A home generator is one of those purchases where the sticker price of the unit is only part of the story — installation often costs as much as the equipment. Here's the real 2026 picture for Ontario homeowners.
Standby generator: total installed cost
A permanently installed standby generator typically runs **$8,000–$18,000 installed**, broken down roughly as:
- **The unit and automatic transfer switch:** $4,000–$10,000, depending on size (kW) and brand. - **Installation** — electrical wiring, transfer switch hookup, concrete or composite pad, gas connection, and permits: $4,000–$8,000.
A smaller generator backing up essential circuits sits at the low end; a whole-home unit sized to run central air and heavy loads sits at the high end. The automatic transfer switch is what makes a standby system hands-off — it senses the outage, starts the generator, and switches your home over within seconds, then switches back when utility power returns.
What size — and how it changes the price
Sizing is the single biggest cost lever. A **10–14 kW** unit covers the essentials most people care about in an outage: furnace, fridge and freezer, sump pump, some lights and outlets, internet. Add **central air conditioning, electric heat, or an EV charger** to the must-run list and you move into **18–24 kW or larger**, which costs more for both the unit and the heavier electrical work. An electrician sizes the generator from a proper load calculation, so you neither overpay for capacity you won't use nor undersize and trip it during an outage.
The portable alternative
If automatic, whole-home backup isn't the priority, a **portable generator paired with a manual transfer switch or generator inlet** is far cheaper — roughly **$1,500–$4,000** all in. You roll it out, fuel it, and start it yourself, and a properly installed transfer switch lets it safely power selected circuits in your panel. The trade-offs are obvious: you have to be home, fuel it with gasoline, and it powers less. But for occasional outages it's a sensible, budget-friendly option, and the transfer-switch install is the part you want done by a licensed electrician — never backfeed a generator through a dryer outlet, which is dangerous and illegal.
What affects your quote
Beyond size, the variables are: **distance** from the generator location to the panel and the gas line (longer runs cost more), **gas supply** (natural gas needs a TSSA-licensed gas fitter and sometimes a meter upgrade; propane needs a tank), **electrical capacity** (a panel upgrade may be needed to add the transfer switch), and the **pad and placement** to meet clearance rules from windows and the property line.
Permits and who does the work
A standby install requires an **ESA electrical permit and inspection** for the transfer switch and wiring, and the gas connection falls under **TSSA** rules requiring a licensed gas fitter. City Power handles the electrical side and coordinates the rest so it's one project, not three. We size, supply, and install home generators across the GTA — call 416-837-4038 or request a free estimate and we'll spec the right system from your actual loads.