and we don't sell your details — the one company we send you to is the only one that gets your number. We cover 9 South Fork towns and 7 kinds of electrical work.
Related
Other services
Emergency Electrical Repair
No power, sparking or a burning smell: what to do before the electrician arrives, what a service call costs nationally, and why no Hamptons electrician publishes a flat emergency rate.
Electrical Repair & Troubleshooting
A dead outlet, a flickering light, a breaker that trips for no obvious reason: national rates, what an inspection costs, and why an old house sometimes turns a small repair into a bigger conversation.
Panel & Service Upgrades
Upgrading a panel to 200 or 400 amps for a renovation, a generator or an EV charger: three disagreeing national cost estimates, and the one real, current Southampton Town permit fee schedule.
EV Chargers
What a Level 2 home EV charger costs installed, the PSEG Long Island rebate that cuts the price, and the flat $100 Southampton Town permit fee.
Landscape, Pool & Outdoor Lighting
What low-voltage landscape lighting and pool lighting cost per fixture and for a whole project, and the flat $200 Southampton Town permit that covers both.
Rewiring, Additions & New Construction
Whole-house rewiring costs vary by 2–3x across national cost guides, even from the same publisher; what the National Electrical Code requires, and what an old house’s wiring does to insurance.
Book an electrician for generators
Sixty seconds. One licensed, insured electrician who works your town calls you back — typically the same day for a real emergency, within one business day otherwise. Free for homeowners; nobody else gets your number.
We use what you send us only to put you in touch with the right electrician. Never sold, never used for marketing. Privacy policy.