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Generator Installation · Delaware
A generator must connect through a transfer switch or an approved interlock so it can never feed power back into utility lines. Electricians install standby generators, portable generator inlets with interlocks, and the transfer equipment for both.
Coastal storms and older homes in Wilmington and Dover are the main drivers of repair and upgrade work.
Across the Mid-Atlantic, homes deal with humid summers, coastal storms and occasional ice. Permit offices, utilities and housing stock differ by city, which affects how generator installation is planned and scheduled. These local guides cover the Delaware cities where we have written specific notes.
Wilmington sits near the Delaware River, and nor'easters and the remnants of hurricanes such as Sandy in 2012 have brought wind, flooding and outages to the city. Rowhouses in Trolley Square and the Highlands have little yard space, so a portable generator with an outdoor inlet and interlock, set up in a rear yard away from windows, is often the practical choice.
Utility: Delmarva Power
Central Delaware sits in the path of nor'easters and the remnants of Atlantic hurricanes, and Isabel in 2003 and Sandy in 2012 both caused long outages in Kent County. Many Dover households want the sump pump, refrigerator, furnace and well pump in outlying areas to keep running.
Utility: City of Dover Electric (outside the city: Delmarva Power or Delaware Electric Cooperative)
1. Size the load
Circuits that must stay powered are listed and the generator sized.
2. Choose the connection
Inlet and interlock, manual transfer switch or automatic transfer switch.
3. Install and inspect
Permitted installation, gas connection by a licensed fitter where needed, and inspection.
Electricians set their own prices; local permit fees and utility requirements add to these factors.
Permits come from the city or county where the home is. For example: Wilmington: Electrical permits in Wilmington come from the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections; New Castle County handles unincorporated areas. Dover: Electrical permits inside city limits come from the City of Dover's inspections office; Kent County handles unincorporated areas.
Wilmington: Delmarva Power. Dover: City of Dover Electric (outside the city: Delmarva Power or Delaware Electric Cooperative).
Listed interlock kits are accepted in many jurisdictions when installed with a permit. Your electrician will know the local rule.
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