Quick Answer
For Marin homes with frequent, multi-day PSPS outages and critical loads like a well pump or medical equipment, an automatic standby generator is usually worth it. For occasional outages and a short must-run list, a good portable plus a proper transfer switch or interlock covers you for far less. A battery suits low outage exposure and existing solar.
When the fall winds pick up and PG&E starts issuing Public Safety Power Shutoff warnings, the phone rings with one question: what’s the right backup power for my house? There’s no single answer, because a backup generator installation that’s perfect for a hillside home with a well is overkill for a townhome that loses power twice a year. Here’s how to think about it before you spend.
Option OneThe Automatic Standby Generator
A standby generator is permanently installed, runs on natural gas or propane, and starts itself within seconds of an outage through an automatic transfer switch — you don’t have to be home or do anything. It’s the gold standard for whole-home coverage and the clear choice if you have well water, refrigerated medication, a home business, or simply don’t want to think about outages. The trade-off is cost and permitting: it’s the most expensive option and, because it involves gas and a transfer switch, it needs a permit and professional install.
Option TwoPortable Generator + Transfer Switch or Interlock
A quality portable generator paired with a properly installed transfer switch or interlock kit covers your essential circuits for a fraction of a standby’s cost. The catch is that it’s manual: you roll it out, fuel it, start it, and it runs a defined set of circuits, not the whole house. The one rule that isn’t negotiable — never backfeed a portable into a wall outlet. That energizes your home’s wiring and can kill a lineman working to restore power. The transfer switch or interlock is exactly what prevents that, which is why this option is a licensed-electrician job, not a hardware-store improvisation.
Why a transfer switch is non-negotiable — it isolates your home from the grid while the generator runs, so power can’t backfeed onto utility lines. It’s both a safety device and a code requirement, and it’s the difference between safe backup power and a genuinely dangerous setup.
Option ThreeBattery Backup (With or Without Solar)
A home battery stores energy — from the grid or from solar — and powers your home silently during an outage, with no fuel and no noise ordinance to worry about. For a home with existing solar and short, occasional outages, it can be an elegant fit. Its limit is duration: a battery runs down, and during a multi-day PSPS event without enough solar to recharge, it may not carry you through the way a fueled generator will. Many Marin homeowners with heavy outage exposure end up pairing a battery for the quiet hours with a generator for the long haul.
The Local FactorsWhat’s Different About Marin
Two Marin realities shape the decision. First, PSPS exposure varies enormously by neighborhood — a Novato flat and a hillside home in the wildland-urban interface have very different outage histories, and the utility’s own PSPS program and the CPUC’s PSPS oversight are worth checking for your area. Second, generator placement and noise are regulated, and hillside lots complicate both fuel and siting. All of it should be sized and sited by someone who installs to the current National Electrical Code.
Step by StepHow to Choose the Right Backup Power
Map your outage exposure
Check your address’s PSPS history — a home that loses power for days each fall justifies far more than one that rarely does.
List your must-run loads
Well pump, refrigerator, medical equipment, heat, internet for remote work. This list drives sizing more than square footage does.
Set a realistic duration target
Decide whether you need to ride out a few hours, a full day, or several days — that’s what separates a battery from a fueled generator.
Match option to budget
Standby for hands-off whole-home coverage, portable-plus-transfer-switch for essentials on a budget, battery for quiet short outages.
Have it sized and permitted
A licensed electrician runs the numbers, sizes the unit, installs the transfer switch, and pulls the permit so the setup is safe and legal.
Key Takeaways
- Standby generators give hands-off whole-home coverage — best for heavy PSPS exposure and critical loads.
- A portable plus a proper transfer switch covers essentials for far less, but it’s manual.
- Never backfeed a portable into an outlet; a transfer switch or interlock is a safety and code requirement.
- Batteries are quiet and clean but limited by duration; many homes pair a battery with a generator.
Not sure which backup setup fits your home and your outage risk? We’ll size it, site it, and handle the transfer switch and permit.
Reviewed by Alex Towery
Owner & Licensed Electrical Contractor · CSLB C-10 #989290
Alex has installed standby generators, transfer switches, and battery backups across Marin through multiple PSPS seasons, from flatland Novato to hillside homes with well pumps. Every Towery Electric article is reviewed against current California Electrical Code before publishing.
The Bottom Line
Start with your outage history and your must-run list, not the equipment. Heavy exposure and critical loads point to a standby generator; occasional outages and a short essentials list point to a portable and a transfer switch; existing solar and short outages point to a battery. Whatever you choose, the transfer switch is not optional — have a licensed electrician size and install it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a whole-home standby generator worth it in Marin?
For homes with real PSPS exposure and loads you can’t lose — a well pump, refrigerated medication, a home business, or someone who depends on powered medical equipment — a standby generator is usually worth the investment, because it runs automatically whether or not you’re home. For a home that loses power only briefly and rarely, it’s often more than you need, and a portable with a transfer switch delivers the essentials for far less. The honest test is your outage history and your must-run list, not the size of the house.
Can I just plug a portable generator into an outlet during an outage?
No — this is the one thing you should never do. Plugging a generator into a wall outlet, called backfeeding, energizes your home’s wiring and can push power back onto the utility lines, where it can seriously injure or kill a lineman working to restore service. It can also damage your equipment. The safe, legal way to connect a portable is through a transfer switch or an interlock kit installed by a licensed electrician, which isolates your home from the grid before the generator powers your circuits.
What size generator do I need for my Marin home?
It depends on which loads you want to run, not just square footage. A setup meant to keep the essentials going — refrigerator, some lights, internet, a well pump — needs far less than one intended to run air conditioning and the whole house at once. A well pump in particular has a high starting surge that has to be accounted for. A licensed electrician adds up your target loads, including surge, and sizes the unit so it neither struggles nor is wastefully oversized.
Do I need a permit for a home generator in Marin?
Yes for a permanent standby installation, and typically for the transfer switch on a portable setup as well. Standby generators involve gas connections and a transfer switch tied into your panel, both of which are permitted and inspected work. A licensed C-10 handles the electrical permit and coordinates any gas and placement requirements, which also touch local noise and setback rules that vary across Marin’s jurisdictions.
How loud is a standby generator, and where can it go?
Modern standby units are much quieter than older models, but they aren’t silent, and Marin communities have noise ordinances plus setback rules that govern how close a unit can sit to property lines and windows. Hillside lots add siting and fuel-access challenges. Placement is part of the design, not an afterthought — an experienced installer sites the unit to meet code, respect the neighbors, and keep service access clear.
Will a home battery get me through a multi-day PSPS outage?
Sometimes, but duration is the catch. A battery powers your home quietly with no fuel, which is ideal for short outages, and paired with enough solar it can recharge during the day. But in a multi-day PSPS event with limited sun, a battery alone may run down before power is restored. Homeowners with heavy outage exposure often pair a battery — for silent overnight coverage — with a fueled generator for the long stretches, getting the best of both.
How We Sourced This
Guidance reflects common 2026 residential backup-power scenarios in Marin County and is for planning only. Authored by Healthcare Marketing Group’s editorial team and reviewed for technical accuracy by Alex Towery, owner of Towery Electric, Inc. and a California-licensed C-10 (CSLB #989290). Statements on transfer switches and safety reference NFPA 70 and PG&E/CPUC PSPS guidance.
References
- Pacific Gas & Electric. “Learn About PSPS.” www.pge.com
- California Public Utilities Commission. “Public Safety Power Shutoffs.” www.cpuc.ca.gov
- National Fire Protection Association. “NFPA 70 — National Electrical Code.” www.nfpa.org