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Generator Installation · West Virginia
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.
Hilly terrain, flooding and older homes make storm repair and rewiring common.
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 West Virginia cities where we have written specific notes.
The June 2012 derecho left much of the Huntington area without power for days in summer heat, and winter ice storms also cause outages. A generator inlet with an interlock lets a portable unit run the refrigerator, furnace or window units safely without backfeeding Appalachian Power's lines.
Utility: Appalachian Power
The June 2012 derecho left much of West Virginia without power for a week or more in summer heat, and Charleston's hilly, wooded terrain can slow restoration after storms. A generator inlet with an interlock lets a portable generator run the refrigerator, furnace or window units safely.
Utility: Appalachian Power
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: Huntington: Electrical permits in Huntington come from the city's Department of Planning and Development; outside city limits, Cabell or Wayne County handles permits. Charleston: Electrical permits in Charleston come from the city's building department; outside city limits, Kanawha County handles permits.
Huntington: Appalachian Power. Charleston: Appalachian Power.
Listed interlock kits are accepted in many jurisdictions when installed with a permit. Your electrician will know the local rule.
Call now, or send a request and a licensed electrician who serves your ZIP code will contact you.
