Short answer
A standby generator is permanently installed outside, runs on natural gas or propane, and starts on its own through an automatic transfer switch when the power goes out. A portable generator can power the house safely only through a transfer switch or interlock with an inlet, never by backfeeding an outlet. Select Electric sells and installs generators for homes and businesses in Midland, Bay and Saginaw Counties.
A generator only helps if it is connected safely and sized for what you actually need during an outage. Most of the work is in the planning: which circuits matter, what the panel can accept, where the unit can sit, and how it gets its fuel.
Standby vs. Portable
Standby Generators
Mounted on a pad outside, connected to natural gas or a propane tank, and wired through an automatic transfer switch. When utility power fails, the generator starts and takes over in seconds, and hands back to the utility when power returns. It works whether or not anyone is home, which matters for sump pumps, freezers, medical equipment and businesses.
Portable Generators
Less expensive and flexible, but they have to be started, fueled and run outdoors, well away from doors and windows because of carbon monoxide. To power house circuits, a portable generator plugs into an inlet box wired to a manual transfer switch or an interlock on the panel.
Why Backfeeding Is Dangerous
Plugging a generator into a dryer or wall outlet with a male-to-male cord (a "suicide cord") sends power backward through the panel. If the main breaker is on, that power goes out onto the utility lines and is stepped up by the transformer, where it can kill a line worker who expects the line to be dead. It can also destroy the generator and start a fire when utility power returns. A transfer switch or interlock prevents all of this. See power's out: generator questions.
How the Job Goes
- What needs to run. We go through the loads that matter to you and do a load calculation.
- Equipment and location. Generator size, transfer switch or interlock, placement that meets clearance requirements, and fuel supply.
- Permit. We pull the permit and schedule the inspection where your city, township or the State requires it.
- Install. Pad, wiring, transfer equipment and connection to the panel. Gas or propane connections are made by a qualified gas installer where required.
- Test and walk-through. We simulate an outage, confirm the transfer works, and show you how to run and maintain the system.
What It Costs
This work is priced per job, because the building, the distances and what's already in the panel are different every time. Ask for a written quote that lists the materials and everything included. For what drives electrical prices in general, see what electrical work costs.
Local Detail: Storms, Floods and Propane
Winter ice and wind storms are the most common reason for long outages in Midland, Bay and Saginaw Counties, and a cold house with no heat is more than an inconvenience. Basements are another concern: the May 2020 Edenville and Sanford dam failures flooded parts of Midland and Sanford, and a sump pump that stops when the power goes out is a common way basements flood. If water has already reached your panel or outlets, see flooded basement or wet electrical first.
Fuel matters too. According to the U.S. Census (American Community Survey, 2020–2024), 16% of homes in Midland County heat with propane, mostly rural homes beyond the gas lines. A standby generator can run from propane, and we can talk through whether your existing tank is large enough for the run time you want.
To plan a generator, call (989) 835-3587.
Common Questions
Can I just plug my portable generator into a dryer outlet?
No. Feeding power back into the house through an outlet (backfeeding) with a double-ended cord can send power out onto the utility lines, where it can electrocute line workers restoring power, and it can damage the generator and start a fire when the grid comes back. A transfer switch or a listed interlock kit with a proper inlet is the safe way to connect a portable generator.
What is the difference between a transfer switch and an interlock?
Both make it physically impossible for the generator and the utility to feed the house at the same time. A transfer switch is a separate device, manual or automatic, that switches selected circuits or the whole house between sources. An interlock is a mechanical plate on the main panel that only lets the main breaker or the generator breaker be on, never both. Which one fits depends on the panel and how you want to use the generator.
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what you want to run. Heat, a well pump, a sump pump, the refrigerator and a few lights need far less than running central air, an electric range and a water heater at the same time. We go through what's essential to you and size the generator and transfer equipment to match.
Can a standby generator run on propane?
Yes. Standby generators commonly run on natural gas or propane. Many rural homes in Midland County already heat with propane, and a generator can often share that supply, although the tank size needs to be checked against how long you want to run during an outage.
Do you sell generators or only install them?
Select Electric offers generator sales and installation. Call (989) 835-3587 to talk about what you need and what's available.